Better Blogging on the iPad & 5 Apps to Assist

It’s safe to say that one of the more revolutionary electronic devices in recent memory has been the Apple iPad. Yet at first glance, the tablet does not seem like an ideal device for bloggers. The touchpad keyboard and limited screen space are a bit cumbersome compared to keyboards and displays. Nevertheless, with the right apps, many internet functions can be tailored to fit the tablet screen, and the iPad offers far greater mobility than a laptop while providing a better typing experience than the diminutive iPhone. In fact, when combined with useful apps and a good mobile broadband connection, the tablet offers the perfect medium for mobile blogging. The following are 5 such apps to make you a better and more productive blogger:

1. WordPress App

For users of the popular blogging site, the free WordPress app provides a convenient albeit limited version of its web based service. However, these limitations also simplify the blogging process, paring down the clutter to basic functions such as creating, editing, deleting, and managing comments, while at the same time expanding the viewing area to better fit a tablet screen. For more complex functions, the web based version can still be utilized, with the caveat of having to adjust to the smaller text and work space. Another convenient tool is BlogPress, which includes support for YouTube video embedding and Facebook and Twitter updates.

2. Dragon Dictation

Many bloggers never seem to get comfortable with the touchscreen keyboard. To solve this conundrum, some have opted to use speech to text apps such as Dragon Dictation. Simply speak into the iPad’s built in microphone and then copy the text from Dragon to the blogging software of your choice. The software is highly accurate and requires minimal editing, which ultimately saves far more time and stress than trying to type out a long screed on an uncomfortable surface.

3. PhotoPad

Quickly integrating photos and screenshots is important for any blogger on the go. iPad users can get a picture of whatever is on their screen by holding down the top and bottom buttons on the device. These images are then stored automatically in your images folder. With the free PhotoPad app, you can open and edit these pictures then upload them using a blogging app such as WordPress.

4. Disqus Pro App

The commenting community is an important aspect of any blog. They contribute feedback and insight that supplement the points made in each post. Disqus allows you to moderate comments with the ability to mark spam, filter language and provide background notifications for new comments.

5. Echofon Pro

Like a zen koan on steroids, a blog post is like a tree in forest the size of three universes. Without making an effort to promote your blog, no one will care about the opinions or information held within. Fortunately, blog promotion is made simple through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Although these sites are designed with traditional computers in mind, apps like Echofon streamline the process for the iPad, providing you a quick and easy way to submit links to your blog posts.

Of course, the most essential tool for your iPad is a strong mobile broadband connection. Having access to the web wherever you are allows you to blog when inspiration strikes as well as accesses its multitude of reference sites. Moreover, as blogging incorporates more multimedia functions such as high resolution photos and video streaming, having the wherewithal to upload and view such content is paramount. From a historical perspective, the creation of the iPad marked a clear paradigm shift in mobile electronics. Nevertheless, often times it’s the effort to build on that technology, to improve it with software and functionality that makes the difference between a fad and a revolution.

This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find internet service providers in your area and compare prices on different deals for your mobile broadband needs.