iPad Mini Apps: The 13 Best Apps That Any New iPad Or iPad Mini Owner Should Download Immediately

You got a new iPad Mini for your religious holiday of choice! Congratulations! Take it out of the box, give it a good sniff and then power it on: We've got some apps to download.

Below, we've got 13 of our absolute favorite apps for iPad and iPad Mini: The essentials, the best of the best. These aren't the only apps you need for your new Apple tablet, but they are certainly a good start. Let's get downloading.

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• Paper (FREE)

  Apple's iPad App of the Year is a content-creation machine, allowing you to draw, take notes, sketch and color in between (or outside of) the lines. Worth a try for any creative types out there, or anyone who wants to use a new iPad or iPad Mini to replace a laptop. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paper-by-fiftythree/id506003812?mt=8">Download Paper for free here</a>.

• Pocket (FREE)

  You're going to want to do a lot of reading on your iPad or iPad Mini -- and not just book-reading, either! Pocket is a handy utility for saving articles from webpages for clean viewing on your tablet later. You can save an article from anywhere -- your laptop, your iPhone, or your iPad itself -- and it saves the text of that article to your Pocket account for you to access later from your iPad. A great way to collect and read interesting writing from the web (perhaps from the Huffington Post!) on your new tablet. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-formerly-read-it-later/id309601447?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download Pocket here</a>. ALTERNATIVES <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instapaper/id288545208?mt=8" target="_hplink">Instapaper</a> is a popular Instapaper alternative, for $3.99

• Twitter (FREE)

  Twitter's iPad app features one of the best and most simple interfaces of all the major website apps -- an easy, attractive way to sort, read and send out your tweets, write direct messages, sort your lists, and do everything else you would expect to be able to do on Twitter.com. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/twitter/id333903271?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a>, and after you do, follow <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/huffposttech" target="_hplink">@HuffPostTech</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/gilbertjasono" target="_hplink">@gilbertjasono</a> on Twitter, why don't you? ALTERNATIVES <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tweetcaster-pro-for-twitter/id421511821?mt=8" target="_hplink">Tweetcaster</a>(FREE) and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hootsuite-for-twitter/id341249709?mt=8" target="_hplink">HootSuite</a> (FREE) are popular Twitter suites with apps custom-made for the iPad. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tweetbot-for-twitter-ipad/id498801050?mt=8">TweetBot ($2.99) is a well-reviewed paid option</a>.

• Facebook (Free)

  Facebook, too, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/facebook-ipad-app-release_n_1004017.html" target="_hplink">has an iPad app</a>, and it's probably the best way to access the world's largest social network on your iPad. And hey, if you liked the look of Twitter's interface, you'll...equally like that the look of Facebook's interface, as they are remarkably similar. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/facebook/id284882215?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a> (and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/HuffPostTech" target="_hplink">like HuffPostTech on Facebook here</a>).

• Nightstand Central (Free)

  Surprise! There's no alarm clock on the iPad. If you were hoping to use your new tablet as an alarm (and you live in a neighborhood <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_JtoW7GrdY" target="_hplink">without whistle tips</a>), you'll need to snag one from the app store. We like Nightstand Central, a well-designed, free app with a split-flap clock that gives you the time and the weather in glorious full-screen mode. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nightstand-central-for-ipad/id392480771?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a>. ALTERNATIVES There are lots! <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alarm-clock-monsters-for-ipad/id385145533?mt=8" target="_hplink">Waku has a cute one</a> with animated monsters, and the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ambient-alarm/id364906021?mt=8" target="_hplink">popular Ambient Alarm features</a> a relaxing "color changing mood light option."

• Zite (FREE)

  Apple's #1 news app from 2011 is Zite, which is kind of like a Pandora for news reading. You begin by inputting your Google Reader, Twitter, or Pocket profiles and then Zite creates your magazine for you in a simple and elegant single screen. You can give a thumbs up or thumbs down to any article you read, and Zite's article recommendations for you grow smarter and more personalized over time. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zite-personalized-magazine/id419752338?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a>. ALTERNATIVES <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ne/app/flipboard/id358801284?mt=8" target="_hplink">Flipboard</a> is a tremendous, beautiful Zite competitor in the personalized magazine space. Google recently launched its own newsmagazine <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-currents/id459182288?mt=8" target="_hplink">called Currents</a>; Aol (which owns Huffington Post) also has a magazine-style newsreader <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/editions-by-aol/id447687307?mt=8" target="_hplink">called Aol Editions</a>.

• Kindle (FREE)

  Amazon's Kindle app is our favorite book reader, beating out Apple's iBooks and Barnes and Noble's Nook app. It's especially useful if you already own a Kindle and you've just upgraded to an iPad or iPad Mini, as the books you've already bought on the Kindle can be redownloaded to your iPad (or iPad Mini) free of charge. Note that you can only actually download books on Amazon.com or on your Kindle, not directly on the Kindle iPad app; you can only do that on iBooks. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kindle/id302584613?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a>. ALTERNATIVES The aforementioned <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibooks/id364709193?mt=8" target="_hplink">iBooks</a> and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nook-for-ipad-from-barnes/id373582546?mt=8" target="_hplink">NOOK</a> apps are both free; Google also has a free iPad app <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-books/id400989007?mt=8" target="_hplink">for its Books</a>.

• The Weather Channel (FREE)

  The iPad does not come with a native weather app; The Weather Channel's iPad app looks great, loads fast and gives you the weather. What more could you want from a weather app, really? <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-weather-channel-for-ipad/id364252504?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a>. ALTERNATIVES AccuWeather (FREE) also makes a nice, clean iPad app, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/accuweather-for-ipad/id364616869?mt=8">which you can download here</a>.

• YouTube (FREE)

  Apple recently booted YouTube from the list of apps that come pre-loaded on its devices -- too bad, since YouTube and its video collections are natural companions for the large displays of the iPad and iPad Mini. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/youtube/id544007664?mt=8">Download YouTube (FREE) here</a> and restore the natural video order to your Apple tablet.

• Showyou (FREE)

  For a more visually-pleasing way to view and find new web videos than YouTube, check out the excellent Showyou app. It aggregates all the videos in your social media streams (Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.) into one swipe-able screen. A great user experience made just for the iPad and a perennial HuffPost favorite and Apple award winner. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/showyou/id422698201?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a>.

• Netflix (FREE)

  The app is free, well-designed, but you'll need an $8/month streaming subscription to enjoy Netflix's library of movies and TV shows on your iPad. If you're one of over 20 million who already have that subscription, however -- well, stream away. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/netflix/id363590051?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a>. ALTERNATIVES There are lots of terrific apps for watching movies and TV shows on your iPad. Try <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crackle-movies-tv/id377951542?mt=8" target="_hplink">Crackle</a> for free, unedited content from Sony (with ads); the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-player/id364191819?mt=8" target="_hplink">ABC Player</a> has full-length TV shows from ABC; PBS also has a bunch of documentaries and shows on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pbs-for-ipad/id398349296?mt=8" target="_hplink">its app for the iPad</a>. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hulu-plus/id376510438?mt=8" target="_hplink">Hulu Plus subscribers</a> have their own app; if you subscribe to HBO, you probably also have access to <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hbo-go/id429775439?mt=8" target="_hplink">HBO Go</a>, which also has its own app.

• Find My iPhone (FREE)

  If (God forbid) you were to lose your iPad or have it stolen, you're going to want to have <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/find-my-ipad.html" target="_hplink">Find My iPhone running</a>. It's a free app from Apple that runs through the iCloud service and can pinpoint your device's location on a map, which you can see any time at <a href="http://icloud.com" target="_hplink">iCloud.com</a>. This is an app that takes a couple minutes to install and it could save you several hundred dollars (or hours digging around your home searching for your dang tablet). <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt=8" target="_hplink">Download it here</a>.

• Google Earth (FREE)

  The incredible suite of mapping and geographic visualization software from Google comes to the iPad in an awesome, immersive app. Travel around the world from your armchair. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-earth/id293622097?mt=8">Download it for free here</a>.

(This is an updated version of our favorite iPad apps from 2011. It has been refreshed for the current year).

CORRECTION: A previous version stated that the iPad did not come with an alarm clock. That changed in iOS 6, as Apple added its own clock.

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Comments

[duyentran607]

07:38 AM on 04/28/2013

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[sculptingman]

11:01 PM on 12/28/2012

Paper isn't free. You get a pen tool... that's all. You pay $2 for each of its additional tools.
When you're done, you've spent $10 for one of the least capable drawing apps on the iPad.
You can't even adjust the size of the eraser, much less any of the "tools". No layers, either.

There are literally hundreds of apps that offer better features for $2 total or less.

Or, you can spring a whole $5 and buy Procreate... The best painting and drawing app available or the iPad.

[Pink Teddy Bear]

11:37 PM on 12/28/2012

"Paper isn't free"

Yes it is.

[sculptingman]

12:07 AM on 12/29/2012

No, it isn't. Not really.
It's a tease to get you to pay for additional tools.
As I pointed out... You get a pen.

All the other tools cost... Each one costs as much as entire other apps.
And you only find out how limited they are after you purchase them.

[Aly Woolfrey]

07:58 PM on 12/28/2012

Twitter? TWITTER???

Not that Twitter is a horrible app. But it's hardly one of the "12 best of 2012." I have more than 12 apps on my ipad alone that are more impressive than Twitter. This slideshow should be called "The 12 best free ipad apps that everybody already has, or that display the weather." Or, I suspect, "The 12 best ipad apps that the author happened to have on his ipad when he was assigned this article"

[diogyphus]

12:59 PM on 12/28/2012

Anyone who would like a ringtone for the iPhone that sounds like a chinese worker falling off a tall building, feel free to send me your email address. It's freeware.

[diogyphus]

12:57 PM on 12/28/2012

I highly recommend the How to Kill Yourself App from the Hemlock Society.

[diogyphus]

12:48 PM on 12/28/2012

Gee...I'm really glad to hear it comes with a clock! How else would I know what time it was???

[zaglossus]

12:37 PM on 12/28/2012

Can these work an old and apparently obsolete iPad2 one of which I own? Really, I can't afford to buy a new iPad every time Apple upgrades or comes out with a new model which is seemingly more frequent than once a year. (Rumors are now the next version of iPad will debut March 2013.)

[Hroadie]

12:49 PM on 12/28/2012

Yes, I have and iPad2 and am using some of these apps with no problem.

[Pink Teddy Bear]

11:44 PM on 12/28/2012

That there's a new model doesn't make yours obsolete.

[Ann in Oklahoma]

07:19 PM on 12/27/2012

If you live in tornado alley on any area prone to severe weather, I highly recommend RadarScope and iMap Weather Radio. They are lifesavers.

[BenBrandenburg]

06:31 PM on 12/27/2012

It's funny, because I'm on my mini fit now, and the skldeshow won't load.... Oh irony...

[BenBrandenburg]

06:42 PM on 12/27/2012

*right **slideshow
...oops

[johnny we]

06:26 PM on 12/27/2012

Are they mini apps so the slave children building the ipads can use them?

[WSAY]

09:05 PM on 12/27/2012

Give it a break. That story has long since been proven to be propaganda.

[johnny we]

09:25 PM on 12/27/2012

Give it a break...Apple enslaves children...you can relate to that

[diogyphus]

12:53 PM on 12/28/2012

I'm sorry but that's clearly not true in the least. While it may not be what is technically considered "slave labor" the housing of various ethnic minorities in highrise housing with little or no life than assembling this crap indeed led to a similar despair.
I've had crappy jobs but none that would force me to consider jumping off a tall building.
You have to admire their creative way to address it...a stadium rally with Don't Kill Yourself pledges and cheerleaders and bands...while workers strung nets to keep the sidewalks below the buildings clean.
You're entitled to be a trend-mongering fashion victim if you wish. But your attempts to justify your vapid existence don't entitle you to distort the truth about the consequences of your choices.

[yehosef]

04:09 PM on 12/27/2012

The iPad Mini is really exciting and I would love to own it, however it is not taking Apple to the next level. Apple needs to reinvent itself because right now it is just looking like it is recycling its products. Apple, please do not follow in the steps of RIM. I love Apple!

[jflorish]

04:59 PM on 12/27/2012

Ipad mini is for the cheaper market, it definitely has its place. I like the bigger ipad screen for book reading though, but I can see why some prefer the mini especially when carrying it around.

[yehosef]

05:17 PM on 12/27/2012

Cheaper market? Really? The Mini starts at $329, while the Kindle Fire starts at $159, and Google Nexus at $199. Like someone said before I would not pay more than $200 for this smaller screen.

[Simon J Wright]

01:23 PM on 12/27/2012

A decent VNC app for any iProduct would be on my must-have list of apps. I spent way too much of the 90s trying to visualize relatives and friends' computer screens as I took them through the troubleshooting process over the phone. Why spend 45 minutes describing what the user should do when you can take over their computer from thousands of miles away and get it fixed within 5-10 minutes?

[henryberry]

11:43 AM on 12/27/2012

I just added the Weather Channel app. It's excellent. I deleted the very mediocre and at best marginally helpful weather app I had been using. The Weather Channel app has all the sorts of detailed weather information I look for in my planning my daily and weekly activities without going into too much detail, e. g., a map of isobars, though you could probably find that if you wanted.

You have to do some exploration to find your way to the information most useful for the average person. At first, this makes the app seem a little confusing. But once you're used to its intelligent design, you can make maximum use of it. Great graphics too, so the app is not monotonous or predictable every time you go to it.

[AppsIowa]

10:07 AM on 12/27/2012

Okay Notebinder App and Cymbol for iPad make for a couple in the education or note taking space any iPad Mini should have.

[Frank Lazar]

07:57 AM on 12/27/2012

Find My Phone is something you use from another device. to find the one you're missing. If you only have one iOS device, than it's useless to download it. What you do instead is to remember to go to icloud.com on your desktop if you need to find your strayed iPhone.... or nuke it's contents remotely. I deleted it from my iPhone and I can still use the icloud service to find the device when I need to.

[CSR-921]

09:17 AM on 12/27/2012

I am not sure about this, but I thought one could find the iPhone from any computer with the right software.

[Madison Shea Moore]

09:34 AM on 12/27/2012

You can. When I just had my iPhone, I was able to find it through the internet on my laptop.

[ejpoeta]

10:16 AM on 12/28/2012

if you have a computer you can use that to find it. I have found it very useful.