There are thousands of free iPad apps to help you work, play, communicate, or get informed. In compiling this list of the best free iPad apps, we focused on the ones that aren't just larger versions of iPhone apps, but deliver unique and compelling tablet-based experiences all their own. And to make finding apps even easier, we've broken them down by category: social networking, business, communication, entertainment, creativity, and news and information. So, where to start? Here are our top picks.
1. Top of Social Networking
AIM for iPad
AIM for iPad has a few social networking issues--namely, you can't retweet or direct message friends when using the built-in Facebook and Twitter clients--but it's a solid app for those with contacts who primarily use AOL's messaging services.
2. Top of Business
Dragon Dictation
Featuring very accurate voice transcription and the ability to share messages via e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter, Dragon Dictation is both fun to use and immensely helpful--as long as you're connected to the web.
3. Top of Communication
TextNow
This capable ipad SMS app is priced right, easy to use, and features the very cool ability to send free, unlimited texts, and embedded photos.
4. Top of Entertainment
ABC Player
ABC Player turns your iPad into a TV by delivering full episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Desperate Housewives, V, and Dancing with the Stars, and many more popular shows. Full-screen video looks sharp and smooth, with only limited commercial interruption. This app is almost good enough to make us forget we can't watch Hulu on the iPad.
5. Top of Creativity
Photoshop Express
The iPad is perfect for viewing photos, but what if you want to make changes to those pictures? Adobe's Photoshop Express lets you crop, straghten, rotate, and flip images, as well as add a variety of filters and effects. For fine editing you will still need to work on a PC, but for basic fixes this app is fantastic.
6. Top of News, Reference and Information
AP Mobile
There are a lot of great news application for the iPad, but if I had to pick one it would be AP Mobile. Not just text stories, but also photos and video, this apps keeps you in the floop, It also supports a local news feed so you can get news that is truly close to home
