iPad App of the Day - Red Laser

RedLaser Barcode Scanner and QR Code Reader 
Occipital, 3.7 mb, Free

Actually, this app is built for the iPhone and iPod. However, RedLaser can be downloaded, perfectly used on the iPad 2 (using its camera).

I recently tried out RedLaser for my massive collection of books in storage. But, I was lacking decent WiFi and that is when I discovered the best features of this cool (and free!) app. RedLaser can scan and save the UPC barcode numbers while offline. Scanning is quick, simple and very responsive to the iPad 2. You can put the scanner on its "multiple" option, allowing faster scanning. Save the list and go online later to uncover the info from a variety of resources, including the going prices - great for online selling research. The list then can be exported to your email for easy sharing.

The RedLaser works on pretty much everything modern that has a barcode - toys, food, DVDs, whatever. Information can come from local places for price comparisons, or from the popular online markets. Its reliable, easy to use and fantastic for the iPad's long running battery, a necessity for all-day scanning  projects.

The Official Facebook app for the iPad is now active.

Finally..

No more ridiculous permissions through past 3rd party Facebook iPad clients. No more silly enlarged iPhone app version. The Official Facebook app for the iPad is here, at last. Though, it's just the iPhone version with an update for the iPad with a ton of new features.

The iPad version is incredible simple and fast. Some great new features are including a handy location map for those "checking in." There is now the easy management of Pages, something I had much trouble doing before. There is also the easy loading, navigation and clarity of photos. I also appreciate the ability to check your account and privacy settings.

Though at first try, it seems I needed to delete the original iPhone app and re-install (kept crashing otherwise).  Just download and sign in as normal. Then, go about your normal, addictive routine.

iPad App of the Day - Free Wi-Fi Finder

Free Wi-Fi Finder 
JiWire Inc., 3.5 mb, FREE
(iphone version also available)

This app is essential to all travelers and nomadic folk. This, for the main reason that a 145,000+ database of locations can be stored for offline use and searched by zip code. Free Wi-Fi Finder comes in very handy when seeking an emergency spot to Tweet, Facebook, email, upload, ping and poke. In the online mode, a handy map comes up, which can very useful when that library closes, or the Starbucks gets too rowdy. Overall, the app is very easy and simple to use. Even better, Wi-Fi Finder is also free and low on storage space.

Free and Wonderful - Snapseed (for a limited time)

Snapseed (for the iPad)
Nik Software, 15 mb, $4.99 FREE until 9/23!
(iPhone version also available)

For shutterbugs who love uploading and editing pics on the iPad, get this app right now. For just a few days, Snapseed is now free. That is no cost, a wonderful price for something this useful.

What makes this app wonderful and necessary are its uncommon photo enhancing techniques to the iPad, unavailable on most similar photo editing apps. "Autocorrect" and "Tune Image" are nice, almost cheating ways to quickly adjust the clarity, light and color of images. The "Selective Adjust" feature allows it's user to place points upon the picture than change that particular area. Other features include adding effects to pictures such as vintage fades, blurs, and borders. Most features are customizable, and easy to use. Pics can then be directly shared online or saved to the iPad.

Snapseed should be no replacement for other useful editing apps like Photoshop Express, but an additional tool to what's available. For photo editors who understand the iPads limitations on advanced photo editing, users should keep as many options available as possible among the many apps available. As a digital photo sharing and editing enthusiast, I will compile and share my personal list of these photo editing essentials soon. In the meantime, please share your favorite apps or techniques in the comments below.

iPad App of the Day - Celtx Script

Celtx Script (for the iPad)
Greyfirst Corp, 1.0 mb, $9.99 $4.99 for a limited time!
(iPhone version also available)

The Celtx Script app is a must have for iPad users engaged in script writing. Such writing on this app is not just for film screenwriting, but includes theater staged, audio dramas, and comic books. Users can create professional scripts, ready to transfer, print, share and use. The mechanics and convenience of the iPad makes script writing easy on the go, as creation and editing is quick and simple.

The wonderfulness of the Celtx app stems from its many touch-friendly features. First is the format choice, of which the user chooses between five. While there are other movie script apps, Celtx is perhaps the only option for those looking to make professional scripts for comic books, stage plays, audio dramas. Another fantastic feature is the sync option with your desktop Celtx application, as whatever you change and add is instantly done to duplicate files on other systems. Overall, the easy interface allows automatic formatting as you type, and simple touch based controls for quick changes. The app also remembers characters and other elements, so your brain flows more with the content you create, not the format mechanics. Also fantastuc is the altered app keyboard, which contains extra hot keys allowing quicker editing and writing on the go.

Celtx is currently on sale and worthwhile, even at the full price. Also, Celtx is a win for its minimal space needed, just 1 mb!. Don't hesitate if you love scriptwriting, or considering a new hobby.

Incoming iPad News

Calling all crew, here is your interesting iPad news links (with my two cents) of the day!

iPad 3 in '11? No. Two new iPhones? - CNN
Again with this? Every year, the bait and switch with headlines saying iPad or IOS device updating the same year as the previous. Why are we in such a hurry to make our gadgets outdated? Anyway, not going to happen, not even the so called "iPad Plus." iPad 3 is going to happen in 2012, hopefully not late and with something a bit more practical than some silly promise of a "retina display."

OnShift Unveils OnShift on the iPad - Marketwatch
The advanced scheduling manager of the future is now. I'm surprised tablet propelled business isn't happening faster. With this Onshift service, it seems workers can keep better tabs on their progress. With the iPad and its many innovations, we can perhaps have a workplace that has no need of desktops, pencils, or even traditional offices.

Mobile App Developers Now Have Easy Access to Cloud Services - Mashable
Appcelerator's Open Mobile Marketplace looks to be a useful resource for indie app developers. Lots of free and for pay modules and templates will hopefully inspire fresh minds towards new innovations and ideas.

Will Apple's Mac sales survive the PC price war? - Computerworld
Yes. But in my personal opinion, it will be due to the inadequacies of the hardware developers. The poor customer service over the phone towards those out of warranty, poorly designed internal hardware, boring advertising, and lack of individuality for each product beyond their company name.

Stevie Wonder sings Steve Jobs’ praises for iOS accessibility - The Next Web
Watch the video within the link, as legendary singer Stevie Wonder shares positive words about IOS devices in today's world. "We've only just begun..."

Free iPad Games Apps fer Speak Like a Pirate Day!

ARRRR! Fer this day, it be International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Let's look at ye buried treasure, that be on the iPad today at no cost.

Lil Pirates
Capcom Interactive, 53.8 mb, FREE
Silly cartoon style scurvy pirate a ruckas. Customize 'n build ye ship. Battle 'n recruit through Facebook or rotten Apple's Game Center.

Pirates Life
Dreamix Studio, 47.1 mb, FREE
A more simplistic, yet frantic touch 'n swipe battle. 'tis one crude detailed ship vs. th' other from a birds-eye view, in a classic early 80's style 'o fight. Great fer them seekin' casual a ruckas.

Crimson Steam Pirates
Bungie Aerospace Corporation, 142 mb, FREE
Scurvy pirate warfare, turn based strategy wit' a steampunk edge. Fantastic a ruckas fer th' more hardcore tabletop thinker. Also, lust th' epic 'n familiar music. Highly recommended!

Pirates
GreenRobot LLC, 11.7 mb, FREE
A multiplayer, extra detailed battle 'o th' scurvy pirate life. Sadly th' iPad version kept crashin'. woefully, such troubles gunna be fixed. In th' meantime, worth a download 'n a woe they gunna fix.

Scurvy pirate translation assistance provided by postlikeapirate.com. Gift it a give a go' if ye be knowin' whats good fer ye.

Gameloft 99¢ Back to School Sale!

In time for the weekend, Gameloft is having a sale for seven of its top iPad video games. Each below is now $0.99, but for a limited time.

BackStab 584 mb $6.99

Silent Ops 657 mb  $6.99

Fast Five the Movie: Official Game HD 441 mb $4.99

N.O.V.A. 2 - Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance HD 504 mb $6.99
Dungeon Hunter 2 HD 467 mb $6.99

NFL 2011 HD 327 mb $4.99
Splinter Cell Conviction™ HD 522 mb $4.99

Free and Wonderful: How To Spend It Magazine

How To Spend It Magazine
Financial Times Ltd. 10.4 MB FREE

For those looking to live a lavish, glamorous lifestyle of high fashion and fancy cars should look into this app for the iPad. Now more than 60 issues worth of its magazine are free to you, with more content on the way. All of its content are placed in helpful categories, with features viewable in a familiar full color, high quality magazine style.

All much worth a look, but even more interesting is this publisher's radically different approach on the iPad. Read this recent article on Foliomag.com about how Financial Times recent troubles on using Apple's pay subscription model and ad-supported direction changed its business strategy. Hopefully, other magazine publishers will release material of this quality and format based on web access. With success, perhaps more of the Internet share will flock back to the beauty of magazine style formats via e-readers and tablets, especially in a world of declining newsstands.