This iPad application takes the traditional idea of solitaire and enhances it in an exquisite variety of unique and exciting ways, allowing the player to customize the game, playing it differently each time. It is brilliantly designed with stunning optional sounds and magnificent animations that provide a realistic feel, but at the same time, allow for additional features not available in the real-life game. The user interface is brilliant, and the game is both challenging and exciting. It is definitely one of the best solitaire iPad apps available.

The player customizes the iPad application by selecting from a range of settings. The Game Mode allows the player to play with a half deck for a super-quick game; one deck for the traditional experience; or 2 decks to double the challenge and fun. The player can also decide whether he/she would like to draw 1, 2, or 3 cards at a time. Three different modes of scoring are available, or the player can select not to keep score at all. The player can also choose whether or not to time the game,  and whether or not to count his/her moves. In addition, sound effects can be switched on or off. Advanced settings include Right-Handed Mode, which moves the deck to the right of the screen; Extreme-SPEED Mode, which moves the cards at lightning speed;  Quick Touch, which allows the cards to move when they are touched instead of the player having to drag them; and Double-Tap Complete, which completes the game automatically. Three themes are available for the player to select from; or card fronts, card backs and table background can be customized. An excellent help feature is also provided, and the player can start a new game at any stage, as well as track his/her scores and statistics. The menu can be hidden while the game is being played and moves can be undone and redone. The hint feature is probably the best feature on this iPad app. This feature gives the player intelligent hints by highlighting the cards that should be played.

Although solitaire is probably one of the most common games available on computers and mobile devices, Solitaire Double Deck HD is certainly a worthwhile version of the game to purchase. The magnificent design, sound and animations, together with the versatile settings of this iPad app definitely ensure an enjoyable, challenging, and even addictive experience.

Write My Name By Injini is one of the most delightful educational iPad apps available. It is designed for children between the ages of 4 and 7, and can also be of enormous benefit to children with special needs. It is cleverly designed with a choice of 3 different activities for the child to do. The child can trace name tags with images and voice; trace over 100 sight/Dolch words; and trace each letter of the alphabet.

Help and support are readily available, and a number of settings can be customized. These include: Music, which can be switched on or off; Fingerpaint Mode, which can be switched on with 2 out of the 3 activities to show the writing exactly as it is traced; and Reset Progress, which allows the child to reset his/her progress records in 2 out of the 3 activities.

In the My Name Tags activity, parents and teachers can add over 36 name tags by adding an image from the iPad’s camera roll, naming the image and recording the name or phrase. When the name tag is traced, the letters can be heard, followed by the word or phrase that has been recorded. Name tags can also be added or deleted. In the Word Cards activity, the child can trace word cards in a basic order or alphabetically; and in lower and upper case. Of course, the words are associated with pictures, names and sounds. The first time a word is traced, the picture comes to life with amazing colour, and the second time a word is traced, a Good! stamp appears, and applause can be heard. In the Alphabet Book activity, letters can be traced in lower and upper case, and each letter can be heard, followed by a picture, and name of something beginning with that letter. Letters that have been traced are indicated with a tick. Magnificent sounds are also associated with this activity.

In this iPad app, there is no particular order that the child must work in. He/she can choose any activity, and do it in any order, and his/her progress will still be noted with colour, stamps, and ticks.

Write My Name by injini is another brilliantly designed and laid out iPad application which can benefit all children between the ages of 4 and 7, as well as children with special needs. In a fun, exciting and entertaining way, the child is exposed to the alphabet and basic vocabulary. The child also develops a range of vital motor and sensory skills. Learning is re-enforced in a tactile, visual and auditory way, so the child can achieve maximum benefit. This is certainly an iPad app that can be incorporated both at home, and at school. Its a must, so get it while its still at the introductory price of $1.99, or get an educational discount for volume purchases.

Cozi Family Organizer is one of the most beautifully laid-out, user-friendly organizers available on the iPad today. It is highly detailed, but at the same time, absolutely simple to operate. A family photo can be installed onto the home screen of the iPad app to personalize the experience, and the app provides its user with a calendar, to do lists, shopping lists, and a journal. Of course, settings can be changed to suite the family’s needs. The Cozi Family Organizer can be accessed at cozi.com, and is available to all family members, from any computer or mobile device. Each family member gets to see the same information, and can also select to see only the information relevant to him/her.

The well-designed calendar allows the user to add, edit, and delete appointments extremely quickly and easily. Reminders can also be sent prior to appointments via text message or email. By assigning  a colour to each member of the family, the user can see at a glance, who the appointment is set for. The user can also choose to see only appointments set for a particular member of the family, or to see the whole family’s appointments. The today feature takes the user directly to today’s date, and the user can also type in a date to go to, or just type a new event at the date currently highlighted.

Each adult in the family can have their own to do list, or they can be shared by the family. Shopping lists are divided into groceries, wholesale and other. New lists can also be created and  lists can be organized, cleaned up and reordered, as well as emailed. Items can be crossed off and added quickly and easily. Pre-made checklists are also available at cozi.com.

The journal is a super feature, allowing the user to add a photo, some text, and insert a date. The journal is a brilliant way to record special moments or events, and can, of course, be edited.

Most of the work done on the app can be done offline, and then refreshed at a later stage. This allows the user to make updates immediately. Help and support are excellent, and information is regularly provided to the user.

This superb iPad application is a tool that can be used every day, by all members of the family, for all aspects of organization and recording. It can be highly customized to suite each family’s needs, and provides for all details, without being complicated. All functions are simple and natural, and little, or no technical knowledge is required. It is definitely an extremely worthwhile asset to any household.

Toca House is beautifully designed using colourful and exciting animations and sound effects to capture any kid’s attention. This iPad app boasts 19 different games, which can all be found in and around a house inhabited by a delightful group of characters. The game opens with the sun rising in the morning over Toca House. Players can explore the house and garden to choose a game to play. The games can be found in different rooms of the house, and even in the garden; and all of them relate to different chores that need to be done. Players must help the characters who live in the house to do their chores. Washing the dishes; cleaning the windows; sorting the mail;  and hanging up the washing to dry are just a few of the games to choose from. The game is designed for children between the ages of 2 and 6, but can be enjoyed by anybody. It is certainly one of the most entertaining educational iPad apps we’ve seen.

Guidelines are available to assist parents in providing their kids with maximum benefit, and help and support are readily available. Kids and their parents can also check out the other apps available from the same app creators, Toca Boca. After every 10 games played, the sun sets over the house, and this provides the players with an opportunity to take a rest, or share with each other. Games can be selected haphazardly, and are also shuffled to add to the excitement and unpredictability of the iPad app.

This iPad app requires absolutely no explanation, but certainly provides an opportunity for discussion and learning. Kids learn the importance of keeping the home neat, clean and organised; and parents are given the opportunity to talk to them about what they can do to help around the house; what they can do alone; and what is dangerous for children to do. Incidentally, children also learn fine motor skills, as well as sorting and the concepts of action and reaction. There are no rules, and no score, so its just good, clean fun.

Sketchshare is one of the most versatile iPad apps available. Young kids can doodle on it; students can study or play games using it; or it can be used to write shopping lists at home, or brainstorm at the office. This app allows its user to create any sketch, diagram, image or list; and share it via Twitter or e-mail; or share it in real-time, with a voice chat, using the iPad’s Game Centre.

With one simple, blank screen, and a few icons down the side, the user is free to decide how to use this iPad app. The user can choose to see the icons or hide them, and can change between sketch and erase. The colour and thickness of the sketch lines can be customized, and photos from the camera roll can be imported. The sketch can be saved with or without the background lines, and can be shared via Twitter or e-mail. Of course the sketch can be deleted at any time too. By pinching the screen, the user is able to change the size of the sketch, and can also rotate the sketch by the twist of his/her wrist. The sketch position can be re-set by double tapping outside the canvas.

The most useful feature of this app is most certainly the ability to share in real-time using the iPad’s Game Centre. This feature allows up to 4 people to share an image and have a voice chat simultaneously. Users can therefore play a game like tic-tac-toe or hangman; or people working remotely can share ideas with each other quickly and effectively.

Well designed and uncomplicated, this iPad app’s versatility makes it an excellent addition to any iPad’s app collection. While it can certainly be used on its own, the real benefit comes in to play with the real-time chat and sharing capability. The app allows its user to share and discuss an idea with colleagues from across the globe as if they are in the same room. Business partners will love using it to replace conference calls, and clients will enjoy the benefit of seeing a new product or idea without having to travel. This one is definitely a keeper.

Meeting Gold is one of the most brilliant productivity iPad apps available in the App Store today. The user-friendly interface allows a team to work cohesively and seamlessly from meeting to meeting, right through from planning, to participation, and finally follow-up. The team is able to share information and progress throughout each project, keeping each other in the loop by updating and sharing all information and progress. Using Meeting Gold, people involved in a project are able to set up the meeting by providing the necessary details to the attendees. During the preparation, meeting and follow-up stages, agenda items, actions, questions, texts, pictures, summaries, and information from other meetings can be added and edited. Of course, the meeting document can be shared via e-mail at any time, allowing progress to be tracked and updated.

The app is accompanied by clear and detailed instructions and tips, however, users can choose to hide these. Meeting documents can be sorted and filtered depending on what users would like to see; and a search feature allows users to search titles, categories, projects and tags. Of course, meeting documents can also be added or deleted.

The app includes undo and redo features, and there is a selection of 3 styles of meeting documents to choose from. Users are also able to view the entire meeting document, or select certain sections to view one at a time. Document parts can be cut, pasted, and added; or even imported from other meeting documents. Text fonts and colours, as well as paragraph styles can be adjusted.

When meeting documents are e-mailed, meeting summaries are automatically generated to give the recipients a basic outline of the documents. Meeting notes are e-mailed as MS Word attachments as well as Meeting Gold attachments. Colleagues who also have Meeting Gold can import mails received into the app on their iPads, update the notes, and send them back. Changes will then automatically be included in the workflow. Participants can also track changes by having access to old and new information, and are warned when the information they have is not the most recent.

This iPad app is in our opinion a must-have tool for anybody involved in projects that require meetings. The creators have clearly thought about every need, and have managed to meet those needs faultlessly. By allowing users to record information and progress in real time, the app takes away the delay and frustration of having to scramble for information in different places, and rewrite or transfer the information into other systems. All the information needed is in one place, and can be tracked and shared, improving communication and productivity. Using Meeting Gold enables participants to manage projects effectively, in the most simple and user-friendly way possible.

Wall of sound is one of the most innovative music navigation iPad apps available. The design of the app emulates a wall, with each brick representing a music album. The user can swipe across the wall in any direction to access more bricks, and click on the bricks to sample the music from the album. The user can then access iTunes to purchase the music; and share via E-mail; Facebook and Twitter.

This iPad app is available in a variety of languages and gives the user access to 20 million songs, in a range of genres, including music that is currently most popular. Holding a finger on a brick brings up the artist and album name, and pinch and zoom enlarges and reduces the brick size. The user is able to customise the wall to suite his/her music interests by changing various settings in the app, and the search feature allows him/her to search for any music by artist, album, or both. In addition, the user can rate the app; recommend the app; make suggestions; or access the creators’ website. The user selects an album by tapping on its picture in the brick, and while the music is playing, the picture can be swiped sideways to show all the tracks on the album. The app is AirPlay enabled, and the user can change the volume, pause, or go to the previous and next tracks. The user can also select any track, or choose to shuffle the songs. Swiping upwards and downwards hides and unhides the picture, and music from the app can be used as background music while the user continues working on the iPad. Shaking the iPad, randomly reshuffles the wall of sound.

While the intricacies of the settings and search feature were found to be a little difficult to follow, anything searched for was found quickly and easily. This iPad app is most definitely unique and interesting, enabling its user to experience a wide range of music with a fun visual spin. Search, sample, listen, share and purchase – all within this cool, clever music app.

This iPad app provides educators with a brilliant teaching tool, which can be thought of as a whiteboard that speaks. Educators can draw and write using a range of colours; and use images. They can then record their own explanations, and draw, write and move the images to create animations while they are recording. For example, they can use a diagram of the brain, and while they are providing an explanation, they can circle, lable, and move the diagram around. The result is a complete audio and visual lesson, which can then be saved and shared via Email, Facebook and Twitter, and posted on educreations.com . One of the best educational iPad Apps.

This iPad app is available in a range of languages, and is accompanied by clear and simple guidelines, as well as outstanding help and support. Although there are 10 colours available to the user, in order to make colour selection quick and easy, he/she can select 4 to be displayed on the screen. These colours can then be used to draw or write. Images can be added from the library or from Dropbox, or photos can be taken using the camera. It is therefore possible to add any image to the lesson. The undo and redo features enable the user to undo and redo his/her work. The user can therefore teach concepts progressively, moving backwards and forwards between images. Images can be moved and re-sized; rotated and duplicated; and of course deleted. They can also be locked, which prevents them from being moved. Touching a little hand badge takes the user out of drawing mode, which enables him/her to touch the screen without drawing on it. It is also possible to pause and resume recording. Lessons can be as long or short as required, with the app’s ability to add pages. When saving his/her lessons, the user gives each lesson a title and a description, chooses who he/she would like to view the lesson, and categorises it into a subject area. Lessons can be deleted when they are no longer needed. An additional feature allows the user to share the app with his/her contacts.

Educreations is a superbly designed and laid-out iPad app. It is user-friendly and
educators can use it to help students with homework or tutor from afar, as well as in a classroom situation. Students can also use it to help them study. Three issues that could perhaps be handled in future upgrades are: the apps inability to allow its user to re-record; the lack of an erase feature, and the inability for the user to edit saved lessons. Otherwise, an extremely powerful tool.

Sometimes the best iPad apps are those that do what the user wants them to, and that have no additional complicated features – and Doodle Buddy is a typical example of this. The user can start with a blank screen, and create just about anything using a few simple yet effective features. The user can type, paint and draw to create the desired doodle, and then Email it or save it to the iPad’s Photo Album.

Doodle Buddy allows the user to draw freestyle in any colour using a brush, chalk or glitter. The user can even give his/her drawings a smudged effect, or change the thickness of his/her lines. Of course the user can easily erase anything, undo the last stroke, or clear the entire doodle. The iPad app keeps a record of the last colours used, so that the user can re-use them at a later stage. A large variety of images is available for use in small or large, and stamping of these images onto the screen is accompanied by fun and funky sounds. At any stage these sounds can be switched off. The stencils feature assists the user to create perfect shapes in his/her colour  and size of choice. Text can be written freehand, or typed in using a choice of 4 fonts. The text can then be re-sized; moved;  and cut, copied and pasted. The user can also zoom in on text. A range of backgrounds is available in the app, or photos from the  iPad’s Photo Album can be used as backgrounds. Using Doodle Bucks, which can be earned by engaging in various simple actions, the user is able to purchase extra items for use in the app. The app comes with 170 free Doodle Bucks to help get the user started. Finally, the completed doodle can be sent in an Email, or saved to the iPad’s Photo Album. Help and support are available.

Doodle Buddy is a clever, well-designed, and useful iPad app that can be used by kids and adults – at home, at school, or in the boardroom. This app is so versatile it can be used by absolutely anybody – to learn, teach, remind and communicate, or of course – to just have fun!

Using only the map of London as its basis, this iPad app cleverly creates a number of fascinating and different puzzles of up to 54 pieces for the user to select from. The user selects a top map, which is the puzzle that must be solved, and a bottom map, which acts as the background on which to do the puzzle. The map categories from which to select include: boroughs, rivers, parks, attractions and Olympic events. The player must slide the pieces into their correct positions in order to complete the puzzle. For example: he/she may choose the boroughs as the bottom map, and the rivers as the top one. He/she must then slide the rivers into their correct locations over the boroughs.  This is definitely one of the most niche jigsaw ipad apps available.

The user is able to play the game, or select the learn mode which guides him/her as to where the pieces need to be placed. In the play mode, the user can select whether or not he/she would like to keep score and time. With the range of puzzle options and combinations, together with the choice of modes, the user gets to play the game in 50 different ways. Pieces are distributed randomly at different locations on the screen each time the game is played. The game is accompanied by relaxing background music and excellent sound effects, as well as a voice-over which names each piece as it is touched. The user can select to play in silence; or use some, or all of the available sounds. Sound On or Sound Off can be selected before the game, and then changed at any time during the game. Written labels for each piece pop up as the piece is touched. At any stage, the user can check how the completed puzzle looks, and then return back to where he/she left off. The map can also be shaken to move around the pieces that have not yet been placed. In the Olympic events map, the user can touch a particular location for 2 seconds, to see what sporting events occur at that location. The Continue feature allows the player to leave the game and return to where he/she left off at any time. By linking up to the Game Centre, the player can keep track of his/her scores and compare them to those of other players, as well as compete with other players. The help window provides clear and concise explanations.

This iPad app is a little-known gem, with excellent potential for future growth. It is beautifully designed, and works well. Anybody who wants to learn about the geographical locations of the natural and man-made features of London need look no further than London Jigsaw. Geography teachers, and anybody living in or visiting London, will love this app. London Jigsaw Lite is also available, and offers all 5 bottom maps, but only the boroughs as a puzzle. Challenge yourself to the realistic puzzle experience, but without the frustration of mess and lost pieces!

Team Stream HD is brought to you by Bleacher Report, the Web’s leading publisher of original and entertaining sports content, and one of the fastest growing sports media Web sites in the U.S. . Bleacher Report provides more than 22 million monthly visitors first-rate sports commentary, giving them stories they want to read in real-time about the teams and topics that are most interesting to them. Bleacher Report works with a number of national and regional publishing partners including USA Today and Los Angeles Times. With the innovation, knowledge, experience and information of Bleacher Report, Team Stream HD is most definitely one of the most informative sport iPad apps available. It allows the user to view articles and footage that have been carefully selected from various sources on the internet by Bleacher Report editors; and which are customized to suite his/her interests. The user is also given access to Twitter updates, and can comment on articles or even share them.

The user is able to add his/her location, and then add and edit teams or sports, to allow the app to customize the news and information it provides. The home screen displays the biggest current sport stories from around the world, as well as the top stories for the user’s sport or teams of choice. The user can browse stories on this home screen, or select sports or teams from his/her list to access more specific information. The refresh button, and real-time alerts for breaking news ensure that the user gets the most up-to date news possible.  The user can read Tweets from sport-writers and athletes, access various Websites, and share comments on the editorial pieces. In addition, the user can post articles to Facebook or Twitter, email links, or send to Instapaper.

Team Stream HD is a well-presented, easy to use and highly informative iPad app. Avid sports fans, as well as people involved in the sport industry would most definitely enjoy the real-time newsfeed that this app provides. Team Stream HD gives its user all the information he/she needs from various sources at one location, and quickly. There is no need to visit multiple sites, when you can use Team Stream HD, and get the full picture at one place.

With its well-designed, colourful layout, this iPad app is so simple that kids as young as 4 or 5 can immediately begin playing and learning with no adult involvement. Learning happens in the form of a game in which kids are shown a picture, and shown the letters in a jumbled order. They must then spell the word either by dragging and dropping the letters, or typing them using a keyboard. The app also provides auditory reinforcement by allowing kids to hear the word being spelled. After every few words spelled correctly, kids can choose from a host of prizes to add to a fish tank, which is initially bare, but slowly becomes active and vibrant with magnificent animations. Created by Merge Mobile, this is definitely one of the best iPad apps that teaches spelling.

The app includes over 75 words. These words are divided into 2 lists called: Freefall Numbers and Freefall Words. A third list, called My Words can be edited by typing a new word, recording it, and adding a photograph. Kids can therefore add as many words as they like to the list. They can also add other new lists, and arrange their words in different themes or categories. Kids who are beginner spellers can choose to see hints, whilst more advanced kids can play without hints being provided. The music can be turned on or off, and letters can be shown in lower or upper case. Kids can choose to use the Type Mode, which allows them to type using a Qwerty or Alpha keyboard; the Freefall Mode, which shows the letters falling to the bottom of the screen at differing speeds; or the Word Scramble Mode, which presents the kids with the letters on key cards. While playing, kids can go back to words or skip words, and also hear the word at any time by tapping the little sound icon. The home screen allows users to check out other products available from Merge Mobile; play the game; change the settings; or check out the fish tank  The fish tank is a game in itself. Kids can fiddle with the lighting, clean it, feed the fish, and move the prizes around.

Colourful, user-friendly, and highly interactive, Freefall Spelling is a fantastic tool to assist in teaching children to spell. Kids from as young as 4 or 5 can learn to recognize the letters by playing the game using the hints. Older kids can challenge themselves by adding words they are learning at school, and playing the game without the hints. Besides teaching spelling, this iPad app also helps to develop  fine-motor co-ordination,  and teaches kids how to use the keyboard and sort and organize information. Definitely a worthwhile app.