Have a new iPad just in time for the Lunar New Year? The holiday is the perfect opportunity to hide indoors from the cold and tap, tap, tap to your heart’s content.
Read on for the Taipei Times’ shortlist of the latest and greatest apps for Apple’s tablet computer sensation, all available through the Taiwan iTunes store.
Internet Channel 4 HD (網路第四台HD), US$2.99
Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times
Star attraction has made this app a steady top-seller on the Taiwan iTunes store. Internet Channel 4 HD gathers all of the popular Taiwanese television shows available on YouTube and presents them in an easy-to-browse format. You can watch any of the videos within the app, and it’s a fast way to catch up on episodes of your favorite Jerry Yan (言承旭) soap or to check out the latest singers on Super Idol (超級偶像). In Chinese only.
Friendly, free
For avid Facebook users, there’s only one app, and Friendly is it. This non-official version does a nice job of packaging the Facebook experience into a dedicated app that’s nicer to use than the actual Web site. And just because the color-blind Mark Zuckerberg needs to see blue doesn’t mean you must, too — the color scheme is customizable. The app can handle multiple accounts, which is handy if the family shares an iPad. Friendly Plus, which does without ads, is US$0.99, but they’re hardly a bother in the free version, at least for now.
Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times
Angry Birds, free
It’s angry birds versus green pigs in a game that has been a blockbuster hit on both Apple’s iOS and Android platforms.
Fat little birds with furrowed brows are your weapon, and the goal is simple: launch the birds from a slingshot to knock down elaborate fortresses housing those pesky pigs. The free version is addictive; devotees can get the paid version for US$0.99.
Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times
Starwalk, US$4.99
The iPad truly shines when used with outstanding apps like Starwalk, an astronomy guide that identifies stars and constellations wherever you point your device. The app uses the iPad’s built-in compass to give you real-time locations of the stars and planets. You can also track the location of satellites, have the app point you in the true direction of whichever planet or star you’re looking for, and view NASA telescope photos of deep space. Starwalk is offered in multiple languages, including Chinese.
Instapaper, free
Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times
Instapaper comes in handy when you don’t always have Internet access but want to keep reading that interesting article you found on the Web. The app saves Web pages for offline reading, repackaging the text into a neat, reader-friendly format, similar to an e-book reader. Installing the app requires signing up for an account and making adjustments to your bookmarks bar in Safari, but it’s worth the slight trouble. The interface is in English only, but it handles Chinese characters with no problem.
Bloom HD, US$3.99
Bloom HD is an app that makes the iPad seem like a futuristic device from a sci-fi fantasy. Designed by electronic musician and pop producer Brian Eno, Bloom lets you create your own ambient music compositions by choosing “moods” visualized in ever-changing color schemes. Simply tap on the screen to create sounds, which can be played in a loop, and watch the mesmerizing circles shift, change color and grow on the screen.
Photo courtesy of shop.think-different.com.tw
GoodReader, US$2.99
This feature-rich app, a consistent top-seller on iTunes, is a must if you want to view PDF, Microsoft Office or iWorks files on the iPad. GoodReader makes reading PDFs a smooth and fairly painless experience, and it’s easy to add your own notes and highlighting with the touchscreen functions. The app also has plenty of options for loading documents onto your iPad, including the use of a local WiFi network or with a direct connection to Dropbox, Google Docs or an FTP server. In English only.
OrganiDoc HD, US$4.99
Photo courtesy of Ipevo.com.tw
OrganiDoc HD, created by Taiwanese company Wenjoy (其享科技), is another quick way to get files onto your iPad. You can directly access your Google Docs or Dropbox accounts from within the app and transfer files via a local WiFi network or sync them through iTunes. This app comes recommended, but with reservations: We had trouble downloading certain files from Google Docs, and the earthy color scheme — pale lime green and brown — doesn’t look very nice on the iPad’s screen. The price is too high considering that you get similar functionality with GoodReader, but it does have a simple, understandable interface and is available in multiple languages, including Chinese.
Skyfire, US$4.99
Disappointed that you can’t view Flash video on the iPad? Skyfire might be for you. The company behind this Web browser, SkyFire Labs, uses server technology to re-encode Flash video on the fly to make it playable on the iPad and iPhone. Be aware that not all videos will play, and Flash games and apps don’t work at all. But as a Web browser, it has a few slick features that Safari doesn’t, such as pop-up windows that display Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Photo courtesy of shop.think-different.com.tw
Splashtop, US$1.99
Another way to view Flash video is to use Splashtop, which turns your iPad into a remote control screen for your PC or Mac. Splashtop lets you see and control your computer from your iPad, using a local WiFi connection. Your mileage will vary depending on how fast your computer is, but set-up is very easy, and for the price the app is a great deal. Available in multiple languages, including Chinese.
Penultimate, US$0.99
Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times
Drawing or handwriting notes is a breeze with this note-taking app. Choose between different “pens” to draw fine or thick lines with your finger, and switch between plain, lined or graph paper. Penultimate organizes everything into notebooks, which can be exported as a PDF file and e-mailed from within the program. There are a few glaring annoyances — for example, if you accidentally erase a page or a notebook, there doesn’t seem to be a way to get it back — but for apps of this kind, this one is the most polished and well-designed.
PlainText, free
This “minimalist” text editor is probably your best bet as a simple word processor or free alternative to Notes, which comes with the iPad. A nice-looking font and clutter-free background makes writing and reading .txt files a pleasant experience, and Dropbox users will love the built-in sync functionality.
Photo courtesy of shop.think-different.com.tw
Cases and accessories
Here’s a small sampling of the many iPad cases and accessories available in Taiwan. These products can be purchased through online shops such as www.ipevo.com.tw or shop.think-different.com.tw, which loaned products to the Taipei Times, as well as brick-and-mortar stores specializing in Apple products.
Photo courtesy of shop.think-different.com.tw
The Boa Folio (NT$1,680) by Booq adds some bulk to the iPad, but a stylish design and rugged exterior are a big plus if you carry your device everywhere. The case can be folded to prop up the iPad at two different angles, and it’s equipped with slim pockets on the sides.
For something a bit lighter, the GGMM Nylon Case for iPad (古古美美尼龍筆記型保護套, NT$1,150) will do the trick, but the trade-off is slightly less protection, especially at the edges. With its faux leather exterior, this case seems to be aimed at the business set. It offers more viewing angles than the Boa Folio when propped up.
The Taipan Spacesuit (NT$990), another product by Booq, spices up the simple zip-up case design with eye-catching colors, fancy stitching and patterned fabrics.
Kensington provides extra juice with the PowerBack Battery Case (NT$4,290). The company says that on a full charge, the case, which also functions as a stand and dock for the iPad, can provide an extra five hours of battery power. With that extra power, though, comes an extra 454g of weight. And getting the iPad out of the case can be a chore as it’s a tight fit.
You’ll pay a premium for Elago’s P2 Stand for iPad (NT$1,380), but this all-metal product is sturdy, looks nice and holds the iPad at a comfortable viewing angle.
CORRECTION: In the original story, the photo credits for several iPad cases and accessories were incorrectly listed as courtesy of Bravo PR. Photos of Booq's Boa Folio, Booq's Taipan Spacesuit and Kensington's PowerBack Battery Case were provided by shop.think-different.com.tw and the photo of Elago's P2 Stand for iPad was provided courtesy of ipevo.com.tw. <
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