First up, how to get to these apps. Apps are region-specific, and seeing how iTunes has proliferated into the Malaysian market with the introduction of the Malaysian iTunes and AppStore, users from Malaysia can now purchase and enjoy applications made for their iPads from within iTunes itself. However, there are apps that are still only released to the most well-stocked and diverse region of the iTunes store, the US iTunes AppStore. As a refresher, click on THIS link to create a US iTunes account without the need of a credit card. Remember, this is not required if you are logging into into the Malaysian iTunes store, you can proceed and input your credit card details and create your Malaysian iTunes account from there.
Once that is out of the way, it is time to SHOP! You can opt to try out free versions of the available apps in iTunes by clicking their Lite versions and downloading them. These "Lite" versions are a sample or representation of what the full-paid versions are, so that it can help you decide if the apps is for you or not. However, there are cases where paid apps will reduce in price, and in some cases, be made FREE from its previous paid status. How would you know and keep track of the price reductions or free apps, you ask?
Appshopper to the rescue! Click on that link to proceed to their page tracking all the apps made available in the AppStore, in this case in the US iTunes AppStore.
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You can either list down all the apps available or filter them down to either iPhone- or iPad specifics only.
Now, what about that Universal apps, eh?
Well, lookie here! For this app called Soundhound, notice that PLUS (+) sign there? This indicates that it is a Universal app, which means that if you choose to purchase and download this app, it comes with both the iPad- AND iPhone-formatted version of the app. Apps without the "Universal" designation would mean that they are specific to that platform only. For iPad users, using iPhone-formatted apps will result in the app in its iPhone-size resolution, and although there is an option for pixel-doubling, the app will look pixelated due to its lower-resolution format.
How about topping up credits into your US iTunes account? You can either purchase your iTunes Gift cards from reputable sites like www.maximuscards.com, or in the Garage Sales itself, members like Skalominia here is offering purchase of these cards itself in exchange of your legal tender, your cash. The other option is to have physical iTunes Gift cards purchased for you from a friend in the States and either emailing you the codes, or passing you the physical card and doing it yourself. Please, please, please MAKE SURE that your iTunes Gift Card sellers are reputable, your account may and can be shut down by Apple and all credits deleted from that account if Apple catches you frauding on the credits purchased from sellers with shady reps, which more often than not, signified by the exorbitantly ludicrous price of their iTunes Gift Cards (*for example, selling their USD100 worth of iTunes credits for RM100*). When things are too good to be true, they usually are. Rule of thumb, never proceed with iTunes Gift card purchases that is pricetagged any less than 70% of their worth. For example, a seller selling a USD100 iTunes Gift card for RM231 (USD70 x 3.3 USD-RM exchange rate). Draw your lines there.
Accounts made? Credits stocked? What are you waiting for, let's shop!
If you like the format I used to post my impressions on my selections of apps, here is it in the spoilered section. Just copy-and-paste them into your post, and edit the info in between and post away!
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Thank you for the suggestion from DG for the idea of creating this thread. This is to cater and anticipate the oncoming queries about apps specifically on the iPad.
This post has been edited by stringfellow: Apr 30 2010, 02:00 AM