i Pad
There are already several Go apps available for the iPad in the Apple App Store. Also make sure to look at the iPhone page because iPhone apps can be installed and played on the iPad.
Do you have tested any of them? Please share your experience!
Name | Price | iTunes | Website | U | 9 | 13 | 19 | AI | 2PL | 2PR | 2PE | IGS | KGS | Tut | Exp | Imp | Jos | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SmartGo Kifu | $19.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | |
SmartGo Books | free | ![]() | ![]() | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | Go bookstore & reader for iOS (iPod, iPad, iTouch) with interactive diagrams. The app and a sample chapter of each book are free. |
Igowin HD | $9.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | ? | Auto or manual adjusting AI for 18k, 15k, 12k, 9k, 6k, 3k. Uses The Many Faces of Go AI. |
Tengen Go | $3.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | N | ? | Y | N | N | ? | ? | N | |
Panda-Tetsuki | free | ![]() | ![]() | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | N | The official IGS client for iPad |
SmartGo | * | * | ![]() | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | N | ![]() |
Champion Go HD | $7.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | Y | N | N | Uses the CrazyStone engine, two additional, stronger CPU levels compared to the iPhone version, estimated to be ~1-2kyu (KGS) on an iPad 2. |
iBlackWhite | $2.99 | ![]() | ![]() | Y | ? | ? | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | ? | This app is for replaying famous games rather than playing. Mostly in Chinese. |
CleverGo Pro | $1.99 | ![]() | ![]() | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | ? | |
Ancient Game of GO | $2.99 | ![]() | ![]() | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | ? | |
Boardz | $0.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | ? | |
weiGo for iPad | $0.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | ? | |
IT囲碁HD | $2.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | In Japanese only |
DigiHug Stones | $0.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | N | N | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | ? | |
Game Table | $0.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | N | N | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | N | Basic table. No rule enforcement. |
BoardBox™ | $3.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | N | Y | ? | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | N | Basic table. No rule enforcement. |
Ancient Go | $0.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | ? | Unclear if this is still supported |
Touch Boards for iPad | $0.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | N | N | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N | N | ? | ? | N | The app is free, but the go module is 99¢ |
Brugo Joseki | $5.99 | ![]() | ![]() | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | Y | A Joseki dictionary, (27 May 2011) |
EasyGo? | $11.99 | ![]() | ![]() | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | 2000+ problems, SGF editor with tree view and easy import/export |
- U: A "Universal Binary" that can be run on the iPad and iPhone
- 9: Can play a 9x9 board
- 13: Can play a 13x13 board
- 19: Can play a 19x19 board
- AI: Has an Artificial Intelligence, computer player
- 2PL: Can play 2 player locally
- 2PR: Can play 2 player remotely
- 2PE: Can Play 2 player via email
- IGS: Can play via the IGS server
- KGS: Can play via the KGS server
- Tut: Includes a tutorial
- Exp: Can export SGF
- Imp: Can import SGF
- Jos: Includes a joseki dictionary
- 9: Can play a 9x9 board
ViktorSovietov?: SmartGo Kifu is my favourite on iPad. But for this price it would be great to have joseki tutor and IGS client included, I really miss these features. I also have bought TengenGo, but even free Tetsuki (such a pity that Tetsuki has no support of iPad) looks better. My first impression was that developers didn't know how to manage with the advantages of iPad's large screen.
ViktorSovietov?: English TYGEM BADUK client has been recently released for iPad (for free). Not perferct, but useful to play games as guest. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tygem-baduk/id416039506?mt=8
BramGo: it is, but I cannot login on it. I think it's no longer working.
The beta for the next Tetsuki (renamed Panda-Tetsuki) is a universal app and is gorgeous in my opinion. You can sign up for beta testing here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112432508806756 - erima
BramGo: beta testing is over, there's an official release for iPad now.
Pimenta: I believe Smart Go Kifu is indeed the Smart Go Pro version for iPad, although this is not entirely clear at the developer's website. It adds ability to replay games in a better way than on the iPhone, given the extra screen real estate. I second the motion to having it play on IGS (would love KGS, but unfortunately that's a lost cause...)
As a wage slave suffering an hour long commuting journey each way, I decided to buy an IPad 2 to see whether the wide screen and light-weight portability of the tablet would be a useful tool for studying/relaxing/general doodling about Go.
After several week, the results far exceed expectations. The Ipad 2 is light, has a long battery life and an easy, intuitive operation system. Given the very low cost of Applications (Apps in Ipad jargon), I have downloaded or bought most of the Go-related Apps for Ipads and thought I would contribute some thoughts on each programme as I try them out. These include Igowin HD, Clevergo Pro, SmartGo Kifu and Igowin life (for IPhone). I have also downloaded Go Books from SmartGo which offers several titles online for a very modest price.
IGOWIN (THE IPAD VERSION OF MANY FACES OF GO - "MFOG")
This App is the most comprehensive Go playing programme available for IPads. It reproduces most of the features of Many Faces of Go (I have versions 11 and 12 on my PC), although the navigation of its different features is not as intuitive as MFOG. Igowin would be improved by a help menu showing all the features.
The touch screen of the Ipad works fine, but some might prefer to use a stylus to enter their moves, (especially those with clumsy, larger fingers...).
An annoying defect of the programme is that it does not adjust its angle to the screen's position i.e. it does not set itself horizontally when the tablet is held horizontally, as with most other Apps on the Ipad. As a result it can only be viewed vertically, which is a drawback if you are used to propping the tablet on a stand or its magnetic cover which rolls back into a stand.
IGOBAN
This is an attractive, free app for Ipads. Basically, it provides a board with stones, thus avoiding the need to carry a travelling go set. The board is very realistic and the stones are extracted by "dipping" one's finger on the black or white stone bowl and placing the stone on the point selected by putting one's fingertip at the desired place on the board. The bowls make a realistic sound of rattled stones when the finger extracts a stone, and a satisfying click when they are placed on the board.
Mistakenly placed stones can be moved by simply dragging the stone across the board to the correct place. This is useful to demonstrate new sequences etc.
To empty the board, simply tilt the Ipad for a short while and all the stones tumble off the board and a new game can be started. A drawback in the software is that a mistaken "emptying" of the board cannot be rectified. A future version should provide some form of "memory" so that an unintentional clearance of the board can be rectified.
Otherwise a useful free app for Go on the Go!
"SMARTGO KIFU" is a very good all round Go App and has a host of fine features. Apart from a virtual board, with an easy system for saving games, it also provides over 2000 problems to sharpen your wits or simply to entertain while commuting (including life and death and tesuji problems, conveniently graded to permit selection at one's own level. It also has ahuge collection of professional Go games which are easily searchable. All in all, a "must buy" for any serious player and, in my view, the best Ipad compatible programme currently available.
Other Apps are rather more disappointing.
"GO TOUCHER" is a Japanese app with downloadable games for viewing and a virtual Go board and stones to play with. It does not appear to have a save game function, which is slightly annoying.
"SENTE" is another virtual go board. The graphics are rather bland but the commands are nicely intuitive. The stones are easy to place, remove, change in colour. The App also has a save function which is useful. However, I was unable to discover how to delete a saved game, which is an irritant.
"ANCIENT GO" is another virtual go board but this time with virtual go bowls full fo stones. It can either be used for playing against another human or as a sparring partner. For some reason, it automatically saves a game after 12 moves and then has to reboot, which includes having to wait a rather kitsch Oriental screen unfolding with appropriately eastern muzak in the background.
"IGOBAN" is yet another virtual Go board and stones. Its graphics are the best of the virtual Go boards available among the Ipad Apps, with a nice wooden patina to the board and pleasantly shaped stones. To select a stone, you have to place a finger on the bowl, which makes a realistic sound of stones rattling inside the bowl and then tap on the desired point of play. To end the game, you simply tilt the Ipad and the stones "fall off". A major omission (and therefore defect) is that once the stones have "fallen off", there is no undo command. This is infortunate as one might inadvertantly tilt the Ipad while moving around or even while readjusting one's seated position on the train, and "woops" all the stones and the game they represent are irretrievably gone. The App's developers really should have done something about this.