This last was another great week for iPad apps. Here are five of my favorites, including a pair of great games, an app for social networking, and more.
Fruit Ninja HD ($4.99)
Already a hit on the iPhone, Fruit Ninja HD ($4.99) is silly and addictive fun on the iPad’s big screen. You can play as a single player, or compete head-to-head in a multi-player game. Slash fruit as it’s tossed up with your ninja sword, avoid the bombs, and see how many pieces you can chop at once. “Zen” mode allows you to play against the clock without any bombs. As you improve, earn new backgrounds and better swords.
Wine.com (Free)
I probably didn’t need to know how easy the Wine.com app (free) would make it for me to order wine for home delivery. Browse for wines by rating, type, region, style, and more. Use the “Wine Finder” to choose the kind of wine you like to drink and be presented with all of those fitting that description (designate type, style, region, ratings, and varietal). Prices are definitely competitive with my local wine shop, but shipping on a $12 bottle was slightly more than $12.
Apollo News ($4.99)
There’s no shortage of news apps and readers to be found in the iTunes App Store. Apollo News ($4.99) aggregates top news from a variety of high-profile sources like CNN, Huffington Post, Time and more. Tap the box containing the headline and summary that interests you, and an in-app browser opens the article. Save your favorite news sources, and email or post to Twitter or Facebook individual news items. View the Top News in general, or within a variety of categories. It had glitchy moments for me (stories closing spontaneously), but the developers seem to be working towards fixing any issues and adding functions.
iChat For Facebook (99 cents)
As Facebook hasn’t yet seen fit to grace iPad users with an app, we’re left using the site from our chosen browser. Which is fine, unless you want to chat, because Facebook chat on the iPad doesn’t work. iChat for Facebook (99 cents) attempts to fill that gap. Sure, you’re going to have to open the app to see who’s on Facebook to chat, and the app does nothing else but allow you to chat with your online friends. But it’s simple and it works. When I’m on Facebook in Safari, and I see a friend online with whom I’d like to chat, I just open up the app and type.
Master of Alchemy HD ($4.99)
Several of my favorite games on the iPad are made by Chillingo, and Master of Alchemy HD ($4.99) has been added to that list. Using tools and structural elements to change a substance from one form to another and guide it into a collection pot, Master of Alchemy HD is visually lovely.
