This week’s iPad list is big on the “get organized” side, but don’t worry–there’s a fun fishing game for those times you feel like taking a break from responsibility.
OmniFocus for iPad ($39.99)
Despite my insistence to the contrary, my app-buying budget keeps growing and growing. And my finger hovered over the “buy” button for OmniFocus for iPad forever. It’s hard to say if it’s worth the $40 I spent, but it is the easiest organizational app I’ve tried. Tasks are easily added to the Inbox as they pop into my head, and it is simple to go back later and assign contexts, due dates, etc., or to just take care of them right from the Inbox. Focusing on the stuff that is important right now takes just a tap. Add locations on a map and view your tasks in a way that makes it easy to schedule errands, and also add pictures or voice notes. The “Forecast” view allows me to look at what’s coming up due this week. OmniFocus gets out of your way and allows you to be as detailed or as simple as suits your style.
Fitness Library for iPad ($4.99)
Personal trainers aren’t cheap. Grab Fitness Library for iPad and have a veritable encyclopedia of exercises to target specific areas of your body. Organized by target area and equipment, Fitness Library allows you to easily find the exercise you want or need. Each page features a couple paragraphs about the exercise, photographs illustrating the right and wrong way to do the excercise, as well as detailed instructions. Diagrams showing targeted muscles, as well as tips, are also included. Also featured are a slew of different routines. Fitness Library for iPad is essentially a fitness book translated to the device, and it would benefit from including video of the exercises being performed, or at least a built-in tracker that will let you record the exercises you’ve performed. But its solid and exhaustive content is well presented.
FLUD ($3.99)
FLUD needs a little work, but I’ve included it here because it has tremendous potential and is the latest in a rush of visual news and feed readers that make it easier for us to share what we’re interested in with others in our social networks. View feeds as thumbnails, favorite them or post to your Facebook wall (the app needs Twitter sharing, too). FLUD includes a bunch of big-name featured feeds and you can add your own—but you’ll only be able to use FLUD to keep track of 30, and searching for a feed gives some not-so-accurate results. Attention FLUD developers: tighten this baby up so I don’t regret including it here!
Rocket Project for iPad ($14.99)
I’m probably a little heavy on the organize-your-stuff apps in this list, but Rocket Project for iPad deserves a mention, not least because it is the only app I’ve seen, ever, that allows you to delegate tasks to someone else via email. Once they’ve received the task, they can easily add it to Rocket Project on their own device, and notify you that they’ve accepted the task (or not, if they choose to decline). Delegated tasks are easily tracked, and Rocket Project lets you set reminders, alerts you if the delegated task is overdue, and lets you poke the person who’s behind on their task.
i Fishing HD ($2.99)
You don’t have to be a fisherman to enjoy playing i Fishing HD, although you do have to have the patience of a fisherman. Drive your boat to a good fishin’ hole and cast your line. If you get a bite, tilt the iPad to “set the hook” and then, if you’re lucky, reel in a nice fish. Earn money and win tournaments, just like the pros.
