Just two months after the debut of the iPad, Apple says there are thousands of software “apps” made for the device, with more coming every day.
How many of these new apps are for small business? Your Business presents a dozen of the most useful apps for iPad available now.
And one just for fun.
Keynote for iPad app screen grab.
Price: $9.99
Keynote for iPad is presentation software done right, combining the power and elegance of Apple's Keynote software with the iPad's multi-touch controls. Tap and drag to create new slides. Pinch photos to resize them. Drag and move your slides to rearrange. Add animations, transitions and effects.
When the time comes to present your slideshow you can display it on the iPad screen or connect to an external VGA projector (using the iPad's optional VGA adapter, sold separately). If you want to show off, touch and hold the iPad screen while presenting to display a laser pointer that will follow your finger wherever it moves. It's a nice touch (no pun intended).
The iPad versions of Apple's other iWork apps, Pages (word processing) and Numbers (spreadsheet), are also available for $9.99 each.
Price: FREE
Dropbox is an amazing free tool that provides quick and easy file sharing between your iPad and your computer. Anything you add to the Dropbox folder on your Mac, PC or iPhone appears like magic in the Dropbox folder on all your other devices.
Even if you don't have your iPad handy, you can find the latest versions of your files in the “cloud” storage at dropbox.com. Changes are synchronized automatically whenever you go online.
This app requires a free Dropbox account, which gives you 2 GB of free storage space at dropbox.com. Paid upgrades are available for online file storage up to 100 GB.
Money for iPad app screen grab.
Price: FREE
Money for iPad is a simple accounting tool for keeping track of financial transactions and budgeting. Budgeting and reports are handled automatically, and you don't need any experience or accounting training.
Create accounts for your cash, bank accounts, credit cards, and investments and begin adding new records. At the end of the month (or year), Money can automatically generate reports that show where your money went.
If you wish, you can synchronize Money for iPad with the desktop version of Money (Mac only). This will transfer your financial data and transaction categories to the computer.
SoundPaper app screen grab for iPad.
Price: $2.99
SoundPaper is note-taking software with a difference: it makes an audio recording while you type. Whether you're in a meeting, a lecture, or conducting an interview, SoundPaper is an easy way to take notes.
When you play back the recording, just tap a word in your notes. SoundPaper will jump right to that point in the audio.
SoundPaper is also useful for students. Even if your mind wanders or you doze off in class, SoundPaper will have an audio recording you can review.
And the price is right for such a useful app.
Price: FREE
Cisco WebEx is a web-based conferencing system that combines real-time desktop sharing with phone conferencing so everyone sees the same thing while
you talk. If you already connect with partners or supplier via WebEx, this free version for iPad is a no-brainer.
Bento for iPad app screen grab.
Price: $4.99
Bento is a simple and flexible database program that's useful whether you spend your time selling products, building relationships, or organizing inventory. You can use Bento to manage and track your contacts and assignments, to record hours worked and payments due, to create a catalogue of products for sale, and more.
Bento for iPad is based on the Mac program Bento from FileMaker Inc. The iPad version includes built-in templates to help you get started quickly to organize almost any type of information. Use Bento for iPad as a standalone app or synchronize with the Mac version (Bento 3). Once again, the price is right.
