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    AppStart for iPad (2012 Edition)

    by AppAdvice.com

    Pardon the pun and self-promotion, but in all honesty, our own AppStart is really the app to start with. It has been designed specifically for new iPad owners and is the ideal guide to help you wade through the many apps available. With recommendations for a wide variety of categories, you should be able to find plenty to interest you, regardless of your personal interests. Make AppStart the first app you download and it'll lead you on to many more.

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    iBooks

    by Apple

    Whether it be in the form of words, pictures, audio, or video, media consumption is a particular strength of the iPad. It follows that you'll want to download apps with media to consume. The iPad makes for a fantastic e-reader, and Apple's own iBooks app is one of the best book apps available. Some people may already be tied to Amazon or Barnes and Noble's ecosystem, in which case, the Kindle and Nook apps are also viable options. However, for those who want to quickly start reading, the easiest solution is to download this app, browse the iBookstore, get your books and read them.

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    iheartradio for iPad

    by Clear Channel Management Services, LP

    This app turns your iPad into your own personal radio. It features hundreds of the best radio stations in America. Not only do you get news, sports and music for free, you get it conveniently. Unlike other apps like Pandora and Slacker (which are also good), iHeart Radio does not require you to sign up for an account. For quality audio programming, fresh out of the box, this is a great app to include in your first batch of downloads.

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    Pandora Radio

    by Pandora Media, Inc.

    If you'd like to create your own personalized radio station, check out the free and universal app Pandora. Set up a free account, and then type in the name of your favorite artist, genre, or song. Pandora will help you discover new music, tailored for your tastes.

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    Netflix

    by Netflix, Inc.

    If you happen to be a Netflix subscriber, this free app is a no-brainer download. There's no better app to show off the iPad's potential for watching video. Holding an extensive video library within your hands is a powerful experience. If you don't want to spend money on a Netflix subscription, you can also download the Crackle app, which doesn't offer the selection or quality of Netflix, but still provides a good amount of popular programming that you can watch right away.

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    Crackle - Movies & TV

    by Crackle, Inc.

    If you don't want to spend money on a Netflix subscription, you can download the Crackle app, which doesn't offer the selection or quality of Netflix, but still provides a good amount of popular programming that you can watch right away at no cost.

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    Dropbox

    by Dropbox

    Although the iPad is an exceptional tool for consuming media, it can also be extremely useful for productivity purposes. New owners often wonder how they can access computer-made files on their iPad. Similarly, they want to be able to easily share photos, videos, and documents from the iPad to external devices. Dropbox allows both these functions by storing your data in the cloud and automatically syncing it across all your devices, iPad or otherwise. You can also access your files on the Dropbox website.

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    Evernote

    by Evernote

    Another great productivity tool is Evernote, which allows you to easily create notes and sync them across your devices. You can even attach photo and voice notes with a few simple taps. This is one of the quickest ways to capture and organize your thoughts on your iDevice. Many other apps also work with Evernote, further enhancing its usefulness. Although Evernote is free, it is better than many paid apps.

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  • Free

    Mint.com Personal Finance – manage your money, budgets, expenses and bills

    by Mint.com

    Unless you have a generous benefactor, your iPad likely cost you a pretty penny. Fortunately, the iPad can also save you money. This app from Mint.com helps you manage your personal expenses. With bank-level data security, Mint makes it easy to sync your accounts and track your spending habits. You can use the money you save to buy more apps or other great Apple products!

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    Temple Run

    by Imangi Studios, LLC

    After being productive and fiscally responsible, it's time for some fun and games. The iPad is a superb gaming system. It's difficult to recommend just one game to download first. If it must be done, the game to get is Temple Run. There's a reason for this game's popularity; it looks great and works perfectly with the iPad's touch screen and gyroscope controls. The game is fun, fast, and extremely addictive.

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    Words With Friends HD Free

    by Zynga

    Temple Run is a fantastic single player game, but sometimes, you want to play with your friends. Words With Friends is the app for that. Think Scrabble, but at your own pace. There is a paid version of this game, which removes ads. However, the ads really aren't that intrusive when the game is played on the iPad's screen. The free version is more than sufficient to enjoy this game, which is not only fun, but also social.

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    Facebook

    by Facebook, Inc.

    Speaking of social, you may want to share just how much fun your iPad is. Facebook is a popular social media platform for this purpose, and Facebook's own iPad app is a solid Facebook implementation. If you are into social media, this will likely become one of your most used apps.

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    OpenTable for iPad

    by OpenTable, Inc.

    As great as the iPad is, there comes a time when you need to put it down and have a night out on the town. Fortunately, the iPad can also help with that. Use OpenTable to make reservations at a restaurant near you. In the process, you can earning dining points to redeem for Dining Cheques, which are redeemable at any OpenTable restaurant.

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    Movies by Flixster, with Rotten Tomatoes

    by Flixster

    After dinner comes the movie. Flixster allows you to find showtimes, watch trailers, and get critic reviews from Rotten Tomatoes. It will help ensure that the precious time you spend away from your iPad will be time well-spent. When you get home, you can then use this app to rate the movie on Facebook.

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    Find My iPhone

    by Apple

    If you own more than one iOS device, you'll also want to download this app, which will allow you to use your iPad to find that device (or erase its data) if it goes missing. You can also download this app on your other iDevice to help you find your iPad, if the need ever arises. In the afterglow of enjoying your iPad, don't forget to protect yourself and your devices.