Entertainment iPad Apps

Its portability and sharp color make the Apple iPad a perfect venue for entertainment. With thousands of apps available, owners of the device can find software to cater to just about any interest, from creating art to listening to music and watching movies. Apps can also turn the iPad into a companion for other entertainment equipment users have.

Photo apps for iPad give users tools for turning their images into works of art. Many of the iPad apps for photographers will perform editing tasks such as cropping images, adjusting brightness, softening the look of portrait shots, retouching image flaws, applying filters and turning color shots to black and white. Some iPad photo apps even synch devices so that images users shoot with their phone or scan to their computer can be transferred to the iPad for fine-tuning.

For people whose interests include reading, watching TV and listening to music, iTunes iPad apps can be a must-have. The software gives users access to millions of songs, podcasts on a wide range of subjects, audiobooks and thousands of movies and TV shows.

TV fans might also enjoy the Time Warner Cable iPad app, which lets users watch live TV through the device from anywhere in their home. Through its interactive guide, the Time Warner iPad app also allows users to view listings for up to seven days.

The XFINITY iPad app and the Netflix iPad app may also appeal to TV and movie viewers. XFINITY, a Comcast iPad app, lets users with a home Wi-Fi connection view movies and network and premium cable TV shows on their iPad and turns the device into a remote through which users can change channels on their TV and schedule their DVR. Similarly, Netflix subscribers can stream movies and TV shows with the Netflix app for iPad.

With the DirecTV iPad app, subscribers can view live TV through the device as well as control their home TV and DVR, get real-time scores of their favorite teams and set parental controls that keep children from viewing inappropriate content. The app also gives users information about their favorite shows, including synopses, listings of the cast and crew and photos from the show.

Like other viewing apps, the TiVo iPad app turns the device into another remote. When connected to their home wireless network, users can browse TV shows, schedule TiVo recordings and get information on shows currently playing.

Many apps also exist for music fans. Some of the best iPad music apps allow users to virtually play instruments, including piano, keyboard, flute, guitar, bass guitar and drums. Music apps for iPad can even function as a learning tool, teaching users to read sheet music and play the corresponding keys.

The best DJ app for iPad gives a rather realistic experience, displaying virtual turntables that users can spin and scratch. With both manual and instant effects, users control the music by adjusting sliders, speeding up or slowing down the tempo, cross fading between tracks and skipping forward or backward. The software also allows music to be sorted based on a number of categories such as beats per minute.

Many iPad apps for kids blend learning experiences with entertainment. Many games incorporate math, spelling, reading, geography or other subjects into play. There are also apps that provide children with fully illustrated books to read or will even read to the youngsters as they follow along. Others tap into their creativity, giving them a place to draw and color or write stories.

By providing tools for word processing, PDF creation and spreadsheet and file management, apps also cater to businesses. With iPad business apps, companies can make fliers, brochures, flowcharts, graphics, website mockups and high-color presentations for clients. Workers can also use the apps to make audio notes, attend online meetings, deliver presentations and even troubleshoot other company computers remotely.

The CBS app for iPad, which delivers real-time breaking news and updates on developing stories, also can be a tool for businesses — or just a means to stay up to date on national and world events. Features include both text editions and streaming video of general news, business and special interest stories. The CBS iPad app also lets users share stories with others via e-mail and social networking sites.