10 Top Apps for Academics

I am completely addicted to my iPad, I think tablets are an essential academic tool. I have never really developed quite the same relationship with my iPhone which I find intrusive. I am now rather tied into the Apple ecosystem and though I work hard, as a computer scientist, to use a more heterogenous set of tools the benefits of integration are clear. Anyway here are my personal choices of apps. A few missed the cut, such as Mendeley, because though good, I do not make regular use of them. I suspect some of these apps are available on other platforms:

DEVONthink. A document management tool, integrated across the Mac (Mac version) and the iPad. Incredibly valuable (but pricey) for tasks involving organising and moving between large numbers of documents in different formats in the office and in meetings. 

Longform. I really enjoy long form journalism. It is a rich source of stimulation and knowledge about the world. Until recently I used Instapaper, a tool for storing articles for offline reading. Recently however, I have started using Longform, linked to the longform.org website. It is a great antidote to excessive 'professional' reading, either that or Angry Birds. 

DropBox. This is such a great service (here), a model for others. Seamless document sync and sharing. I use it for committee papers and much else. 

Simplenote. A dead simple, free, note application. Better in my view than Evernote. Syncs across platforms. On the Mac I use Notational Velocity as my note editor. It integrates with Simplenote and shares the same characteristics: fast, reliable and fuss free. 

Twitterific. Twitter is a great academic tool providing, of course, you choose who to follow with care! A good twitter client on the iPad is Twitterific. On the Mac I use YoruFukurou, NightOwl in Japanese, apparently. 

WordWeb. All writers need a good dictionary and WordWeb more than fits the bill. 

SlideShark. If you give PowerPoint presentations and do not want to lug your laptop SlideSlideshark allows you to display them from your iPad. Generally easy to use (there are some small quirks) and good for talks using a projector (providing you have the appropriate connector) and for discussions around the iPad. Does not mess with your fonts. A good backup precaution too, my nightmare is turning up for a talk without my slides. 

Prezi. An alternative presentation application you can use from your iPad (or Mac etc here) in which you move your focus around a large canvas I have found this a very effective tool for short talks and for escaping the bullet-point mindset induced by PowerPoint. Be warned: there is a learning curve, you have to be a confident presenter, and some people do not like the dynamic sweeps and rotations typical in a Prezi. 

MindNode. A really nice mind mapping tool. Easy to use and a great way to start to organise your ideas in advance of writing. Needs a bit of practice but, once mastered, can also help to keep notes during seminars. I go through phases of using this. 

Growth Stories. I am on the EPSRC Council (supporting UK science and engineering research) so I guess I am more than a little biased, but there a lot of nice nuggets in the Growth Stories app and it really shows the many ways that engineering research can make a difference. Marketing, of course, but good marketing, and a way to rebuild confidence on days when your spirits are low ... unless they are low because you just had a grant proposal rejected!