Gallery: 8 Eye-Popping Retina Display Photography Apps for the New iPad
Photo by Ariel Zambelich01fotopedia-1
As Apple’s new iPad arrives in households across the world, developers are updating their apps to take advantage of the fantastic new Retina display. Truth be told, however, some apps look better than others -- *especially photo apps*. As I recently sat in a restaurant booth flipping through the dazzling high-res images using the Fotopedia app (which received a Retina display update this morning), a waitress stopped in her tracks to check out the screen. She was studying photography, but hadn’t yet seen what the new iPad can do with artistic works. It’s nothing short of jaw-dropping. Here are some of our favorite image-focused iPad apps optimized for the Retina display, whether for your personal portfolio of images, or just to learn about and admire the world around us. *Photo: Ariel Zambelich/Wired*
Photo by Ariel Zambelich02fotopedia-wild-friends
Fotopedia --------- We mentioned Fotopedia in our [list of apps](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/02/possible-apps-for-ipad-3/) Apple should show off at the iPad’s unveiling, and we still think it’s stellar eye candy for its Retina display. Fotopedia is not one, but a collection of differently themed apps that are essentially a form of photographic storytelling. The subjects span internationally focused topics like Japan, Europe and [Women of the World](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fotopedia-women-of-the-world/id493911721?mt=8). All of the content is updated at least once a week. And lucky for us, Fotopedia has just updated seven of its apps for the Retina display: In addition to the titles above, there’s Heritage (essentially a bunch of landmarks), Paris, North Korea, Dreams of Burma and my personal favorite, Wild Friends. It's iPad photojournalism at its best, with vibrant full-screen images and descriptive accompanying captions. There’s a few different ways you can choose to take in its high-resolution content: You can browse through all of the photos of each collection, which number in the hundreds or thousands depending on the app, or shuffle through them to mix it up. You can view a slideshow of images, which adds a brief transition in between each photo. Or you can view by stories, an aggregation of half a dozen or more related images added to the app weekly -- for Wild Friends, you’ve got stories like Underwater Magic, Svalbard, and Predators. Fotopedia had to take in a number of considerations when updating its apps for Retina display. ”It was a little bit tricky,” senior vice president Christophe Daligault said. “You’ve got to combine three things to make people happy: image resolution, performance and download size.” The company was actually able to improve the architecture of the app to make the download size smaller than it was before. And to ensure speedy performance, the app loads images at the old, lower resolution, and when it detects you’re using a new iPad, updates it within fractions of a second to four times the number of pixels. The switch is imperceptible to the naked eye. The only negative: Fotopedia’s apps require a data connection, so you’ve got to be on Wi-Fi or 3G/4G to use the app. Free, [Fotopedia site](http://www.fotopedia.com/).
03flipboard-3
Flipboard --------- Flipboard is the ultimate iPad magazine, compiling photographs and articles from subject areas you enjoy, like Technology and Science, as well as from social media streams such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and photography destinations like Flickr and 500 Pixels. Flipboard dynamically arranges visual and editorial content in a paper-like spread, the pages of which you can flip through like a real newspaper or magazine. Text is rendered crisp and black on a white background. Tap an article to see it expand to the full 9.7-inches of your iPad’s display, or tap an image to experience it on a larger scale. One of my favorite things is to flip through Flipboard Picks for a curated selection of recent top stories and amazing images. One big bummer: Though Flipboard has been optimized for the new iPad, art from the sources that pop up in your personalized digital magazine occasionally aren’t. Free, [download link](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipboard-your-social-news/id358801284?mt=8).
04art-authority
Art Authority ------------- Photographs aren’t the only images the new iPad is good for. From 15th century Donatello sculptures to abstract expressionist pieces from Jackson Pollack, the Art Authority app is essentially a virtual museum of over 50,000 high-resolution artistic works available in full-screen or near full-screen mode on the iPad. Like an actual art museum, pieces are organized into related collections: Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionism, Contemporary. Once you dive into one of these “rooms,” you can get even more specific by choosing a subcategory like Surrealism, Minimalism, or Abstract art. From the directory button on the app’s main menu, you can discover and experience art in a more serendipitous fashion by shuffling Art Authority’s works, or check out a selection of prominent pieces in the Highlights section. You can also search or browse by artist name, either from the main menu, or from within a specific genre. If you find works you particularly like, you can add them to a Favorites collection so you can check them out again later. The only downside to this app is that although you can zoom in on pieces, that level of fine detail isn’t necessarily maintained when you drill down to the individual brush-stroke level. Regardless, it’s a must for art aficionados of any level (or anyone taking an art history course). $4.99, [download link](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/art-authority-for-ipad/id364048834?mt=8).
05pulse-news
Pulse News for iPad ------------------- Perhaps slightly less photo-centric than some of the other titles on the list, Pulse News is none-the-less a visually stunning way to get your daily dose of news. Pulse News arranges articles horizontally by publication, with a neat rectangular thumbnail image and the headline below. Scroll to the left to check out less recently posted articles, or flick down the page to view content from other sources. You get to choose exactly what publications show up in the app, in what order, and on what page, and you can choose everything from Bloomberg Businessweek to MTV News to Make Magazine to Wired. If you’re more generally interested in a specific area, you can also choose a “pack” like Fashion, Politics, or Food pre-populated with leading sources for that subject area. When you select a story you’d like to read, it slides in from the right to take up about half of the screen, neatly organized with a headline, large lead image (when one’s available), followed by the article text. If you click the headline, it takes you out of the app to the publication’s website. If you have five to ten favorite tech or news sites you hit each day, Pulse News is an efficient way to get their content and view it in an iPad-friendly way. Free, [download link](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pulse-news-for-ipad/id371088673?mt=8)
06the-daily
The Daily --------- The Daily is the first news, sports and entertainment publication designed specifically to bring you fresh content on your iPad each day. With Retina display-optimized text and graphics, you’ll never want to reach for an inky old newspaper again. The Daily’s app and its stories are designed from the get-go for tablet consumption. You can flick through to get all of the day’s content, or jump from section to section if you’re more interested in just Business or Apps & Tech. This daily news publication is heavy on the graphics and photos, and also features interactive content like videos, making it a prime choice for downloading onto your shiny new iPad. The first two weeks of this app are free, after that you can pay $1 per week, or get a yearly subscription for $40. Free, [download link](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-daily/id411516732?mt=8).
07500px
500px ----- 500px, the online photo sharing community, has a terrific iPad app for viewing and sharing gorgeous images. 500px actually isn’t Retina display-ready at this time -- it’s update should be available in the App Store next week, according to the company’s CEO -- but enough of the images are of high enough resolution and quality that we couldn’t leave it out of this roundup. ”We did not feel it was necessary to rush a new Retina version of our app since our application is about the photos, and the photos look fantastic already,” 500px’s iOS developer Ash Furrow told Wired. “And we're pretty proud that Apple chose to feature our app on their test devices at the new iPad media event.” The app opens with a selection of the site’s most popular photos, which can include everything from a pair of prairie dogs to fantastic views of towering skyscrapers. Other sections you can check out include Editors picks, Upcoming, a selection of new content under Fresh, as well as images you or your friends have uploaded and your favorites. And if you’re only interested in seeing photos centered around a certain subject, like dogs, you can also search 500px. Images are arranged in a neat four by three grid, and you can tap an image to enter full-screen mode. When an image is open, you can drag upwards on the image title at the bottom of the screen to reveal comments on the photograph, and add your own to the conversation. Free, [download link](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/500px/id471965292?mt=8).
08itunes-movie-trailers
iTunes Movie Trailers --------------------- iTunes Movie Trailers, which shows 1080p movie trailers and clips on your iPad’s Retina display, is an absolute must for movie-buffs. For some movie titles, like the current teen blockbuster du jour *The Hunger Games* and Disney’s sci-fi film *John Carter*, there’s a gallery of images which includes movie posters and other publicity material, as well as stills and behind-the-scenes shots from the film. If you’re not sure about what movie to see, or you’re mildly obsessed with an upcoming title, Movie Trailers is one of the best ways to get movie info (like a synopsis, its release date, and cast members), images and video on the new iPad. Free, [download link](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itunes-movie-trailers/id471966214?mt=8).
09vogue
Vogue ----- I doubt I’d ever be called a fashion maven by any stretch of the imagination, but high-res, haute couture fashion on the iPad? Yes, please. If you’re not a regular Vogue subscriber, there’s a handful of free content available upon the initial download, including special issues on Rihanna and Lady Gaga, and a preview of an issue of Vogue. If you like what you see, you can purchase individual issues for $4, a one month subscription for $2, or you can subscribe to the magazine for a year for $20. All of your available content is accessible through the app’s library. From there, you can tap an issue to bring up an iPad-optimized issue, complete with its signature high fashion photos, as well as extra content like audio exclusives. Navigation between pages varies between swipes downwards and to the sides, and some images you can actually pinch and zoom to check out the acute, intricate details (a perk a number of other apps in this roundup don’t let you do). Free, [Download link](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vogue/id420569570?mt=8).
The Best Ski Clothes for Staying Warm and Having Fun
From weatherproof jackets and pants to puffers, gloves, and socks, WIRED’s winter sports experts have you covered.
Chris Haslam
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Apple Watch Accessories
You finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.
Adrienne So
The Best Heart Rate Monitors Check Your Cardiac Health
These chest straps and watches will help you keep your finger on your pulse—and many other heart-related metrics.
Michael Sawh
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
Our Favorite Merino Wool Clothes to Keep You Comfy in Any Weather
Merino is one of the best fabrics you can wear. We explain the different blends, what “gsm” means, and how to care for your clothes.
Scott Gilbertson
The 12 Best Coffee Subscriptions of 2026 to Keep You Wired
These services deliver freshly roasted, delicious coffee picks right to your door—each with its own twist.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Podcasts for Everyone
Get your fix of tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy with these audio adventures.
Simon Hill
Death to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than Chapstick
From models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.
Matthew Korfhage
The 11 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride
I tested the best electric bikes in every category, from commuters and mountain bikes to foldables and cruisers.
Adrienne So
The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
We break down the current iPad lineup to help you figure out which of Apple’s tablets is best for you.
Luke Larsen
The Best Smart Video Doorbell Cameras
Never miss a delivery. These WIRED-tested picks will help you keep tabs on your front door from anywhere.
Simon Hill