29 must have apps to run your business from your iPad

This week, TIME Magazine editor-at-large Harry McCracken interviewed himself as a follow-up to his piece on how he had been using his iPad as his primary computer. During the interview he mentions that he still uses his iPad a lot – so much so that it is still his favourite computer.

Yes, he’s a journalist. But he points out that others have taken up the charge of becoming “big time” iPad users:

“I’m pretty sure it’s not just journalists who are using iPads as computers. I see people doing it in airplanes. I’ve seen them doing it on the subway. When I’m out and about, strangers run up to ask me about my keyboard. Something’s happening here, and it’s happening quickly…”

I can say that I’ve been using my iPad more and more – and I still have my trusted original version. And yes, I am a writer. But I also am running a business. And you’d be surprised how much you can do on an iPad to keep your business running smoothly. In fact, for many entrepreneurs, you can find everything you need to run your business…on your iPad.

I’ve compiled a list of 30 of some of the best apps (some made for the iPad, some made for the iPhone that will need to be doubled in size upon launch) out there that can help you get well on your way to making your iPad the ultimate business tool.

Evernote

Evernote is a great all-in-one tool for notes and much, much more.

Glassboard

Glassboard is an easy way to set up and take part in discussion groups between yourself and clients or coworkers.

Mail

The app comes standard with your iPad, so you can always have every email wth you no matter where you are.

Agenda Calendar

Far better than the standard Calendar app, Agenda syncs up with a host of online calendars and allows for quick messaging right from within the app.

LogMeIn

LogMeIn lets you control your Mac and/or PC right from your iPad. Handy if you need to get access to something on your home or work machine and it’s nowhere in sight.

Skype

Great for video conferences or one-on-one calls, Skype has long been a champion of VoIP. Use it in conjunction with QuickVoice to record your calls and have them handy for later review.

Asana Mobile

Asana is a collaborative task management app that, while designed for the iPhone, can be used on the iPad just as easily. (And it’s much improved in its latest iteration.)

AwayFind

If you don’t want to get every email while you’re using your iPad, using the iOS app for the service AwayFind is a great option.

Pages

If you want to stick with a seamless document editing experience across all of your Apple platforms, then Pages is the way to go. The ability to sync documents over iCloud has leveled up the app considerably.

Numbers

Much like with Pages, Numbers is a great option for spreadsheet manipulation on the go.

Keynote

With Keynote on your iPad, you can leave the laptop at home and run any presentations right from the iPad.

Prezi Viewer

Prezi Viewer is an alternate presentation/slidedeck app if you’re not into using Keynote. If you want the ability to be platform independent it’s worth a look.

Alarm Clock HD Pro

Just in case your smartphone (or the hotel wake-up call) fails you, it’s never a bad idea to have Alarm Clock Pro HD Pro installed on your iPad.

Soulver

Soulver is an incredibly intuitive and unique calculator that allows you to save previous calculations, conduct running totals, and much more.

OmniFocus

OmniFocus is widely considered to be one of the best task management apps for iOS. It’s pricey, but it can be as used as a simple to-do list or as a powerful GTD app.

Dragon Dictation

Great for taking notes or writing lengthy missives, Nuance’s app Dragon Dictation has long been the standardbearer when it comes to dictation.

iThoughts HD

While there are many mind mapping apps to choose from, I’ve always found iThoughts HD to be the most versatile and pleasant to use.

Due

Due is like the iPhone’s Reminders app on steroids. Essential if you need to be reminded of regular tasks, errands, or simple reminders.

Dropbox

Dropbox is essentially an external drive for your iPad. keep any and all important items in your Dropbox folder for easy access on the go, and your iPad’s usefulness increases significantly.

1Password

An essential app for the iPad (and for several other platforms as well). Using 1Password allows you to keep any passwords you have synced (via Dropbox or iTunes) stored on the device so that you’re never searching

TextExpander

While this app can’t interact with every app on your iPad (the Mac version has a leg up on it in that department), TextExpander is a great app that will save you keystrokes – and time – while you use your iPad for various functions.

TripIt

I’ve been using the TripIt serivce for the past few years, and being able to have quick access to all of my travel itinerary on my iPad (often needed when filling out customs forms when going abroad) is incredibly handy. Plus, you can check out the seating on your flights to try to better your assignment if you want, and track any travel points programs you have.

Drafts

One of the newest additions to the iPad (it has been available for the iPhone for some time), Drafts is a great app to capture things quickly – be it tweets, notes, tasks, or what-have-you. Then when you’re ready, you can move them to a more fitting app (like the aforementioned OmniFocus or Evernote, among others).

GoodReader

A powerhouse of an app that allows you to have quick access to documents, PDF files and much more. GoodReader lets users sync documents to Dropbox, and adopt a more paperless lifestyle while on the go.

Quickoffice Pro HD

A truly robust office suite, Quickoffice Pro HD lets you create and edit Microsoft Office documents, spreadsheets, and presentation formats right on the iPad. A better option if you’re in an Office environment than Pages.

Penultimate

This app is a tremendous handwriting app for the iPad. It features both Dropbox and Evernote integration as well as a slew of other sharing options. If you’re still itching to use a pen and paper while on the go, then give Penultimate a try and you’ll feel a little bit more at home.

PDFPen for iPad

Need to manipulate a PDF? Want to be able to grab that signature while on the move? Then PDFPen is your best choice.

Daylite 4

A high-end CRM manager that has been around on the Mac for some time, Daylite for the iPad is a fully-fledged app, giving you complete project management control right on your iPad (although you will need to have both Daylite and Daylite Server installed on your Mac to use it).

HootSuite

If you’re into managing all of your social networks, then you can’t do much better than HootSuite. Simply input your HootSuite credentials once you’ve installed the app and you’ll be good to go.

There are a number of other apps in the iTunes App Store that you’ll find are perhaps more to your liking, but the point is this: with the advent of incredible technology in both software and hardware reaching new heights with the iPad, there’s absolutely no reason you can’t run your business from the device.