This list is currently focused on iOS apps, but we will add Android and Windows mobile apps in the future. We would love to hear about your favorite mobile apps – email us!
Apps for reading
Bluefire Reader: Lets you read library ebooks on the iPad.
Feedly: RSS feed reader.
Flipboard: Design your own “magazines” from a variety of sources.
iBooks: Apple’s reader for books from the iBooks store and PDFs.
Instapaper: Save stories from across the web and read them later in a distraction-free format.
Kindle: To read Amazon ebooks and sync your reading across all your devices.
Pocket: Similar to Instapaper, but more visually oriented.
Readability: Another “read it later” app to collect materials from the web.
Apps for annotating PDFs and other documents
GoodReader
iAnnotate PDF
PDF Expert
Apps for taking and organizing notes
Evernote: Stores notes and files in the cloud so you can access them from any device.
Notability: Support for typed and handwritten notes, images, voice narration, and more.
Notes: The iPad’s built-in notetaking app.
OneNote: Microsoft’s cross-platform notes app.
Penultimate: Create beautiful handwritten notes; optional integration with Evernote.
Post-it Plus: Take photos of your Post-It notes and organize them into “boards.”
WritePad: Changes your handwritten notes into typed text as you write.
Apps for the performing arts
Amazing Slow Downer: Slow down any track while maintaining pitch.
Animoog: Moog synthesizer that captures the vast sonic vocabulary of Moog synthesizers and applies it to the modern touch surface paradigm.
Capo: Put in an audio file; Capo analyzes it and shows you the chords for a variety of stringed instruments.
DeepDish GigBook: Sheet music viewer
Ear Training: Ear training app
Everyday Looper: Looper for the iPad.
Figure: A new instrument designed just for the iPad.
Fourier Touch: Theremin simulator.
GarageBand: Apple’s midi/analog multitrack recording
Guitar Toolkit: Tuner, metronom, and scales for guitars, basses, and ukeleles.
iDensity: Performance focused granular synth app for morphing imported/recorded or live audio.
iElectribe: Virtual interface of Korg’s classic analog synth beat making sequencer
iMS20: Beautiful recreation of the MS-20 analog synth for the iPad.
iReal Pro: Simulates a band that can accompany you as you practice and lets you collect chord charts from your favorite songs for reference.
KineScribe: Labanotation app developed by former Reed dance professor Hannah Kosstrin.
Moving Space: 3D visualization of the Labanotation scales.
Multitrack DAW: Multitrack analog recording of instruments, voice, etc. Up to 24 tracks!
Orchestra: Experience classical music like never before. Interactive score and instrument learning app.
Pianist Pro: Virtual keyboard.
Seline Ultimate: A new instrument designed just for the iPad.
Spark Basic: Movement analyzing video/still image app for athletes and dancers.
Subdivide: Advanced subdivision metronome.
Voice Memos: One button recording app for individual instrument recording or audio notetaking