Cloud storage services are a great way to extend and expand the internal storage of your new iPad. Many of the files you store on a cloud service like Dropbox, Box.net, SugarSync, or any other popular cloud service can be accessed both from within their own, dedicated apps and from other software like password apps, note taking apps, document editing apps, and more. Many of them also offer free accounts for a decent amount storages, so there's not cost involved in trying them out.

How to use Dropbox with your new iPad

If you've already got a Dropbox account, you can download the free Dropbox app from the App Store. Of course you can always visit Dropbox.com from Safari on your iPad but the native app is a much more pleasant experience and gives you more features than Safari allows.

If you don't have an account, it's free to set one up at dropbox.com. You can get 2GB for free and up to 100GB for $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year.

Once you've downloaded the Dropbox app, just sign in with your Dropbox login and give your iPad a few seconds to bring down all your files from the cloud. Once it's done you'll see all your files and folders listed just like a computer directory (yes, on your iPad!). From there you can view any file type supported by the iPad, and even send files to other apps for better viewing and even editing. (For example, you can send a Numbers document to Numbers for editing.)

I've found Dropbox to be the best cloud storage app for iPhone. It's also my favorite for iPad.

Free - Download Now

How to use Box.net app with your new iPad

Box.net is another popular cloud storage app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It's designed with more of a business-user in mind but is available for anyone. It's especially good for users who need to collaborate with others or make frequent options.

Box.net offers a free app via the App Store. All you'll need to do is download it and sign in to access all your files instantly. You can browse them and send them to any other apps that supports them.

If you don't have an account, you can head on over to Box.net and get 5GB for free, and up to 50GB for $19.99 a month.

Free - Download Now

Other cloud options for iPad

While Dropbox and Box.net are two of the most popular choices - there are certainly other options out there for you to choose from, including SugarSync. (Apple's iCloud is a different kind of service, which is fantastic but which doesn't do quite the same things in the same way, so we're not including it here.)

If you've already got a cloud storage service you use and like, stick with it. Odds are, you'll probably find an application in the App Store to compliment your cloud storage service of choice.

The advantages of the cloud

Once you have your preferred cloud storage service and app set up, there's a lot of great things you can do with it.

• Store music, videos, images, documents, and other files on the cloud that you don't need immediately and always available (i.e. locally on your iPad), but would like to be able to get to when online.
• Always have an up-to-date copy of files that you edit a lot on your Mac, Windows, or Linux PC, right on your iPad. (Some of us keep our PC home directory in Dropbox so it's always in sync and backed up on multiple machines, and getting to those files while mobile is sometimes a life-saver.)
• Quickly move a file from your Windows, Mac, or Linux PC to your cloud storage folder when you need to have it available from your mobile but don't have time to transfer it over locally.
• Make sure collaborators, friends, family, clients, etc. can always see the most up-to-date version of any project.
• Easily share a file you have in your cloud storage by getting a link to email to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Conclusion

If you're debating between choices, whether or not they have an app for iPad should probably be a factor when choosing a service. The Retina display on the new iPad will definitely increase application size so cloud storage can help move some files off your iPad and in the cloud to free up space for even more applications.

Do you plan on using cloud services to free up some valuable space on your new iPad? Which cloud service are you using?

Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Instapaper - @sethclifford

This week's pick was an easy one. Instapaper has long been one of my favorite apps, and I've been using it for years. Developer Marco Arment has released an incredible update to the app this week, one of the biggest (if not the biggest) in the lifespan of the app. Instapaper 4.0 has so many new features, I'm not even going to list them here (plus, if my geek-Cylon intuition is right, a certain other TiPb editor is likely to be talking about them somewhere in this very post - if he doesn't though, you can read about them here in depth). I will, however, tell you that my favorite part of the new update to Instapaper is without a doubt its interface changes.

Marco has made subtle changes to the UI that improve both readability and function without sacrificing anything. I am completely smitten with the extra screen space at the top of saved articles now, as well as the clean, dark theme and the new icon on my home screen. And I haven't even touched on the incredible changes to the iPad version! (Again, I'm banking on that other editor to go into it.)

If you've never tried Instapaper, or perhaps tried it in the past and haven't seen it in a while, check out the update. It's substantial, and a great new take on an old favorite of mine. Plus, Marco is a super nice guy and I'm sure he'd appreciate it. Just don't email him…

[$4.99 - App Store link]

iTunes Movie Trailers - @chrisoldroyd

This weeks pick is iTunes Movie Trailers by Apple. By rights I shouldn't have this as its only available in the United States and I am in the UK; it is not available outside of the US for whatever reason the movie studios thought of at that particular time. Did I tell you how much I hate the movie studios and how they fail to apply any common sense to the decisions they make?

Anyway back to my pick, this app looks simple but it looks beautiful too. It's a grid of the latest movies, you click them and watch the trailer. That's it basically, the trailers look great on the iPad screen and whet your appetite for the full movie. You can also view trailers in a calendar view; which shows you when the movies will be released as well as a top 25 view of what is currently playing in theaters too. The theaters tab uses your location using GPS or you can manually input a ZIP Code. You can then go and purchase theater tickets which is obviously US only.

Trailers is a universal binary so works on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch!

[Free - App Store link]

box.net - @Alli_Flowers

Another online storage solution, box.net offers the same kind of features you get everywhere else. Unlike the others, box.net is currently giving away 50GB of storage absolutely free, just for installing and using the iOS box.net app.

Access all the files you have stored in your box.net account easily with the iOS app. Upload photos directly from the camera, of browse your library.

I see no reason to limit yourself to a single online storage solution, so I recommend grabbing this while you can get the 50GB. Who can't use an extra 50GB of storage?!

[Free - App Store link]

My Secret Folder - @andrewwray

My Secret Folder is a great way to make sure all your hidden photos and documents stay hidden. The app locks down any important or sensitive items with a passcode, preventing unauthorized users from accessing your important documents, photos and more. The great thing about My Secret Folder is when someone tries to get access but enters an incorrect passcode, the app will quietly snap a photo of the perpetrator with location information so you know who's tried to break in.

My Secret Folder also camouflages the app icon to look like a regular folder on the homescreen so nobody will even know it's an app. What's more is that My Secret Folder was recently updated to version 1.5, letting you add things like secrete notes, private contacts and bookmarks. There's even a porn mode browser for those other sites you like to visit, and you can snap photos from directly within the app to help save time. If you're looking for an effective way to lock down your sensitive documents and photos, this is the app you've been looking for.

[$0.99 - App Store Link]

The Early Edition 2 for iPad - @llofte

The Early Edition was the original newspaper that launched alongside the iPad and in my opinion, it was "meh". However, Glasshouse Apps did a fabulous job with The Early Edition 2 and I think it's great!

The Early Edition isn't your typical newspaper of popular news - it's of news that's important to you. Basically, it's an RSS reader that pulls all your feeds together and displays them in the format of a newspaper, but it does it so beautifully.

I've said this a million times on TiPb, but I'm a sucker for a good UI, and The Early Edition is some great eye candy. On the iPad 2, it runs butter smooth and it's all the little details that make it great. For example, if you turn the pages slowly enough, you can see the print on the back of each page. Little things like this make me smile.

Seriously, I'm loving this app.

[$4.99 - App Store link]

Siri - @reneritchie

I was originally going to pick Instapaper 4 or The Early Edition 2 and was having a really hard time choosing between them, but now that Seth and Leanna have removed that dilemma by neatly, preemptively picking both, I can move on to something lamer yet simultaneously even more genuine.

I haven't used anything on my iPhone 4S more this week than the built-in, artificially intelligent voice control system with the Pixar personality Apple wisely kept calling Siri.

If you've tried Dragon Dictate, if you've tried Vlingo, you've only tried 25% of Siri. It understands relationships. It understands context. It ties into location and the other built-in apps. It doesn't just listen, it converses.

It doesn't nail every word or action every time, but it's not much worse than human generated typos, damn-you-autocorrects, and wrong button/icon presses either. In fact, for most of what I do when I'm on the go Siri is not only fine, it's extra ordinary.

I use Siri to set location based reminders so I really will call my friend back when I get home (and Siri helpfully pops up the number, ready to call, to make it even more exceptionally convenient.) I use it to send emails and messages while I'm driving and couldn't safely or legally type them out. I use it to dictate Tweets and quick replies while I'm working on my Mac and don't want to interrupt the flow by jumping between apps.

The original Mac wasn't to GUI-based computing what OS X Lion is, and Siri probably isn't to whatever the mature natural voice interface ultimately ends up becoming, but like the original Mac, it's finally off to one hell of a mainstream start.

I even used Siri to dictate and mail this Pick of the Week...

Your pick?

You’re part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on twitter or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

Box.net, the popular cloud storage service, released an update to their iPhone and iPad app to support iOS 5 and AirPlay connectivity for wireless streaming - oh, and 50 GB of free storage! Between now and December 2, if you download the app or update a previously installed version, you will receive a 50 GB lifetime account.

Size matters: Get a FREE 50 GB lifetime account for file storage and sharing through Dec. 2, 2011. To get your automatic upgrade, download the Box app on your iPhone or iPad and register or sign in to your account - it's that easy. Box provides simple, secure sharing from anywhere – letting you easily store files online, send big files fast, access content on-the-go, and collaborate with others. Box for iPhone and iPad lets you:

• View files directly on your iPhone and iPad
• Share files easily with a link
• Upload photos to your Box account (iPhones only)
• Open files in other apps installed on your device, like Documents to Go and GoodReader (iPads only)
• Secure content with file-level encryption, a four-digit passcode and automatic logout when the app is closed
• Project files from Box to a TV, LCD monitor or projector via AV Out (iPads and iPhone 4S only); wirelessly stream content using AirPlay (iPad 2 and iPhone 4S only)
• Wirelessly print to AirPrint-enabled printers (iPads only)

Box.net is available on the iPhone and iPad for free.

[App Store link]

Have an app you'd love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we'll take a look.

We're shifting our focus from iOS 4 compatibility updates to any iPhone or iPad app or game, new or updated, that seems especially awesome.   So if you guys see anything you think deserves some special attention, let us know in the comments and we'll look at including it in a future roundup!  Continue on to see what we found this time!

Pandora

Pandora recently updated their current app to support hi-res images on the iPhone 4. It also fixes several issues with the last version of Pandora. This will also change control settings for volume control and fix crash issues. Since downloading this update, Pandora's been a lot more stable for me. How's it been for you guys?

[iTunes Link]

Box.net

Box.net is a great service for sharing files and viewing them on the go. They offer free accounts as well as paid accounts. There's a lot of options for file storage and sharing out there, and Box.net is definitely a worthy competitor. This update adds fast app switching as well as some tweaks to the general UI. It also adds speed improvements for viewing files by adding caching. If you have it, grab the update, if you don't, try it out and let us know what you think!

[iTunes Link]

Cannon Cadets

Cannon Cadets is a new game coming to us by the same people responsible for Little Metal Ball. (If you don't have Little Metal Ball, check that one out too!) Most of their games are physics based games that require maneuvering and use of the accelerometer. This game combines a story into puzzles and 80 graphically awesome levels. Definitely worth a try. You can also choose an in-app purchase that'll allow you to unlock all the levels if you want to skip around instead of playing in order. If you pick it up, let us know what you think!

[iTunes Link]

Photoshop Express

Photoshop has long been a favorite of many graphic junkies, and while the iPhone and iPad (yes, I said iPad) versions of Photoshop won't do you any good for hardcore editing, for on the go picture editing and adding fun little tweaks to your pictures, Photoshop Express is great. This version adds compatibility for iPad too! This version also allows native uploading to Photoshop.com and Facebook. The general UI seems to be revamped a bit as well as some of the workflow spaces.

[iTunes Link]

Dragon Medical

This app is mainly focused on professionals in the medical industry. You can use voice controls in order to look up drug interactions, diagnosis information, and much more. It aggregates from some of the more popular databases on the internet. So if you're a medical professional or student in the medical field, it may be an app worth a second look.

[iTunes Link]

Box.net for iPad is a front end to Box.net's cloud-based service that allows you to manage and share your data from anywhere. Thanks to the app, you can access your content not only through the Box.net website on any computer, but from your mobile devices now as well.

The iPad version has a very intuitive and easy to use interface.  I recently set up an enterprise unlimited Box account for our business.  As we are in real estate development, we have tons of files to upload.  I was surprised you can even view AutoCad files with a plug-in.  Plug-ins are another area I really enjoyed looking at.  OpenBox is a service Box.net offers which features several plug-ins for 3rd party clients and apps that can work in conjunction with Box.net.   I spoke to a consultant at Box.net that also confirmed desktop syncing is about to come out of beta and hit officially in the next few weeks.  That was one of our biggest concerns as we'd like a cloud backup of all our data.

Also, being a small business, we especially liked the collaboration feature. We can leave notes or tasks for eachother on certain documents and folders.  When I sign in, I see what's new or what files have been uploaded or change since my last log-in.

Box.net offers the following features (some features vary with account type):

• Sharing with links
• In-folder collaboration
• User permissions
• Integrated file views
• Online workspace
• Tasks
• Uploading files on the go from your iPhone or iPad

• Lite - 1GB storage, 25MB file size limit, Free
• Individual - 10GB storage, 1GB file size limit, $9.95/month
• Business - 15GB storage per user, 2GB file size limit, $15/month per user up to 3 users
• Enterprise - Unlimited storage, Unlimited users, Call for pricing

Update: After recording the video, Box.net released an update that allows for the uploading of files. We'll look at that in the iPhone review soon!

[Free - iTunes Link]

Pros

• Fast file transfers
• More storage for cheaper than competitors
• Mobile apps or site for most platforms
• Excellent collaboration tools
• Easy to set up an implement

Cons

• No native editing within iPhone/iPad apps, view only
• No desktop sync (as of yet, should be available soon)
• Sometimes cuts off Excel files funny

YouTube Link

Live from Macworld 2010, Rene and Leanna talk to Sean Lindo, Marketing Manager for Box.net about their iPhone app [Free - iTunes link], integration into QuickOffice, and the power of the cloud.

Watch along after the break and let us know your thoughts!

YouTube link

QuickOffice and Box.net both announced updates recently that work together to provide more seamless access to documents on your iPhone, from the cloud.

QuickOffice 3.0 [$9.99 - iTunes link] lets you access documents stored on Box.net, as well as other cloud-based repositories like MobileMe, Google Docs, and Dropbox. It's also a free update for existing users.

Box.net has [Free - iTunes link] also released a new version that includes collaborative comments, the QuickOffice integration mentioned above, and new API's for developers to connect up search, commenting, and activity tracking in other apps as well. Requires a Box.net account, but you can get 1GB free online.

If you try out either, or both, let us know what you think!

• Our podcast feed
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App Store, iPhone gaming, Apple in the enterprise, power saving pointers, ultimate accessories, and more. With Dieter, Chad, Brian, Rene, and special guest Box.net's Sean Lindo. Listen in!

Background Reading

• Box.net... for your iPhone!!!
• Jobs Speaks! Joz Speaks! iPhone and iPod Touch to Bring the Game!
• http://www.imore.com/2008/11/11/att-tethering-to-cost-30-per-month/
• Motorola RAZR Takes Back Seat to the New #1: iPhone 3G!
• Question: Which Mobile Device is the Most Reliable? Answer: iPhone!

Ultimate iPhone Accessory Pack Contest

• This week's way to enter? Post something awesome in our forum!

Credits

Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast.

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You -- iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

And special thanks to editor emeritus Mike Overbo for the killer intro!

Are you wishing you had iDisk on your iPhone? Bummed you don't? Looking for an alternative? Then look no further! Arstechnica informs us thatBox.net has just released an app for the iPhone! For those of you that don't know, Box.net is a free service that gives you online access to 1GB of storage. Now, you can access this information directly from your iPhone! 

After logging in you have access to your folders and documents; if the iPhone can render it, you can view it! You can even share folders with the handy "Share" button. You can also upload photos as well, but regretfully, only one at a time. 

One neat feature is that if you share a file, you will be notified of an update via the updates section located in the bottom left of the app!

This is a 1.0 release, and we are looking forward to what new features Box.net might bring us! I took some pictures from my iPhone below, enjoy!