Top apps to outfit a new iPad or iPad mini

Top apps to outfit a new iPad or iPad mini:

Was there an iPad under your tree this year?

Chris Foresman

You know the scenario: a friend or family member got an iPad or iPad mini as a gift this week. Now they want to know what to do with the pretty slab of aluminum and glass. The App Store can be an overwhelming place, with programs that can transform the iPad into a word processor, a MIDI instrument, or a 3D gaming machine. That variety can be daunting if you are sampling the App Store for the very first time, but here's a place to start for those new to tablets.
We chose a few popular categories that cover some of the most common usage scenarios, then listed the top app in each that we would recommend to a friend. In some categories, we also mention alternatives that might appeal to those with more specialized tastes. (If you got a Nexus 7 or other Android tablet this holiday season, we have recommendations for you, too.)

Image editor

The iPad's screen is great for editing images, and photo buffs have no dearth of options for editing images while on the go. However, Google's Snapseed (free) is our top recommendation for editing images. It includes the standard editing controls like brightness, contrast, saturation, and color balance, along with tools that are common on mobile devices, like vintage-style filters and grungy borders.

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