thomsen.

On August 12, 2010, I had guest blogger Andrew Hall, who also has guest blogged for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on online schools for Guide to Online Schools, write a post on The 10 Most Useful iPhone Apps for the Deaf. This post was extremely popular and has gotten the most pageviews on this blog. I decided that it is time for the iPad!

The iPhone has been hugely useful for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. As a smartphone with an enormous library of applications, a number exist to better facilitate communication and make it possible to place and receive audio and/or video calls, among other things. However, the iPad is on the verge of topping the iPhone in terms of sales (just take a look at this awesome infographic!) ; it still has a way to go, but more and more people from the deaf/hard of hearing are using the iPad to help them with their way of life (mine included!).

Now, here are the latest ten apps to enhance one's iPad experience and life in general.

1. Z4 Mobile: Z4 Mobile allows you to make both point-to-point and VRS calls on your iPhone 4 or iPod Touch (4th Generation). It turns iPhone 4 or iPod Touch into a mobile videophone. Purple Communication, it seems that Z4 Mobile getting the talent on their team (are they taking your talent?)  and their rating on Apple.com is outstanding. I can personally vouch for Z4 Mobile excellent customer service! Well done! 
2. ClearCaptions: Clear Captions transcribes phone calls, as they happen, in English or in Spanish. Using a headset, Clear Captions allows you to see the text of a phone call in real-time while hearing it, making it much easier to understand conversations. ClearCaptions is a free captioning service that works together with your phone and your Internet-connected computer. ClearCaptions on your phone call is similar to closed captions on your TV; you can hear AND read what’s being said. This takes the frustration out of hearing on the phone. Instead of asking people to repeat themselves or guessing at what was said, you can read the person’s words which display during your call. I had so much fun with this app that I was able to "listen" read a comics book conference call! So fascinating! 
3. Netflix: Netflix is the world’s leading subscription service for watching TV episodes and movies on your phone. This Netflix mobile application delivers the best experience anywhere, anytime. Netflix already has up to 80% of their movies/shows in subtitles! While, yes, GLAD and NAD, are suing Netflix, they are still making tremendous strides in leading the industry with subtitles (Amazon Prime Instant Video does not do subtitles! Shame!). I use my iPad on to play movies on my huge screen tv using AirPlay! 
4. Soundhound: Unlimited music recognition! Featuring the world's fastest, most accurate music identification, exclusive singing search, and now: free unlimited LiveLyrics for over 1 million of your iTunes tracks in SoundHound Player. I love using this app when I need to follow the lyrics of a song. I mean, cmon!, I'm deaf/hard of hearing, so I loose track easily! :-) 
5. Vtok: Google currently doesn't have a video app for the iPad (it does have one for the iPhone), so Vtok is the next best app! If you want to chat with your Googlies via by video, then I highly recommend Vtok! Vtok has surpassed more than 1 million downloads. Google Video, voice and text chat on your iPhone, iPad2 and iPod touch NEW: Unlimited phone calls and SMS messages using Google Voice. Now you can express yourself during chat with even more virtual gifts. Have fun using this app! I know I did :-) 
6. Skype: I know! With Microsoft buying them out, they have greatly improved their product! The iPad version is pretty sweet! Skype for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad is free to download and works over 3G* or Wi-Fi. Go for it and Skype your family members or friends and be as silly as possible! 
7. Ted+SUB: You can watch TED talks with subtitle in your language, watch TED talks that 'Best of the Web', and you can search using both English and your language. This app also gives you the ability to downl TED talks and watch later without WiFi connection. TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. There's only one downside: you have to buy it for .99 cents. I'd say it worth the money! Go for brain-freeze! 
8. Tango: Tango recently contacted me and wanted to know what they can do to improve their product! Give them your two cents! Here's my two cents:  build a way better iPad app! The app they have right now is specifically for iPhone or iPod touch. Will  you Tango with me? Nah, not dance, just chat. :-) This video chat is so easy and one of the best video chat out there. All  you need is a smartphone and a number and you can Tango with anyone who has a smartphone with a camera. Send and receive high quality video messages on Tango. Save money with free international calls to other Tango members.
9. inClass: Education is extremely important to me. In fact, I am an instructor at a private K-12 school and I teach ASL, Web Design and Digital Photography (very soon will also be teaching Video Technologies). I know that there are quite afew of you that are in high school, college or graduate school and you're looking for the perfect app centralize all the material(s) you're learning. Look no further. inClass, the last school app you will ever need, is here to help you survive school. No matter how complex your school schedule is, inClass will help you keep track of all your courses. Not only that, but it will help you keep track of your tasks by reminding you that one is due soon, that way you have no excuse to not do your homework =P
10. Khan Academy: Again, as a educator, I am always looking for the best for what I can use to teach my students to the best of their abilities. Khan Academy is awesome because every video they have comes with subtitles! Khan Academy allows you to learn almost anything for free. Their iPad app is the best way to view Khan Academy’s complete library of over 2,700 videos. They cover a massive number of topics, including K-12 math, science topics such as biology, chemistry, and physics, and even the humanities with playlists on finance and history. Spend an afternoon brushing up on statistics. Discover how the Krebs cycle works. Learn about the fundamentals of computer science. Prepare for that upcoming SAT. Or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, learn how fire stick farming changed the landscape of Australia.