Productivity Apps for the iPad

The Apple iPad has several built in apps for productivity, but there are a lot of other free and paid apps that are popular with iPad users. Check out this list of excellent productivity apps and see if there are a few you might like.

Cloud Calendar ($2.99)

You can sync your Google Calendar to the iPad with Cloud Calendar. This app has a nice user interface that will match the color-coding of your Google Calendars. It includes multiple views, reminders, search and reliable syncing. (A free Google Account is required for set up.)

ToDo for iPad ($4.99)

The ToDo app is great for people who have a lot of lists and projects going on. Create lists, add sub-tasks, star tasks, set reminders, and more. The interface is easy to use and gives you a choice of theme styles.  You can also sync your ToDos with other services like ToDo Online, Dropbox, iCal and Outlook.

Dropbox (Free)

Dropbox is a free service that allows you to upload files, photos and videos from your computer. Once uploaded, you can access them from anywhere, including your iPad with this free app. Dropbox’s simple, convenient files storage allows you to view important documents and share favorite photos whenever you want. (A free Dropbox account required.)

Instapaper ($4.99)

With Instapaper you can save webpages and articles to read later offline. This app is great for bookmarking interesting pages or for saving an article to read when you do not have a WiFi connection. It converts most webpages into text only, so you will have a clean view without distractions. You can also adjust the font, text size, spacing and brightness for easier reading.

imo instant messenger for iPad (Free)

The imo app allows you to communicate with friends instantly on your iPad using your existing IM accounts. It is compatible with Facebook Chat, Google Talk, Skype, MSN, AIM, Yahoo, and more. It’s features include the ability to use voice IM, host group chats, send pictures and post video clips.

Hootsuite for Twitter (Free)

Hootsuite allows you to integrate your Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare accounts into one interface. It is especially useful for viewing multiple Twitter lists and for scheduling tweets. You can post to both Twitter and Facebook at the same time, so if you are a social media junkie, this app is for you. (Requires a free Hootsuite account.)

Simplenote (Free)

Simplenote allows you to record notes, ideas, lists and more on your iPad. You can then sync your notes with your computer or other mobile devices. (A free Simplenote account is required.)

This is just a small sample of how you can communicate and get things done on the iPad. If you would like to explore more productivity apps, visit the Apple App Store and let us know which ones are your favorite.