Whether it’s navigation, DIY or entertaining the kids, these apps are going for the noble goal of making your life easier and more enjoyable

As you might expect, the App Store is a disparate place, and there’s an almost endless number of sub-categories that contain some amazing apps to suit a variety of needs. We’ve chosen just a few of the top apps that have whiled away hours for the Tap! team. There are brilliant vintage children’s books, a great painting and sketching app, as well as the finest stargazing experience for iPhone or iPad, and even a DIY tool that will soon become an indispensable part of your home improvements. If you’re ever in need of inspiration, the free TED app simply has to be on your device at all times, and we couldn’t finish up without mentioning TomTom, which uses the built-in GPS to become a sat nav every bit as good as a standalone device costing £100.



Entertaining little kids

Toca Boca apps (Toca Train)

There are eight great Toca apps for kids; we like Toca Train in particular, for its colourful scenery and fun controls, putting your child in the driver’s seat of this educational train simulator. Buy now

DIY

iHandy Carpenter

All the vital woodworking measurement tools virtualised in one app. From a clever plumb bob for vertical alignment to a realistic bubble level bar, you’ll never need the real-world versions again! Buy now

Wallowing in childhood nostalgia

Ladybird Classic Me Books

The developers scoured charity shops in order to scan in battered copies of these treasured classic books for that realistic vintage feel. They look fantastic, the stories are, of course, as good as ever, and you can record your own narration. Buy now

Stargazing

Luminos

Augmented reality stargazing apps (that allow you to locate stars above you) are plentiful on the App Store, but Luminos wins out for its visual quality and accuracy in the field. Buy now

Painting

Procreate

£2.99 gets you one of the most powerful painting and sketching apps around. Tweak brushes and effects with sliders, and off you go! There’s a free tools book available from iTunes, too. Buy now

Making calculations easily

Soulver for iPad

Soulver is one of the easiest ways to keep a running total of costs. Use the notepad on the left of the app’s screen and a tally appears on the right. You can then use the mathematical keyboard to make more complicated calculations. Buy now

Inspiration and amazement

TED

TED has established itself as the premier resource for the world’s best science, arts and cultural speakers. Find every recording in one easy-to-use app for all iOS devices. Buy now

Turn-by-turn navigation

TomTom

Until iOS 6, there’s only one sat-nav app to get. TomTom in its various guises (UK & Ireland maps, for example) is detailed, accurate and comes with a plethora of options. Buy now