My favorite iPad apps - Fall 2011 Edition

I gave a talk at MLMUG on Saturday on iOS 5 and my favorite iPad apps. After I demo'd iOS 5 and my favorite feature: AirPlay video mirroring I only had enough time for the first four apps below. But, as promised, I've included a full list of my favorite iPad apps below.

Gallery: Top iPad apps available now - images and brief descriptions

Emerald Observatory ($0.99) -- A desk clock that displays a wealth of astronomical data.

Solar Walk ($2.99) a stunning way to explore the Solar System and the Milky Way galaxy.

Star Walk ($4.99) A mind-blowing augmented reality app for astronomy. Just point your iPad into the night sky and see a live map of the constellations above. Star Walk is one of my all-time favorite iPad apps. Period.

Planetary (free) -- Creates a beautiful 3D universe from your music library that you can fly through. Artists are stars and albums are planets and tracks are moons. Touch an artist's star to "fly in" closer where you'll see their albums as orbiting planets. Touch an album to fly into the planet and you'll see its tracks orbiting as moons. Load up your iPad with a bunch of classic rock discographies (Stones, Beatles, Zeppelin, whatever) and prepare to have you mind blown!

Following are a list of my favorite iPad apps that I didn't have time to present on Saturday (although a few were demo'd at lunch afterward):

Games