As most of us already know and those who don’t are not from this planet, the iPad is launching in the US tomorrow. With all the excitement and hype we thought we’d collect the most exciting, well designed and impactful apps we came across for your new object of affection. Many of the reviews and hit lists we have seen are the usual suspects and although they fill the roles of getting things done, we at app.itize.us and CreativeApplications.Net like to look at things slightly different. This post is a showcase of some of the most inspiring, beautiful, challenging and most exciting apps out there at the time of the iPad release. Of course, we look forward to what is yet to come, as we are as excited about iPad as everyone else. Enjoy.

Granimator™

A free-form, immersive touch and sound experience that allows you to become the artist using noted designers and artists special ‘design’ packs including signature elements, shapes and backgrounds to play with.

Platform: iPad only
Version: 1.0
Cost: Free
Developer: ustwo™

Chirp Frame

Turn your iPad into a simple and elegant twitter picture frame. there are 3 different stylized graphic themes to fit you and your own personal taste (black&white, western and nature). you can also respond to tweets in the app.

Platform: iPad only
Version: 1.0
Cost: $0.99
Developer: work in progress

Touch OSC

TouchOSC is an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad application that lets you send and receive Open Sound Control messages over a Wi-Fi network using the UDP protocol. Whilst this does not mean much for many, the usage of this app has no limits. Say you are a musician and want to control your Pro-Tools from your iPad or what if you have built an arduino robot you want to control from your iPad, well this is the way to do it. This is a must in the area of custom hardware software using OSC networks. Check it out even if you have no use for it today you may tomorrow..

Platform: iPad/iPhone
Version: 1.5
Cost: $4.99
Developer:  Hexler

Raindrops for iPad

Touch the screen and trigger pleasant musical sounds to your own beat. record your compositions and share with others online. you don’t need any previous musical knowledge to enjoy this.

Platform: iPad only
Version: 1.0
Cost: $1.99
Developer: Masayuki Akamatsu , Yusuke Kawabata , Junpei Wada

C64 Paint XL

This is THE paint program from 1984. a retro pixel art inspired app that lets you paint on a canvas up to 160 by 200 pixels with all the 16 colors of the classic 8-bit computer of the 1980s, the Commodore 64. It has both square pixels and non-square pixels to replicate the way the C64 and other 8-bit computers really looked on a TV screen.

Platform: iPhone/iPad
Version: 1.0
Cost: $2.99
Developer: Felt Tip Inc

Thicket

An audio-visual mix and manipulation of texture, movement, line and tone. by drawing on the screen with your fingers, you create dense, mesmerizing sonic and visual patterns within a space of warm, bright, rhythmic sound design and constantly evolving, bending, elegant scrawls.

Platform: iPhone/iPad
Version: 1.0
Cost: $2.99
Developer: Interval Studios Inc

Kaleidescope X Pad

Much more than just a traditional kaleidoscope, this app is a creative tool for producing beautiful moving mirrored images… its literally an interactive work of art. comes standard with all the features you would expect in a digital kaleidoscope, but adds an impressive collection of features incl. a STEREOSCOPIC 3-D mirror and the amazing IMAGE SYNTHESIZER which creates image variations on the fly.

Platform: iPad only
Version: 1.0
Cost: $0.99
Developer: Gritless Digital

Zen Bound 2

Amazing graphics and sound set the atmosphere for this zen inspiring puzzle app. you need to wrap a length of rope around various sized and stylized wooden sculptures. takes full advantage of tilt and multi-touch so you will not only need to use your fingers to wrap and twist the shapes, but also tilt your iPad to solve the puzzles.

Platform: iPad only
Version: 1.0
Cost: $7.99
Developer: Secret Exit Ltd

The Elements: A Visual Exploration

This is one of the most amazing digital experiences i have seen. not only an amazing resource to provide context to the periodic table, but, also takes full advantage of the tablet based interface of the iPad. over 500 examples of the chemical elements in virtual form and every one can be spun around a complete circle with the touch of your finger. you can even view them in stereo 3D using glasses available from the publisher.

Platform: iPad only
Version: 1.0
Cost: $13.99
Developer: Element Collection

Depict HD

This app was recommended to me by my good friend lopetz at büro destruct. an amazing pixel art game which you draw a picture and others across the internet (via openfeint) try to guess the image or take part and guess yourself. a unique take on pictionary, but with pixels. fantasitic idea and addicting to play. this version for iPad takes it to a whole new level.

Platform: iPad/iPhone
Version: 1.0
Cost: $1.99
Developer: Makeshift Games

Intellivision

This one brings back memories of me playing intellivision at my friends house after school on his families walnut cabinet tv set. the app has a selection of vintage titles for you to take you back in time. the visual design of the app and its various menus is spot on, down to the paddle controller and the pixelated graphics of the games. def one to get for the nostalgic values alone.

Platform: iPad only
Version: 1.0
Cost: $2.99
Developer: VH1 and MTV Networks

TiltShift Generator

my favourite photo manipulation app on the face of the earth has now come to the iPad. they have totally reformatted the controls specially for the tablet. amazing photo manipulations to make your photos look like they are shots with miniatures, toy camera images and fake DSLR. just stunning results from this app.

Platform: iPad/iPhone
Version: 1.0
Cost: $2.99
Developer: Takayuki Fukatsu & Takuma Mori

Noby Noby Boy

a fantastic port of the recent iPhone release from Keita Takahashi to the iPad. takes full advantage of the new screen size and has some enhancements as well. you can now paint on the background and save them as well. also, the controls are made much larger and easy for smaller fingers (and kids). just too insane to explain, so go get it!

Platform: iPad/iPhone
Version: 1.1.0
Cost: $1.99
Developer: NAMCO BANDAI Games

IQ mirror X

This app is deceptively hard, you need to replicate the randomly created dot pattern displayed in the mirrored pattern below it. use your fingers to change the sizes of the spheres to match the ones above, but, its not that easy, you have a time limit as well.

Platform: iPad/iPhone
Version: 1.0
Cost: $2.99
Developer: Studio Loupe

Ludo Board Game

This board game app is a result of the evolution of the well known ancient game Ludo (Latin: I Play) that we all played as kids. the board game itself has a very simple concept so it is suitable for anyone from 4 to 99 years. you can play solo against the computer intelligence or mix computer vs human to add an extra dimension of challenge. the graphics are elegant and colorful and represent the original with a twist.

Platform: iPad Only
Version: 1.0
Cost: $3.99
Developer: SIS software