Top tablet apps for iPads and Android powered tablets

If you’ve just bought a shiny new tablet no doubt the first thing you’ll want to do is download all the latest and greatest apps, or if you’ve had your tablet for a while then the right app can breathe new life into your device. Sadly though, finding the best apps isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially with some of the reviews provided being about as useful as an inflatable dartboard. Luckily, Geek Squad are here to guide you through the app minefield and provide our recommendations for the latest and greatest apps for Android tablets and the iPad. 

App Name: Tablified HD
Platform: Android
Price: Free or £0.69
One of the few frustrations of a tablet is downloading an app that would be perfect for you, only to realise that it’s intended for a phone and now looks all stretched and rubbish (technical term) on your tablet. Sifting through hundreds of thousands of apps to find the ones that are optimised for tablets isn’t always easy. With Tablified HD you can access a catalogue of Android apps specifically for tablets. It’s so good that it had The Guardian singing from the roof tops: "A good database with regular updates." - High praise indeed. 

App Name: Angry Birds Space
Platform: iPad  (£1.99) and Android (free)
Download for Android
Download for iPad 
If you’ve ever played the original Angry Birds (and as it’s “The #1 Mobile Game of All Time” it’s more than likely) you’ll be familiar with the epic tale of birds trying to regain their eggs from some mischievous green pigs by catapulting themselves at the buildings they’ve gone and barricaded themselves in. Angry Birds Space finds the birds (inexplicably) in space fighting the same old battle. However, with added twists to the gameplay such as gravitational fields, the new game is just as good, if not better, than the much loved original.                                               

App Name: Google Chrome Beta
Platform: Android
Price: Free
Google Chrome for desktop has fast become the web browser of choice for most heavy web users because of its speed, security and built-in apps. Chrome has now arrived for Android (in Beta at least) and it brings with it a browsing experience similar to that which you would find on a computer. There are a few features that set it apart from the built-in browser, my personal favourite being the ability to view any tabs you have open on your home computer from your tablet, which means no more scribbling down web addresses. 

App Name: GTA 3 – 10 Year Anniversary Edition
Platform: iPad  (£2.99) and Android (£2.99)
Download for Android
Download for iPad 
Has it really been ten years since teenagers were trying their best to convince their parents that Grand Theft Auto was a simple car racing game and not to read any of those pesky articles that insinuated it was, well, mainly shooting people and stealing things? Yes, yes it has, and to celebrate Rockstar Games have released the original game for use on phones and tablets. It’s quite strange to think that what was once the height of gaming technology can now be contained within a phone or a tablet, but where the PlayStation 2 has not stood the test of time, the game certainly has. That being said it’s still not one for kids, so be wary. 

App Name: BBC iPlayer
Platform: iPad (free) and Android (free)
Download for Android
Download for iPad 
Auntie Beeb was well ahead of its subscription based competition when it launched its iPlayer service on Christmas Day 2007 and, although the likes of Sky and Virgin have since launched similar services,  the iPlayer service is now being used by 40% of online adults (as of march 2012) which is quite frankly staggering. Not content with stopping at 40%, there are now apps available for your mobile devices to make logging on and catching up on Eastenders or Bargain Hunt even easier.

App Name: Amazon Kindle
Platform: iPad (free) and Android (free)
Download for Android
Download for iPad 
It’s official, sales of eBooks have now surpassed sales of paper books, despite people saying it would never happen (Take that, Mum). The Amazon Kindle app brings the entire Amazon library to your tablet and allows you to read them on the go without the need for a Kindle device. That being said, the app works well if youhave a kindle as well as it syncs your bookmark’s, highlights and notes between all your devices.

App Name: Quickoffice Pro HD
Platform: iPad (£19.99) and Android (£12.97)
Download for Android
Download for iPad 
One of the main criticisms of tablets is that they aren’t any good for productivity or work when compared to a laptop and, although there are a lot of office-like apps available, most don’t go very far in proving the critics wrong. Quickoffice Pro HD is certainly capable of changing this. It provides you with the ability to create and edit all kinds of Microsoft Office documents, incuding spreadsheets and presentations. Plus there's slick integration with online cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Docs. Starting at £12.97 it’s not the cheapest app you’ll ever buy, but if you’re serious about doing work on your tablet then this is your best chance.

That's our introductory guide to tablet apps for iPad and Android devices. Tune back in soon for more app recommendations to spruce up your beloved touchscreen tab.