Find and Install Top iPad Apps and Games

The iPad is sleek and shiny, a fantastic example of industrial design that packs a host of cutting-edge technologies into a thin, responsive tablet.

Aside from holding it in your hand, however, your time spent using the iPad will be focused almost entirely on its software.

The core apps that ship with the iPad are useful, but those are just the beginning. More than 150,000 (at this writing) programs are available from the App Store-so many that Apple's marketing tagline, "There's an app for that," has become part of current popular culture.

With a few taps (and often just a few dollars), you can locate, purchase, and download apps that do nearly anything you can think of. In this chapter, I tell you how to find and install apps, and also how you can share them with friends.

Quick, jump in the car, let's go app shopping!

Or don't. In the case of most software, buying new programs means going to a store in the mall, or buying a box from an online retailer, or even downloading it from the developer directly. But that's not the case with iPad apps.

The only outlet to get apps is Apple's App Store, available on the iPad itself or from within iTunes. Pricing varies among apps, naturally, but most cost less than $15-in many cases, far less, with many apps available for free.

NOTE: The App Store does not offer demo or shareware versions of apps, so it's difficult to evaluate an app before purchasing it. It's not impossible, though: Many vendors offer free "light" versions of their apps, which are limited in scope but give you a sense of what the paid version can do. Other apps may cost as little as $0.99 and offer just a handful of features, with the option to unlock others if you pony up some more cash.

The App Store on the iPad

Tap the App Store icon on the Home screen to launch the App Store. Since it's a storefront, you'll see many new and featured titles, including apps that are designed specifically for the iPad.

The screen is broken up into several areas. The In the Spotlight section at top provides a Cover Flow view of featured apps. Flick left and right to bring the apps to the front of the view and tap one that interests you.

The boxed New and Noteworthy section reveals more showcase items.

NOTE: In an odd interface discrepancy, you must tap the arrow buttons at the edges of the boxed areas to view more items, instead of swiping left or right as in the Spotlight area at the top of the page.

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