The iPad is a must have gadget, it’s a handy little thingy that can be bring to anywhere you want. You can play games, surf the net, watch movies, listen to music, read eBooks, etc literally everything can be done on an iPad. But (Yea there’s a but) it does come with a drawback; If you want to do something that requires a flash player, it will not start and instead, it will show a blue cube in your screen.

It can be a bit disappointing to know that one of the best gadgets out in the market does not support Adobe Flash, a program that we are all used to. However, the Apple fanboys do not let the users down by creating alternatives to the flash players. Listed below are the top two flash player applications that you can use on your iPad:

Skyfire ($4.99 usd)

Skyfire is definitely one of the best flash player applications in the market. If you see a broken flash video icon in your screen, simply touch it with your finger to see if Skyfire can detect the video and if it does, it will pop out just like the one you see in a computer.

It also provides quick links in a click of a button to your favorite videos and other related content. The toolbar also has the regular buttons for a web browser such as the search button, bookmarks, tabs and viewing history. If you have got used to the wide computer screen it can also access the full version of a page, making it look wider than on a mobile screen.

Frash (Free)

Compared to Skyfire, Frash is still in developmental stage, but some users who are not satisfied with Skyfire purchase Frash instead. The only difference between the two, aside from the fact that Skyfire is a complete version, is that you will have to jailbreak your iPad in order to use it.

I have never jailbreak my iPad before but common sense applies here; you have to make sure that downloading it is safe. There are few people who claimed that using these flash players have caused their iPads to crash and break, so it is better to consult someone who has installed the product and ask for their experience with this app before installing it on your own iPad.

Just in case you are wondering, the iPad is designed to be a portable device, but flash player is intentionally left out of the device. Why? It is because they use up more of the battery life than any other applications. So if you want to preserve your battery life, it’s better to limit or better yet, don’t install flash apps on your iPad.

Looking at pictures of the family picnic can get pretty boring as you open one file, close it and open the next picture file. Wouldn’t it be cooler if you can create your own slideshow – displaying one picture after another, in sequence and at the pace you choose? It makes sense to viewers, that’s for sure. Especially if we’re talking about an instructional slideshow or a professional looking business presentation.

You want to look good and you want the visual information properly sequenced and paced to suit your purposes, whether it’s to entertain, educate or to show a new employee how to insert Tab A into Slot B.

You can purchase slideshow software but why would you when there are so many open source software apps and tools available, as in FREE. Here are some of my favorites. Try them. One of them will become your favorite. Guaranteed.

Roll ‘em.

1. Smilebox

I’m amazed at how deep in features Smilebox is. It does almost everything you could want:

* choose from 100s of predesigned templates
* design a slideshow for a specific occasion like a birthday or wedding reception
* integrate stills, digital video clips, narration and even a music bed and sound FX
* output the finished slideshow to an email, print it out or burn to a DVD with a click
* import files from any source – just browse your way to the best looking presentation ever

The interface is totally user friendly, making it easy to upload files and place them on the time line. You can also mix audio to create a narrated presentation complete with music – all in just a few minutes.

Smilebox is perfect for making personalized e-cards, online scrapbooks, photo albums, business quality presentations for upload to a client’s site – the list is endless.

And the cost? Zip. You’ll love how easy Smilebox makes slideshow creation. Even more, you’ll love how good your pictures look – especially when you provide a little narration to describe each shot.

Smilebox is one cool, photo sharing tool.

2. Photozig

Photozig does deliver a robust slideshow creator but there’s more to this download than putting on a good looking slideshow.

Photozig is also a great tool for organizing your picture files, using a “slide tray” to display all of your images. You can save pictures to different folders, create multimedia presentations, download complete folder contents to the time line for easy picture manipulation and edit your pictures with a centering and crop tool that lets you show your best side.

Photozig also lets you create personalized or business-oriented screensavers, wallpapers, DVDs and CDs. I’ve used Photozig a few times now and each time I do I discover more features and more functionality.

This slideshow editor gets two thumbs up from this reviewer.

3. Microsoft’s Photo Story 3

You know MS has to stake a claim in the photo editing realm and Photo Story 3 puts Microsoft on my “best of” list for the simple reason that it configures seamlessly with other Microsoft apps. It’s made by MS so it works with all other Microsoft image manipulation tools running in Windows XP.

The basic, home edition is pretty robust, but if you’re serious about your presentations, Microsoft also offers an MS Media Center edition, a special net book edition and a somewhat pricey professional edition for businesses that need more than PowerPoint.

The pro version is more than you need to create a slideshow for grandma, but for professionals who blog or otherwise work in the web world, Photo Story 3 puts control of your pix in your hands.

Try it, all you fans of MS. You’ll like the way it syncs up with all your other Microsoft tools.

4. PhotoStage

PhotoStage is made by NCH Software and it comes with a basketful of goodies.

First, there’s a complete, intuitive photo editor that simplifies preloading – something you’ll appreciate and a feature missing from some other free slideshow creators. You can zoom in or out, crop images, auto enhance and otherwise manipulate your pictures to suit your artistic preferences or your instructional needs. And it’s easy to use the PhotoStage editor.

Second, your finished slideshow can be output to DVD for viewing on any TV monitor (including high-def flat screens) or PSP, send your slide deck to any mobile device automatically, add vid-clips and more.

Finally, PhotoStage is 100% compatible with Vista based apps. You can add 100s of different pictures to create visual interest and keep your audience engaged, while looking every bit the professional in the process with a full slate of transition options.

Fun, fast and simple. This MS based slide sorter is a favorite.

5. Picasa

Most bloggers are familiar with Picasa – part of the Google Apps suite. It’s Google’s answer to Microsoft’s Photo Story product line and, I must say, it’s a handy little tool to download. FREE.

Unlike a lot of other OSS image creation software, Picasa has a lot of editing options that simplify photo editing and slideshow creation. For example, there’s an Auto Color option that optimizes the colors, even in scanned images in low res formats like gifs.

Picasa comes with an Auto Contrast feature, a Redeye compensator, a simple alignment tool, a border creation tool, templates and other fun stuff to simplify slideshow creation and photo editing.

I especially recommend Picasa for those shutterbugs who are using older digital cameras with lower res than the standards of today. The automated enhancement features “fill-in” the holes in your source materials making lower res images crystal clear. You’ll never have to delete an older photo. Just open it in Picasa, click the auto enhance features and even your old pix will pop on any HD screen.

I’ve used all of these tools for different purposes – from creating a family photo album to creating slideshows for enterprise tier corporate clients. Check ‘em out. One of these is perfect, whatever your slideshow creation needs.

And….cut.

There’s nothing worse than spending $10 at the local multiplex to see a movie that totally sucks. The movie theater sure isn’t going to give you a refund. And yea, it pays to read a couple of reviews by professional movie watchers.

That’s why I usually rely on friends’ recommendations and read few reviews of any movie I want to watch so I know what I’m getting before the endless trailers even start running.

My favorite sites:

1. Rotten Tomatoes

It’s amazing how much money this one site has saved me. I missed all those so called blockbusters that failed to live up to expectations but still had them lining up at my local theater complex.

I like rottentomatoes.com for a couple of reasons. First, there’s always some good gossip and I’m a sucker for good Hollywood dirt. I also like this site because they list gross earnings figures for flicks. So what?

Well, I don’t always follow the crowd so if I see a big name movie is raking in millions and millions, I’ll read at least one more review and ask friends for their opinions before I pay the price of admission.

Also, the reviewers on rottentomatoes.com are pretty brutal sometimes, which always makes for fun reading.

2. Metacritic

Metacritic is a one stop review shop for all kinds of media including movies (of course) but also TV shows, console games (a real money saver when you consider that an Xbox game can set you back $60), music and other fun stuff.

Unlike a lot of other movie review sites, Metacritic actually collects reviews from lots of other review sites all in one place. So, I load Metacritic into my RSS reader and I’m caught up on all new releases, from the latest RPG to just plain PGs, as in movies.

This site’s a time saver when I need a quick review before running out for dinner and a movie with friends. I know what I’m getting myself in for – another Hugh Grant chick-flick? I hope not.

3. The Internet Movie Database

Cool site for watching trailers to see if this is something worth spending money on or a definite pass.

I also get the top grossers of the day, a slew of information on opening dates for movies I have on my must watch list (which seems to be growing longer; I gotta get out more) and there’s an extensive database of reviews of older releases.

For this reason, I always check imdb.com before I pay for a DVD rental or a digital on demand fee for some flick that’s five years old. Another money saver.

4. Pluggedin.com

Plugged in is kind of edgy in its tone. I like that. The reviewers cut through the hype and just give me the information I need to know.

It’s also another one stop review shop covering games, TV shows worth watching, music, DVDs and movies that are currently running. And while pluggedin doesn’t have the extensive database of reviews you’ll find on other sites, these guys don’t pull any punches. If it’s a stink a roo, they tell you it’s a stink a roo. No doubts.

5. Badmovies.org

Sometimes I like watching cringe worthy movies. Bad acting, plot holes you can drive a truck through, wooden acting that makes Clint Eastwood look like Robin Williams. Now, I won’t spend ten bucks to see these clunkers in the cineplex, but I will watch them when they make it to my watch list.

And I watch. And laugh. And cringe.

But there’s something else I like about badmovies.org. They strip away the veneer of hype that surrounds so called big movies and tell it like it really is. You know, some movies get caught up in a tidal wave of hype with one reviewer after another gushing over how great the new release is.

Badmovies will find the bad parts even in good movies – the critics’ darlings. It’s fun reading and it’ll reconfigure your must watch list just like it does mine.

6. Moovees.com

Decent enough reviews, many from other sites, but what makes Moovees a little different is the Moovee community that’s evolved over the past few years since this site launched. I know lots of people who have this site bookmarked because of all the features. It’s a community of users who keep Moovees growing in popularity.

You’ll find daily box office sales, weekend grosses, links to movie trailer sites, a pretty decent archive of reviews and movie related media (like trailers from older movies) and more good gossip and fearless predictions.

7. Nitpickers.com

I’m throwing this site in at the end of the list because it’s just what it says it is. It’s a site for those of us who hate obvious mistakes in movies – continuity issues, for example. In this shot, the glass is half empty, in the next shot it’s full. Maybe 10% of viewers even notice but it’s this kind of stuff that keep nitpickers coming back and posting.

It’s just a lot of fun, and when you see a nit, pick it. Or read about it on nitpickers because a thousand other people saw that mistake, too. (Did you know that the apartment numbers on “Friends” changed after a couple of seasons? Now there’s a nit for you.)

See ya at the movies.

This is a guest post contributed by Lisco, owner of a website offering best air mattress reviews & ratings on the internet