Joe Oliveto has over a decade of experience covering tech, physical media, and entertainment. His work has appeared in such digital publications as HuffPost, Thrillist, Yahoo!, Time, Elite Daily, Cracked, and numerous others. Along with collecting physical media, his hobbies include hiking, reading, going to concerts, and attending repertory film screenings throughout NYC.
Steve Jobs may be a complex figure, but anyone who's studied his personal philosophy knows he had something resembling grand intentions and ambitions when designing products like the iPad. Jobs believed that computers and related devices could empower the average person by offering everything from access to learning to opportunities to express their artistic souls.
A device like the iPad may technically have the potential to deliver on that promise. There are a few reasons it can fail to do so.
One is the simple fact that, by being connected to the internet, any mobile device runs the risk of turning into a distraction. An iPad might fail to bring your creativity to life if you're using it to check social media most of the time.
That's why I like to get into the habit of turning WiFi off on my iPad from time to time. As it turns out, some of the most useful and engaging iPad apps are ones that work perfectly well offline.
Procreate
A digital art app that evokes the original mission of Steve Jobs
Again, Steve Jobs may have been many things, but there's no denying that "big fan of the arts" was at least one of those things. Unlike many of his engineer pals, whose personal interests leaned more in the direction of tech, Jobs believed he and his Apple team (minions?) were creating tools that would allow users to create works of genuine self-expression.
Procreate is an example of an iPad app that's rooted in this original vision. While there are several digital painting and art apps available to iPad owners, I enjoy Procreate because it's user-friendly and offers an extensive menu of brushes, paints, and even canvas sizes from which to choose.
In some ways, using Procreate while connected to the internet would go against the spirit of the app. During a good Procreate session, which I enjoy at least once a week, I get wrapped up in the process of creating art. It's one of the few times in my modern digital life when I'm truly focused on one task for at least an hour. Whether I'd be able to maintain that focus if the device I was working on was connected to the internet is very much up for debate.
This entry also highlights an important point: I'm trying to select apps I not only enjoy, but that represent strong categories of offline iPad apps. You might not end up using the exact apps I recommend. For instance, while the general idea of an app like Procreate may appeal to you, perhaps you'll find another drawing app that better serves your specific needs and tastes. This is just a suggestion to help you get started.
Kindle
You don't need an internet connection to read books on an iPad
Disclaimer: I wouldn't say the offline Kindle iPad app is so impressive it makes a Kindle itself a redundant piece of technology. Even as a physical media fan who enjoys reading paper books, I find plenty of reasons to use my Kindle. For example, I prefer reading from a Kindle's screen, as I find it causes less eye strain than reading from an iPad or iPhone.
Nevertheless, the Kindle app offers a great way to use an iPad without an internet connection. Yes, you need to be connected to the internet to download your Kindle purchases, but once you've added content to your library, you can disconnect and read it at your leisure.
E-reader apps like this one represent the flip side to how Steve Jobs imagined his products would get users to engage with art. Just as you can use offline iPad apps like Procreate to generate content of your own, you can also use the Kindle app to consume the art others have created. Doing so when you're not connected to the internet means you might also focus on and appreciate the work more than you otherwise would if you felt the urge to click away and check your socials.
The Great Courses
You can learn a lot on an iPad, even offline
Additional disclaimer: When I first started using The Great Courses, it was possible to download more content than you can now. Thus, the app's offline value has diminished somewhat. Over a year ago, the company behind it cracked down on unlicensed distribution of its content by limiting how much content users could directly download to their devices. However, some content is still downloadable, and the app offers offline streaming for purchased content.
The main reason I'm including it on this list is because The Great Courses is an example of an iPad app that, when used offline, directly pushes back against the "brain rot" effects of being constantly connected to a digital device. By downloading educational content and turning the internet connection off, I can transform my iPad into a valuable resource that expands my knowledge.
Again, these are just examples of apps to use when your iPad is offline. You may find alternatives that you prefer. What's most important to understand is that an iPad doesn't always need an internet connection to fulfill its potential.
In many cases, using apps offline might actually be the ideal way to truly engage with an iPad. If you don't currently own an iPad, but you want to see what you can do with one, be aware that you might be able to save some money. While you'll have to research the matter in greater detail to ensure an older iPad will meet your needs, often, an old iPad is worth having, even if it can't install updates. These are some apps you might download after buying one.