Arches National Park Geology Tour HD from Tasa Graphic Arts is now available for the iPad. It has been optimized for the iPad screen size and takes advantage of the new iPad user interface features. It provides extensive illustrations and photos of the geology of Arches National Park. And, it is fully narrated by the author, a Geology Professor. There is an interactive park map that can be changed to the corresponding topographic map. This app can be used to plan your visit to the park, or as an educational tour guide as you hike or drive the park.

Tasa Graphic Arts has just updated its app, geotimescale, to a version optimized for the iPad. The new app, geotimescale enhanced HD, is an excellent reference for geologists and students of geology. It displays the Geologic Time Scale with the official names and dates of the Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs and Ages. A handy reference for field use. The "enhanced" version now includes illustrations of life on Earth at various points, and includes descriptive text for each illustration, making it a great learning tool as well. The original version is still free and the iPad enhanced version is only 99 cents!

The geotimescale enhanced version is also available for the iPhone and iPod touch for 99 cents. It has the new illustrations and text, making this a must have app for any geology enthusiast. All versions now have dates that are consistent with the GSA dates.

The Elements, A Visual Exploration is an excellent example of what will become the standard for iPad educational apps. The text and photos were first published as a book. The content has been redesigned to use the power the iPad to bring the book to life. View this video on YouTube to see just a small sample of what this app can do.

Radiopaedia Vol 6: Head and Neck Radiology Teaching File HD from Radiopaedia.org is one of several iphone and ipad apps that offer instructional content for the medical student. Each app includes many case studies with several radiological images for each. Each case is discussed and analyzed. As an exam prep tool or as a supplement to your studies, these apps are of great value.

Frog Dissection from Emantras Inc is the app that almost everyone in education expected to be on the iPad. Using the touch interface and the high resolution screen it does an excellent job of simulating the standard classroom activity. While it does seem to stop short of a complete dissection, the visuals are excellent, including the 3D models of the organs. Of course, the real feature is no formaldehyde smell (at least not until the magical iPad adds smell-o-vision).

Solar Walk is the latest planetary orrery to come to the iPhone. There are many variations on this theme and finding the best one depends on the content coverage desired. Several of the "star guide" apps also include information on the planets. This review is specifically for the 3D orrery apps (each allows you to fly through the planets and learn about each one).

Version 1.2 of Solar Walk fully supports the iPad and fixes some earlier problems and errors. The user interface is fairly intuitive, the time control is probably the best I've seen and the view controls use the standard touch interface gesters, making the interface the best feature of this app. The planet surface images in version 1.2 have been improved. The music is unnecessary but can be turned off. For the iPad, this is the app of choice; there are other excellent choices for the iPhone/iPod touch:

Planetarium is the still best solar system orrery in the App Store. This app has the best 'fly to' feature and the 3D view controls are much better than all other solar system apps, however they do not follow the touch guidelines. As a result, the user interface takes some time to fully understand and use. This is a problem for all of the orrery apps: how to move through 3 dimensions with just the touch interface. The planetary surfaces are generally very good, but variable from planet to planet. Planetarium's support site is excellent and you can download a user guide with information including the scale factors. This helps to understand the scale of the solar system and the relative orbital periods. Overall an excellent app!

Grand Tour: Solar System is another solar system orrery with many good features. The surface images of the planets and moons are accurately rendered and simulated! The constellation names and shapes are really not necessary for a solar system orrery (they can be turned-off in preferences). Earth's cloud patterns are an impressive feature. Again, controls are an issue. While the view control is more like the standard touch interface, the navigation between planets is missing. I want to be able to 'fly' through the solar system entirely under my control (speed, orientation, field of view, etc.).

Someone needs to combine the best of these 3 apps into one great solar system model.

In the mean time, it's not easy to pick "the best" 3D solar system app. Solar Walk is the only iPad option at this time but lacks in artistic appeal and accuracy. Grand Tour: Solar System is best for its artist rendering of the planets. Planetarium has the best user interface and very nice renderings of the planets. Planetarium and Grand Tour: Solar System still support OS 2, Solar Walk requires the update to OS 3.

On the subject of "star guides" on the iPhone and iPad, Starmap and Starmap Pro are still the best. There may be cheaper alternatives (i.e. Star Walk) but I believe Starmap and Starmap Pro have it all: current star position based on your location (GPS or Zip Code), constellations, easy navigation, tap almost any object for more information. To find a planet, just click on the "planets" button, select your planet, and a pointer will appear that allows you to drag to the current location (if its visible). And there is an extensive deep sky catalog; again just select from the list and follow the pointer, then tap for more information. The user interface makes full use of the touch capabilities making this one of the best applications I have seen, in any category.

Arches National Park Geology Tour from Tasa Graphic Arts is an excellent example of an educational app. It provides extensive illustrations and photos of the geology of Arches National Park. And, it is fully narrated by the author, a Geology Professor. There is an interactive park map that can be changed to the corresponding topographic map. Park features can be accessed from the map or from a sequential tour of the park, as if you were driving the roads of the park. This app can be used to plan your visit to the park, or as an educational tour guide as you hike or drive the park. This is one of the best apps produced for the iPhone and iPod. It is completely self contained so you can use your iPod touch and you can use it in the park without a need for an internet connection or wireless.

This is a must have app! Available now on

3D4Medical has set the standard for educational "flash card" apps for medicine. They have several outstanding apps that make the most of the iPhone user interface. These include "The Muscle System Pro", "The Nervous System Pro", and "The Cardiovascular System Pro" among others. Their other apps include free or very low cost "quiz apps" that help you test your understanding of human anatomy.

See all of their apps on