The new iPad has been launched, and it has been hugely successful. While die-hard Apple fans have bought the latest version of the iPad, most of us are still using iPad 2. Thankfully, mobile development companies around the world are still offering custom iPad 2 application development services, and there are lots of fun and productive iPad 2 apps on the App Store.

This year thousands of iPad 2 apps have been developed, and quite a few of them have the power to make your iPad 2 more fun and effective. This article discusses 5 recently developed apps that have pushed the boundaries of iPad 2 app development to build innovative apps that add value to lives of iPad users. The following are, arguably, the most useful and entertaining iPad 2 apps developed in 2012.

1. Google Earth

Google Earth has been around for a while now, but its updated version for iPad 2 is the perfect example of how existing apps can tap into the new iPad 2 features to provide a great experience. The latest version incorporates the multi-touch features of iPad 2 to enable users to navigate the world by swiping, adjust view by swiping with two fingers, view geo-located Wikipedia articles, and search for cities and locals business.

2. AVPlayerHD

The iPad 2 and the iOS are loaded with features that encourage downloading or streaming videos. Watching videos on iPad 2 is fun. Unfortunately, iPad 2 doesn’t offer native support to several important video formats. By downloading AVPlayerHD, you can access and play AVI, WMV, RMVB, MKV and several other popular video formats on your device. AVPlayerHD is one of the most useful apps to come out of iPad 2 app development.

3. GarageBand

You may not just want to listen to music but also make some on your own. This app allows you to do just that. GarageBand has several instruments that you can play through touch gestures, and it also boasts a powerful recording studio. You can use the touch gestures to play drums, guitars, pianos, organs and basses. You can also edit and play around with all the sounds you generate.

4. Jamie’s Recipes

Jamie’s Recipes wouldn’t have made it to this list if it were simply a recipe app. This lifestyle app takes things to the next level: not only does it give you access to the secrets of some really great recipes, but it also allows you to add the ingredients to the shopping list on your iPad or iPhone.

5. Filterstorm

This app is a miracle of custom iPad 2 app development. When it comes to managing and editing photos on iPad 2, this is easily the best app around. Not only can you use this app to import and process images, you also have several editing tools that all your to correct color, sharpen images, reduce noise, manipulate curves and do a lot more besides.