Google Mobile App for iPad

Not really an education app specifically, but I do use it everyday to help me in my classroom and keep me connected in a variety of ways.

I use Google for everything - email client, document production, news reader, mapping, calendar... even this blog is done in Blogger, a Google product!

So this app allows me quick access to all of the Google world: Search, Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Reader, News, Translate, Maps, Earth, Photos, Buzz, Talk, Youtube, and Blogger all in one handy app. All I need to do is tap on the app I want and I'm instantly taken to the corresponding page in Safari.

How can I use this in an education setting? Check out this link for many classroom ideas.

The only drawback to using Google Apps on your iPad? Google Docs just does not work well on iPad devices. Sure you can see your documents, and even edit some of them (like spreadsheets). But don't even bother trying to create new Google Docs on your iPad or playing around with fonts or style.... it just won't work. Mobile Safari does not support rich text editing.

Now, I'm not blaming Apple or Google of intentionally not cooperating, but I'm hoping that this is something they will want to remedy. News last week seems to point in this direction. I'm looking forward to this working soon (as long as Apple doesn't mind a little competition for its iWorks suite!).

Otherwise, I still use this app all the time. Check it out at the iTunes AppStore!