Spotify for iPad

Today, Spotify released its iPad app. Spotify is a music streaming service that offers digitally restricted streaming of selected music from a range of major and independent record labels. Music can be browsed by artist, album, record label, genre or playlists. You can also search. Basically, the app allows you to access and stream music tracks from albums and artists.

The service is available for free for a period of time with a Facebook login but you can upgrade to the unlimited plan without ads for $4.99 or choose the Premium plan with offline listing for $9.99 a month. You can read more about it on this wikipedia page.

The service started in Europe a few years ago and has made its way to the United States.

The developer describes the app’s features as follows:

• Instant access to millions of tracks
• Stream online
• Listen offline – no mobile connection needed
• Share music with your friends
• Star your favourite tracks
• Wirelessly sync your own MP3s to your iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad
• Create and sync playlists
• Send the tracks you listen to direct to Last.fm & Facebook

iPlan for iPad on Sale

 

 

 

A new event planner normally selling for $9.99 is on sale for the first 2000 people who can snag it at 99¢. iPlan for iPad is available now.

The app launched yesterday and appears to have a clean interface that syncs with Google Calendar and iCal. There is a built in weather display to help you take that into account in your planning.

The developer describes the app as follows:

+The app includes:

★Four views – yearly/monthly/weekly/daily
Choose the best view for keeping track of your project or plan.

★Colors for all of your synced calendars
It’s awesome that you can synchronize different calendars and see them at the same time – but sometimes it’s hard to figure out just what is what! With iPlan, you can assign a unique color to each calendar so you can tell entries apart at once.

★Simple input method
Simply tap the +add button to input a new calendar entry. You can even customize the calendar template for added convenience.

★Schedule search mode
Your calendar is packed with events. How are you ever going to find the one you need? With the smart search mode, you won’t have a problem locating the event you’re looking for.

★Longer memos
Some events simply can’t be captured in a single phrase! Fortunately, we give you plenty of room for longer messages.

★Password protection for your personal information
Whether company business or private plans, some things are for your eyes only. We handle the security so you can focus on your life.

★Event reminders
No matter how hard you work to keep your calendar organized, what good is it if you forget what you have to do? Our handy event reminders let you know when you’re supposed to go!

★Landscape mode compatibility
The app interface is designed to adapt to vertical or horizontal orientation. Whichever you prefer, it’s easy to manage your schedule. You can even choose to lock the app in one orientation.

 

For the 99¢ intro price, you may just want to check it out.

 

Paper App by Fifty Three

Recently, Fiftythree released Paper for the iPad. This “creative” capture app consists of 5 parts. Each part allows you to perform a different function. You can sketch, write, draw, outline and color. The first “included” piece is Draw. You can purchases additional “tools” with an in-app purchase.

The company promotes the app as a way to quickly capture ideas in a familiar journal like format. The tools and choices of colors are intentionally limited to allow you to focus on getting an idea down. The app is not supposed to be a full fledge drawing or painting app.

If that is what you are looking for, you will not be satisfied. Some have complained that the various in-app purchases to increase the tools available to you are not worth the price. However, the smooth drawing and feel of the app certainly warrant downloading the free version to try it out.

The interface is fun and allows for some unique interactions. You can squeeze to close your journal or flip to a page in a journal in a graphically pleasing way.

If you are the kind of person who likes to jot down ideas on a napkin or sketch out a rough idea for a presentation, this app is worth downloading and trying.

Clear Task Manager Released

Clear has now been released. The app is a simple to do list that is elegant and intuitive, once you understand it. It takes a couple of minutes to wrap your head around how lists and tasks are organized, deleted and created. However, once you get it, it is pretty fast.

The developer has already announced future features that may be included. Those include:

• Syncing tasks/lists between devices
• iPad and Mac versions, as well as Clear for other platforms such as Android and Windows Phone 7.
• Archiving completed tasks and/or lists
• Sublists/nested lists
• Reminders/alerts
• Sharing lists with others
• Moving task between lists

The app was previously mentioned here and you can watch the video.

For the introductory price, it is worth checking out and fun to try.

Facebook for iPad

Today, Facebook introduced its updated universal app that will run on the iPad. With version 4.0, you can now log in without tapping 2x to see an expanded iPhone view.

Not only does landscape mode make it easy to see more, now you can simultaneously view the news feed and chat with friends on line.

Portrait and landscape modes are available.

You can now see and share higher quality photos.

If you can’t get enough of Facebook, now, you will see and have more Facebook real-estate with the iPad version.

OmniOutliner for iPad “Major Update” to 1.1

Omnioutliner, an iPad outlining tool by OmniGroup has been updated. The company claims that this is a major update that adds 8 languages, text searching, copy/paste ability for row and more.

There are a bunch of bug fixes as well.

You can read more about the update here.

If you want to learn more about the product, you can watch the video introduction.

Noterize Note Taking App – Free Right Now.

If you have been looking for a note taking app that allows you to type as well as write, you might want to check out Noterize. [Right now 2011.07.02, it is FREE. Before you download, make sure the price has not changed.]

You can watch a video here.

The app allows you to view and annotate PDF and powerpoint documents. The built in web browser allows for direct importing of readable files from the web. You can even record audio notes. There is also Dropbox and Box.net integration.

Built in search functionality lets you find what you are looking for quickly.

You can even share pages with friends via social sites or email. The built in password protection can help keep notes secure.

Smart Traveler App Released

The official United States State Department app (for iPhone) has been released. This app will be frequently updated with official country information, travel alerts, travel warnings, maps, U.S. embassy locations and more.

You select the country or area you are interested in from a list. Then, you can “know before you go” to get travel warnings on that specific country or region. You can even build an e-tinerary so that the State Department can better assist you.

You can learn more about the program from the official Department of State home page.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary App

Ever want to look up a word on a dictionary on your iPad? Merriam-Webster today came out with an iPad version of their popular iPhone app. You can learn more here.

The app also offers synonyms, antonyms, example sentences, Word of the Day, and more. It’s a great tool for reference, education, and vocabulary building. The portrait view is shown below.
The enhanced iPad version offers voice search to let you look up a word without having to spell it. You can press on the speaker icon and have the app speak the word.

Although the app is supported by ads, this handy resource is well worth the download. Because it is 21 MB, you will probably need wi-fi access to download it.

Apple Store App Updated – Not for iPad

There have been many headlines about the new functionality built into the latest update of the Apple Store app. However, it is disappointing that the app will not run as a universal app on an iPad. Instead, it still runs as an iPhone app.

A description of the app from Apple states:

It’s the best way to get the most from the Apple Store — whether you’re on the go or at the store. Wherever you are, you can research and buy products, read reviews, make Genius Bar and One to One appointments, view in-store events, and more. And when you’re in an Apple Retail Store, you can request help, receive meet-up alerts, and more.

Here’s what you can do with the Apple Store app:
- Research and buy the latest Apple products, accessories, and software and get them shipped to your door.
- When at an Apple Retail Store, request help, check in for reservations, and receive meet-up alerts.
- Make Genius Bar and One to One reservations and sign up for workshops and events.
- Get free iPad and iPod engraving and signature gift wrapping for select Apple products.
- Custom-configure a new Mac with the options you want, including larger drives and more memory.
- Reserve iPhone and other select products for pickup at an Apple Retail Store.

The newest features of the app (v. 1.3) include:

- Enhanced in-store mode lets you get help and support quickly when you’re at an Apple Retail Store.

- The ability to custom-configure a new Mac with the options you want.

Overall, the app provides some good functionality unlike other apps. For example, you can walk into an Apple store and the app can check you in for your appointment. However, a fully supported iPad version would be welcome.