iPad App of the Day - TieSight

TieSight
Claus Zimmermann, 3.6 mb, $1.99
(for the iPad 2)

A very handy sight for those dressing to impress, especially for that job, date, wedding, other formal occasions.

Simply use the front camera of your iPad 2 with this app, you can match the unmade tie. With simple instruction, follow each step as you match the progress to the pattern on screen. To ease process even further, use your voice to turn to the next step. There are four tie types to learn - the Windsor, the Four Hand, the Pratt, the Half Windsor.

Overall, a simple program that makes good, practical use of the iPad. $1.99 is a fair price for those looking to save time from the Googling and asking.

iPad App of the Day - Dexigner

Dexigner
Dexigner, 0.8 mb, Free

Dexigner is THE essential app for anyone interested in art, design, fashion, architecture, and related fields.

This wonderful, yet simple app gives you the latest news, local events, competitions and directory of related businesses and organizations wherever you need. Most of the content is short text and some colorful pics, all pulled in from their resources at dexigner.com. The info is always update, as users may share via Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, email. All free, with very little storage on your iPad.

iPad App of the Day - The Forbes Lists

Forbes Lists
Forbes, 36.1 mb, FREE

A must for anyone interested in the Occupy Wall Street movement and holding an iPad. Learn all about your corporate masters, and others within this app featuring our 400 richest, most powerful billionaires. All are lare listed and detailed through two lists, America and the entire world. Each person profile is listed with his or her net worth, history, residence, latest news, personal stats, political contributions, wealth history, and much more. All free and waiting for you to check out.

iPad App of the Day - Teavana Perfect Tea Touch

Teavana Perfect Tea Touch
Teavana, 11.0 mb, FREE
(iPhone version available)

Something I don't talk about often, even among friends, is my love of tea. Often, I order strange and interesting tastes. I feel healthier, heartier and can think better with my personal favorite; the peppermint tea. I also enjoy the Teavana retail stores throughout the malls of America, and appreciate all the free samples they give.

Now we have this Teavana iOS app, which gives incredible detail on their fine selection of tea. The helpful interactive interface is fantastic and easy on the iPad. The quick details go beyond their exotic tastes as users can read up on the benefits, history, breakdown of ingredients and more. Such knowledge makes the tasting more special. And of course, you may order direct from Teavana.

The Teavana app is free. How cool is that?

iPad App of the Day - 3D Brain

3D Brain 
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 49.6 mb, FREE

Learn about the human brain, in the most exciting way! That is, not actually seeing, grossing from the sight of am open brain in real life. With this wonderful, free app users can get 360 degree spins and zooms on about 29 structures of our natural CPU. Through much exploration and clicking, we can also read provided information on the brain's functions, and information on disorders, damage and case studies. Also included are helpful links to explore the brain further online.

3D Brain is a top examples on the very best of the iPad's awesome features. I hope to someday see more body parts in similar interactive detail on the iPad. Even better, the workings of animals and mechanical devices would definitely make learning easier, perhaps even fun.

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.

iPad App of the Day - Video Time Machine

Video Time Machine
Original Victories, 1.5 mb, $1.99
(iPhone version available)

Video Time Machine is an absolute gem for media history hounds and nostalgia fiends. With this app, users can go back throughout any year technologically possible and enjoy full motion videos. Over 10,000 videos featured in this app are embed from Youtube, and conveniently categorized by year and media type. Included are sports,video games, news, TV, advertisements and movies.

Some finds are well known but otherwise forgotten footnotes such as Micheal Jackson's Pepsi Ads, the second presidential Reagan-Mondale debate and Wendy's "Where's the Beef" video ads. Others are downright obscure like Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance on the Dating Game, Vectorbeam (1977 video game ahead of its time), and Captain Planet fighting Hitler. Some finds are too awesome for words, like Apple's first computer commercial and the original Star Wars trailer. Much of it, we would never know without the spin of Video Time Machine's fantastic wheel.
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The app itself is very easy to use but can be very addictive. From there, users can share the fun via Twitter or Facebook. Sadly there is no search function. But then again, would that spoil the fun of browsing by year and category? Either way, Video Time Machine is well worth the $1.99.

iPad App of the Day - Gorilla Workout

Gorilla Workout
Heckr LLC, 32.5 mb, $1.99

Gorilla Workout is an an app with a fun gimmick, and a fantastic guide for those needing push and better direction in their fitness routine. Gorilla Workout has a plan for anyone, as users can choose their level, based on fitness experience and able body. Next, goals are set for each day, and with success, mastery of each workout in the suggested time (Level 1 is 20 days), the user may proceed to the next level (featuring a bigger gorilla) . Many workouts are listed for each level, as all the necessary info and video (!) are available to the user.

For iPad and iPhone users, the Gorilla Workout is the perfect plan at a very affordable price. It's also very easy to use, as the IOS devices are more practical than laptops for carry to the local gym or park. Over 40 exercises are available so far. Also, users may proudly announce their progress via Twitter or Facebook. Hopefully, more updates to the Gorilla Workout will be added, including eating and natural supplement suggestions. For now, this iPad Captain has much modified push-ups to do.

iPad App of the Day - Ruler for the iPad

Ruler for iPad or iPhone
Jonathan Walz, 7.4 mb, FREE
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Just a simple, free ruler for the iPad. Measure real things and stuff on it or with it. This app has the inches and centimeters switching option, a grid, line plotting, six different visual styles. Not bad for the price of free. There are ads, of which you can pay within the app to remove. You can also save and email (!) your measurements. The Ruler is a handy, low space solution for school and posting descriptions for selling eBay items or whatever else online.

Yeah, today's app is short and simple. It's the end of the work week; go out and enjoy some fresh air.

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 - Fanhatten

Fanhattan for iPad
Fanhatten, 7.3 mb, FREE

Fanhattan is a must for iPad movie and TV lovers. Here, is the combination of much convenient information and the measure of your moving picture obsessions. It's best feature, finding a movie or TV show. Then swipe to the side to find the fastest way to watch it, hopefully available on iTunes, Netflix, or Vudu. The rest is easy information on the go, including top casting/crew credits, plot, reviews,clips. Users can step further and seek out related Facebook Pages, buy the soundtrack if available on iTunes and other merchandise. 

While this app tends to feature new and popular movies, it does not disappoint where such features really matter to us movie geeks. Pretty much every search turned out results including such obscure classics as Black Belt Jones and Monster Squad. Quick price comparisons between iTunes and Vudu (and hopefully more) help, if I need to save a buck or two on instant viewing, but also nice to know when something is not readily available.

Fanhattan is still fresh after a few months and needs time to grow. Later, I hope they will add the existence of Hulu, Crackle and more instant viewing services. Perhaps in time, they will have a following as large as other social networking hubs as GetGlue as they have some similar features. But for now, Fanhattan is at least a worthy reference resource for your iPad.

 

iPad App of the Day - PR Newswire

PR Newswire
International Business Media, 1.3 MB, FREE

PR Newswire is essential to all news publishers, business bloggers and information junkies. This fantastic app connects users (after registration) online to hundreds of fresh, daily public relation releases; all direct by companies and organizations from over 170 countries. Categories, customizable searches and alerts help users sort through the information overload and retain the most important breaking information about their industrial fields. 

The iPad integration is perfect for constantly on the go. Information is delivered quickly via the app in scrollable, easy to swipe and switch subscreens.. Text size, dual language (English, Spanish for now), caching and Twitter feeds are also welcome options. The best features are within each release at the the push of finger to the title. Print, email, blogging and more social media options become available, easing productivity as the iPad should. 

Also included are videos (oddly not very up to date), and PR marketing news and industry roundups. But, here's hoping the app will undergo new updates towards expanded options and increased performance. I would welcome less app crashing, direct access to product images, and text, background changing options. Still, for its price and usefulness, PR Newswire is worth having.

iPad App of the Day - Imo Instant Messenger

Imo Instant Messenger

The Imo Instant Messenger iPad app is the one instant chat service to rule them all. It does better than supporting and bringing chat functions to your iPad from Facebook, Google Talk, Skype, MSN, ICQ/AIM, Yahoo, Jabber, Myspace, Hyves, and Vkontakte. It can combine and synch them all in one vertical field on your screen allowing a quick, simplified view on who is online and ready to talk.

From there, you can easily switch between chats, have them open while you use other apps, switch individual accounts off with a touch, and allow notifications outside the app. I found the chatting itself to be very reliable and quick, no difference in performance if I had used each service directly. For reasons I have yet to understand, Imo does spontaneously forget my saved passwords once in a while before synching in. Not a biggie, but can be annoying when I need to talk or check up on someone in a hurried situation.

The Imo Instant Messenger is free and covers only 2.7 MB with no ads.