3 Apps That Make Me Want to Stick With the iPad
It’s all about using the apps that work for you!
With the Apple Let Loose event over, there has been a lot of talk online about Android tablets, and to be honest, I’m not surprised as there are some great alternatives out there.
If you haven’t checked out my thoughts on the event, I will leave a link to my dedicated article here.
Like many, I choose to stick with the iPad and there are two main reasons for that. The first and most important to me is the apps that aren’t available on Android, and the second is the ecosystem. But I’ll discuss the apps later in this article.
I wanted to mention that I had many Android tablets over the years, my first one was the Asus MemoPad HD7 and I have since had many Samsung tablets and Android phones.
So I think it’s fair to say that I had the experience of both platforms to be able to say that I prefer iPads.
But without any further ado, here are the 3 apps that make me want to stick to the iPad…
1. Ulysses
Ulysses is my go-to app for writing blog posts, and there are some good reasons for that.
For starters, I am able to write blog posts using markup, which, I feel, is quicker than using traditional word processors such as Word or Google Docs.
But there are many apps that enable us to write using markup, even on Android, there is so much more to Ulysses.
One of my favourite features is the ability to publish articles directly from the app to platforms such as WordPress, Medium and Ghost. I think that this is an excellent feature, especially if you primarily write on your iPad.
Ulysses also has a built-in proofreader which is a nice addition, especially as it’s not your standard spell checker as it also checks for grammar, style and the right tone.
Apart from that, I simply enjoy writing on the app as it has a clean interface, and it just does what I need it to do.
I have yet to find an alternative with similar features on Android and Windows.
On a side note, I am subscribed to Ulysses through Setapp, which is a bonus app I wanted to mention. Setapp is like the Netflix of app stores as I pay $12.49 per month and that provides me with access to over 200 apps on my MacBook and 4 iOS devices.
The only thing to bear in mind is that the app store is primarily a Mac app, but you can use it to download and activate apps on your iPhone and iPad. As a paying customer, I can’t stop singing its praises, that is why I am leaving my affiliate link. Best of all, you get to try it free for 7 days!
2. Apple Notes
The second app I wanted to talk about is Apple Notes. It may surprise you, but I think that Apple Notes has got to be my favourite note-taking app for both typed and handwritten notes.
The main reason is its simplicity and the possibility of adding notes into folders, which is a feature I wish more notebook apps had.
The app has a great interface which is minimal and not overwhelming, which is why I like the app so much.
On top of that, it just works!
If we compare it to apps such as OneNote (which I want to like, but I’m finding it difficult to), the interface is a lot cleaner and I don’t have to wait for notes to sync every time I open the app on my iPad.
I think that slowness was the main reason I moved away from OneNote. Every time I opened OneNote to log an idea, it would take ages to log me in, then it needed to sync. Eventually, when it finally opened, I forgot the idea I wanted to make note of.
This seems to be a frequent occurrence with OneNote, and it happens on my iPhone, iPad and various Android phones. I have yet to experience this on the desktop apps. But this is the main reason why I moved away.
I guess the point that I am trying to make is that Apple Notes just works when I need it to.
3. Shortcuts
The last app I wanted to talk about in this article is Shortcuts, which enables you to create some pretty cool automation.
I know that Bixby has an alternative and that you can use Tasker on Android, but in my view, the experience that the Shortcuts app provides is so much better, especially if you’re new to this sort of thing.
With the help of the Shortcuts app, you can create automated shortcuts or ones that require you to press a button. As an example, I have an automation that connects my iPad to the VPN if I connect to the networks I don’t trust.
But that’s just one example, and you can do so much more!
Moving on to actual Shortcuts, one of my favourite shortcuts is called Batch Add Reminders, and it allows me to quickly add a set of reminders for a particular task. This works great for creating a quick to-do list during a meeting or a phone call.
The best part is that some apps come with Shortcuts preconfigured. I’m a big fan of Endel, and I tend to use it when I need to get on with work. Endel comes with a number of useful Shortcuts such as Play Focus and Play Relax, which allow me to play sounds without having to open the app.
Endel is not the only app, as there are many that allow me to do similar actions at the press of a button.
The list of possibilities with the Shortcuts app is endless, and once I fully sort my ecosystem, I will be writing a dedicated article about my favourite shortcuts.
Final Thoughts
These are the 3 main apps that make me want to stick to the iPad. But the truth of the matter is that it’s not only these 3 apps, as there are many fantastic apps that are specific to Apple that are available.
As a long-term Android and iOS user, I fully see the pros and cons of both systems, and I see why people may prefer Android. But for me, it’s primarily the apps.
The apps on the iPad seem to be cleaner and in numerous instances, they seem to function better compared to either the Android versions or the Android alternatives, but that is not to imply that they are bad. I guess the point that I am trying to make is that I prefer iPad apps.
Do you have any apps that are keeping you on the iPad? Let us know in the comments!
Disclaimer: This article contains Setapp affiliate links.