25 useful iPad business apps
By Ann Bednarz,
Network World |
Dec 20, 2011 7:58 PM
PT
Need to take care of business? These iPad apps will help you get the job done.
Need to take care of business? These iPad apps will help you get the job done. They can do it all -- provide remote access to a Mac or PC, let you edit documents and synchronize files, turn your tablet into a spare monitor, set you up to attend online meetings with colleagues, and even take dictation.
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App: Air Display
Vendor: Avatron Software
Price: $9.99
What it does: Ever wish you had a second monitor for a Mac or Windows PC? Your iPad can function as an extra wireless screen with Air Display. It also works as a tablet input device, which means you can use your finger to draw directly on the screen’s surface.
App: Save2PDF
Vendor: EuroSmartz
Price: $6.99
What it does: Save2PDF does just what its name suggests -- it lets you create PDFs from file formats including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Pages, Numbers and more. You can add a page to an existing PDF, merge several documents into a single PDF, select just a few pages from multiple files to include in a PDF, and email or print finished PDFs from the same interface.
App: SharePlus: SharePoint Mobile Client
Vendor: SouthLabs
Price: $14.99
What it does: SharePlus lets you access corporate SharePoint data and files from your iPad, so you can collaborate with colleagues and share documents no matter where you’re working. You can browse and edit documents and discussions, plus capture images, video and audio directly from your device and load it into SharePoint. SharePlus works with your current SharePoint credentials, and it doesn’t require any server side components.
App: Dragon Dictation
Vendor: Nuance Communications
Price: Free
What it does: If you’re on the go and can’t stop to type, you can dictate text messages, email, and personal reminders using Dragon Dictation, a voice-to-text transcription app powered by Dragon NaturallySpeaking. You can also speak status updates for posting on Facebook and Twitter.
App: Quickoffice Pro HD
Vendor: Quickoffice
Price: $19.99
What it does: A mobile office suite, Quickoffice Pro HD lets you create, edit and share Microsoft Office files, including Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. It’s integrated with cloud-based file services including MobileMe, Dropbox and Google Docs, and new sharing features let you publish your own content to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Yammer and Slideshare.
App: MobileIron Sentry
Vendor: MobileIron
Price: Free
What it does: For IT pros who want to take their work mobile, MobileIron Sentry can monitor and take action on smartphones being used by employees to access enterprise e-mail. IT teams can see a dashboard view of smartphone connection activity, identify unauthorized or risky access, block rogue devices, and set policies by device type. The mobile app is free, but it requires MobileIron’s Virtual Smartphone Platform for full enterprise functionality.
App: Wyse PocketCloud Pro
Vendor: Wyse Technologies
Price: $14.99
What it does: Wyse PocketCloud Pro provides secure remote access to PCs, Macs, virtual desktops and enterprise servers. End users can access company data and applications so they can stay productive while mobile. For IT pros, PocketCloud can provide a window to an end user’s machine for helpdesk support. PocketCloud can access any physical or virtualized infrastructure that supports the Microsoft RDP or VNC protocols, and it supports the VMware View connection broker in direct and tunneling modes.
App: Evernote
Vendor: Evernote
Price: Free
What it does: When inspiration hits, Evernote is there to capture your lightbulb moment. You can take notes on the go, snap a photo of something cool, grab screenshots, or make a voice recording. Evernote will keep all your notes, images, web clips and files in synch, so they’re available for you (or anyone you want to share them with) from any device or computer you use.
App: Roambi Analytics Visualizer
Vendor: Mellmo
Price: Free
What it does: For business intelligence data on the go, Roambi Analytics Visualizer delivers visual reports and graphs of enterprise financial data. You can stay apprised of business performance if you’re on the road, or create an impromptu presentation. To create the dashboard-style charts and graphs, Roambi Analytics Visualizer taps into back-end systems including Microsoft Excel, Salesforce CRM, SAP BusinessObjects, IBM Cognos and Oracle OBIEE 11g. Analytics Visualizer requires access to Roambi Analytics Publisher, and access to back-end systems varies by licensing tier. (Roambi Lite is free, Roambi Pro is $99 per user per year, and enterprise licensing for Roambi ES is available).
App: SAP BusinessObjects Explorer
Vendor: SAP
Price: Free
What it does: Tap into enterprise SAP data on the fly with SAP BusinessObjects Explorer. Just type in keywords, and Explorer displays the data visually rather than requiring you to scroll through sheets of numbers. The iPad app is free, but it requires SAP Business Explorer and SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise to work with enterprise data.
App: WorkMobile
Vendor: eSay Solutions
Price: Free
What it does: WorkMobile is designed to replace paper-based forms for employees on the go. Once a company sets up its forms on the WorkMobile website, field workers can view and fill out the forms using an iPad, capture signatures, and take photos. The data can be automatically uploaded to back-office systems.
App: Air Sketch
Vendor: Qrayon Price: $9.99
What it does: Air Sketch aims to turn your iPad into a wireless whiteboard for on-the-go presentations. You can annotate PDF documents and images using your finger or a third-party stylus, then save your sketches using the camera tool. There are five drawing tools (pencil, pen, market, brush, and highlighter), and you can zoom and pan using two fingers. If you use Air Sketch with an online meeting or desktop sharing app, you can record and share your Air Sketch creations as you draw them.
App: Keynote
Vendor: Apple
Price: $9.99
What it does: Apple’s Keynote presentation app lets users create and deliver presentations on their iPads, complete with animated charts and transitions. The software also lets you import and edit PowerPoint presentations. The latest version stores presentations (Keynote or PowerPoint) in iCloud and automatically keeps them up to date across all your iOS devices, so you can start a presentation on one device, then finish it on another.
App: GoToMyPC
Vendor: Citrix
Price: Free
What it does: GoToMyPC provides remote access to applications and files on your Mac or PC, so you can connect to your work computer even if you’re not in the office. The iPad app is free, but users must have a GoToMyPC subscription.
App: mobilEcho
Vendor: GroupLogic
Price: Free
What it does: mobilEcho file management software is designed to let enterprises provide secure access to corporate file servers from mobile devices, including the iPad and iPhones. IT can control which applications are available to users and can tie access policies to existing Active Directory groups. The software can track the status of each device accessing mobilEcho and remotely wipe mobilEcho configurations and files on lost or stolen devices. The mobile app is free, but a mobilEcho Server license is required.
App: WebEx for iPad
Vendor: Cisco
Price: Free
What it does: With WebEx for iPad you can participate in online meetings no matter where you are -- on the road, in an airport, at a hotel. Two-way group video lets multiple participants see each other, and a voice-activated display spotlights whoever is talking. You can connect to the audio portion of a WebEx meeting using voice-over-IP, or request a call-back on a cellular phone or landline.
App: Avaya Flare Communicator
Vendor: Avaya
Price: Free
What it does: Using a Wi-Fi or 3G connection, Avaya’s Flare Communicator app extends the capabilities of a company’s enterprise Avaya Aura platform to the iPad. Users can make and receive voice and video calls, access enterprise directories, schedule meetings, and engage in side conversations, such as through email or IM, without interrupting an ongoing call. The iPad app is free, but it requires Avaya Aura Session Manager and Avaya Aura Communication Manager on the backend.
App: Splashtop Remote Desktop
Vendor: Splashtop
Price: $2.99
What it does: Currently the most popular paid business app for iPads on the iTunes App Store, Splashtop Remote Desktop gives you access to your PC or Mac from the iPad. The software provides access to documents and apps, can stream video and audio, and lets you listen to music regardless of what format it’s stored in on your remote computer. Regularly priced at $19.99, Splashtop Remote Desktop is on sale for $2.99 for a limited time.
App: PrintCentral Pro
Vendor: EuroSmartz
Price: $9.99
What it does: PrintCentral Pro is designed to let you print from a variety of sources using your iPad. You can print to different network, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth printers via your Mac or PC, and the software allows you to print directly to Apple AirPrint printers and to most Wi-Fi printers; in some cases additional software is required.
App: Dropbox
Vendor: Dropbox
Price: Free
What it does: Dropbox’s cloud-based file synchronization service lets you store and access documents, photos, videos and other materials from any computer, smartphone or mobile device, including the iPad. When you need a file, it’s there waiting for you.
App: OmniGraffle
Vendor: The Omni Group
Price: $49.99
What it does: Instead of sketching out a diagram or org chart on a napkin, you can do it on your iPad using OmniGraffle. The software is designed to make it easy to create diagrams, process charts, page layouts, and website wireframes using built-in stencils or your own freehand designs.
App: Concur Business Travel & Expense Reports
Vendor: Concur
Price: Free to existing Concur subscribers
What it does: When you’re on the road with your iPad, it makes sense to use the device to keep track of your travel expenses. Concur's mobile app lets you photograph and save receipts using an iPad camera, create and approve expense reports, and access business travel itineraries. The mobile app is free to existing Concur subscribers.
App: Fuze Meeting HD
Vendor: CallWave
Price: Free
What it does: With Fuze Meeting HD, you can use your iPad to run online audio and video meetings while sharing data such as presentations, PDFs, text documents, movies, and images. The free app lets you attend meetings with two participants. For larger meetings and to enable video conferencing, a paid subscription is required (starting at $29 per month for a personal subscription).
App: SG Project Pro
Vendor: FourthFrame Technologies
Price: $39.99
What it does: SG Project Pro delivers project management capabilities to the iPad. Mobile users can create new projects and manage a portfolio of active projects -- viewing schedules, creating action items, running risk reports, and tracking costs, among other capabilities. Users can export or email project data in XML format, and newly added Dropbox integration lets users share project data with colleagues.
App: Monster.com Jobs
Vendor: Monster Worldwide
Price: Free
What it does: It can’t hurt to keep an eye on the job market, even when you’re happily employed. Monster.com’s mobile app is synched to your online account, so you’ve got instant mobile access to your resumes, job applications, cover letters and saved job searches.
