Buying the Right Disability Apps for Your iPad

If you know me personally, or if you’ve been in touch with me within the past several months, you know I’m really hyped about how Apple devices, namely the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch can help children with autism. You might’ve noticed my Autism App Reviews and how those reviews have grown and become more numerous as time goes on.

A quick note here; If you’re not interested in the iPad and how it can help kids with autism you needn’t read further on this post. But judging by the statistics on this blog, and seeing that FAR and AWAY the most viewed portion of Autism Epicenter is the app reviews, most of you will find this to be indispensable information.

I want to touch on an important issue and make you aware of some things regarding iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch apps. I want to bring something to light so nobody out there is deceived.

Follow up:

First, this advice is good for more than just disability apps or autism apps. This applies to every app you’re thinking of purchasing from the app store. Yes, even Need 4 Speed and Who Threw Poo.

Since getting my son an iPad in September, and reviewing several apps, I’ve noticed that MANY (almost every) app says it’s compatible with the iPad. In truth, if you have an iPad, the only apps you want to purchase are those that are marked as universal or for the iPad only. In the App Store, or iTunes, Apple has a little plus sign (+) and the words “This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad.” That’s a universal app. That’s an app you want for your iPad. For a live example see MyTalk on the app store. Look closely, beneath the app’s icon. You’ll see that it’s universal. Your money is safe there, and that app will look great on your iPad’s high-def display.

If you look at this version of SLP Field Kit you’ll see that it’s exclusively designed for the iPad. That’s good. That’s an app you’d want for your iPad. Under requirements it only says it’s compatible with the iPad. That’s how you know it was specifically developed with the iPad in mind.

On the other hand, take a look at Look2Learn. By-the-way, Look2Learn is a really good app for your iPhone and iPod Touch, but I don’t recommend it for the iPad. See the Requirements? It says “Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.” That means you don’t want it for your iPad. Apple could help out all of us iPad owners by changing that little description. If it was my decision it would say “Requirements: Works great on iPhone and iPod Touch, but it’s sorta jacked-up on the iPad. But, hey, it’ll work in a pinch.”

Apps like Look2Learn will indeed work on your iPad. But you won’t get high-definition graphics and it won’t take advantage of your larger screen. You have two choices with these apps that weren’t made for your iPad. You can view it in a little box in the center of your screen that’s the same size as an iPhone screen. OR you can zoom it in and see it larger. When it’s zoomed in you get pixelated images though. I’m talking about Atari 1980’s style, obviously pixelated, images. I don’t know about you, but I paid a lot for my son’s iPad and I want apps that are going to take advantage of every single feature I paid for.

So, in summation, pay attention. Don’t be too quick to give Apple your money. Be informed and know whether the app you’re thinking about buying is really gonna dazzle on your iPad.