Many on-the-go business people are shedding bulky laptops in favor of an iPad. Still more are using their iPads as a second PC of sorts, for monitoring operations, scanning news, and more. It’s not surprising: Never before have there been so many time-saving, business-enhancing apps available. Here we’ve compiled our favorites in six categories: News and Information, Sales and Networking, Productivity, Virtual Meeting, Content Management, and Remote Access.

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News and Information

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Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal iPad app offers users all the best coverage from the award-winning journal without the print subscriptions. All people need to do is to download this iPad app and enjoy their favorite parts of the journal such as the Opinion, What’s New, Money and Investing, Journal Reports, Personal Journal, Greater New York and WSJ Weekend features. What is great about the WSJ iPad app is that users will be able to see more than just what is written in the printed version. They also get slide shows and videos.

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Zite

Zite is the best iPad app for magazine lovers. It pays attention to preferences and gets smarter with every use. Zite is designed to work as a personalized magazine app that pulls contents from categories based on the user’s tweets and Google Reader accounts. Using this iPad app allows users to enjoy the content they love and at the same time discover other things they may have an interest in.

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Taptu

Taptu is a one-stop iPad app for social network enthusiasts. With this, users need not log into individual Twitter, Facebook, G Reader or LinkedIn accounts. All they need is Taptu, and they will be able to log into all sites at once. Users may also add their favorite sites and blogs with Taptu. Doing so allows them to transform all the content from various sites into an easy to read interface with customizable feeds.

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Sales and Networking

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Salesforce Mobile Works

Salesforce Mobile comes in mobile lite, full and iPhone versions. All these apps allow users to have instant access to their Salesforce information. The lite version allows creation, editing and removal of capabilities from the standard CRM data while the full version helps users build their own Salesforce app. With this, they are able to personalize and customize configurations and objects based on their business needs.

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HighRise

Highrise iPad app from 37signals offers business professionals easy access to their Highrise notes, contacts, voice notes, emails and tasks no matter where they are. Highrise also offers a simple CRM tool that is great for small businesses, salespeople, freelancers, entrepreneurs and contractors. Highrise is the simplest app one can have to keep track of the people they work and do business with.

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Productivity

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iTalk

iTalk was developed by Griffin Technology, and it allows users to record all voice transactions for easy retrieval and review. They may also send the recordings to their email. iTalk recorder features an easy to use interface and controls. Now everyone can store all the recordings with their right sound quality.

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RightSignature

RightSignature from RightSprite allows users to sign mobile documents on their device. It gets rid of all he hassles involved with printing and signing contracts and having them scanned or faxed. Now, business professionals can sign any document while on the go. The app also features pan and zoom for easy document review prior to signing. It also has a photo authentication feature that uses the photo as a part of the signature.

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Bamboo Paper – Notebook

The Bamboo Paper – Notebook from Wacom turns the iPad into an amazing paperless tool that allows users to virtually share their sketches, doodles and other handwritten notes. With this, business professionals can easily express and share their thoughts during brainstorming sessions and meetings. They may connect their iPad to the projector for easy viewing and sharing.

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Dragon Dictation

Dictation has never been as easy as using the Dragon Dictation iPad app. This amazing tool allows users to write spoken words automatically as either text or email messages. With this, they no longer have to type on their keyboard as the app does it by itself. Using this voice recognition app is actually five times faster than typing on the keyboard. It also supports multiple languages.

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iThoughtsHD

iThoughts provides users with the ability to come up with task lists and organize their ideas and information. This app makes brainstorming, goal setting, course notes and revision, meeting notes, WBS and GTD a lot easier. It also comes with extensive task management and advanced mindmap features.

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Virtual Meeting

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GoToMeeting

Attending meetings is always convenient with GoToMeeting iPad app. It allows users to take part in important meetings while they are on the go. The app can accommodate up to 6 participants with HDFaces video. They can view presentations, reports and mock-ups. With a few taps on the link, they can join an ongoing meeting instantly.

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WebEx

WebEx provides business professionals with a higher level online meeting app. WebEx allows two-way video that is perfect for brainstorming sessions and conferences. The app also features voice-activated video switching, high-quality and multi-point video and simultaneous viewing for content and videos. Host account capabilities include starting, canceling and scheduling meetings and inviting other participants to join.

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Content Management

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Cloud

Cloud App from OpenText provides seamless opportunities for business professionals to take advantage of Enterprise Content Management. The app features video innovator stories that allow users to share them on Facebook. The Cloud App offers a whole new environment that is different from the traditional eBook. It also comes with interactive gadgets, informative videos, audio and widgets.

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Dropbox

DropBox makes it easy for users to store and get access to their files, photos and videos from anywhere. They can get access to all of this using their iPads, iPhones, computers and even through the Dropbox website. All these files can also be viewed offline. Now, there is no need for attachments.

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Remote Access

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LogMeIn

LogMeIn makes it very convenient for business professionals to get access to their files from home or work computers on the go. They may also use this app to control their PC no matter where they are. With this, users do not have to worry about taking their files with them all the time. In addition, this app allows IT professionals to fix computer problems remotely.