It’s the simple things in life that can really make a difference.

I, like many people, can sit at my computer for hours on end. I sometimes need a reminder to get up and do something else, even for just a few minutes.

I, like many people, don’t like to file papers or clean up clutter.

I decided I needed a timer. I could set the timer for a large chunk of time to sit at the computer, and then set it for a small chunk of time to get away and do something else, even if it’s just filing for 15 minutes.

I quickly searched for a free timer app on the iPad and found this one.

For a free simple little app, it’s fantastic. You can create different timer things (*technical term) and the app keeps them. So rather than having to set 45 minutes of computer time and then set 15 minutes of other time, I have them both and just start whichever one I choose. You can select from a few different sounds. AND you can have more than one timer running at once, which is FANTASTIC for cooking.

It’s almost time for Lotusphere and it sounds like many of us are planning on bringing our iPads. In fact, it sounds like many are attempting to use ONLY iPads for much of the time. I am in that camp. Except for my presentation (during which I’ll be using BOTH my Mac Book Pro and my iPad), I am hoping to just use my iPad.

So, to that end, I wanted to share a few of my favorite iPad apps.

Netflix – I know. This has no conference-related purpose, but it’s probably the app I use the most. I don’t really watch cable TV anymore, I use the streaming from Netflix to watch all the “old” series that I’ve missed like Battlestar Galactica and Firefly. Catching up on nerdy goodness! The streaming works great. The fact that I can view it on my laptop, Wii and iPad is awesome. Only catch was that I found on the iPad, I had to be sure and hit the “Done” button before exiting, if I wanted Netflix to know where I’d left off.

Evernote. Lots of people love this one and have used it long before iPads. I tried it a while ago, and just didn’t get into it. I just tried it again on the iPad and now I’m loving it! The iPad interface is excellent and provides yet another multi-device interface. I love an app that can be used on my laptop, Blackberry and iPad!

Dropbox. Dropbox. Dropbox. I can’t say enough AWESOME things about Dropbox. And Dropbox on the iPad is just awesomer. (Note, that’s another multi-device app. I want to be able to get my “stuff” anywhere and everywhere, be it files, notes or movies!) (if you haven’t already signed up, use this link, we’ll both get extra space for free.

Goodreader. Did you want to read an attachment that you received in email? Did you want to read it in airplane mode? Get Goodreader. Want to read that PDF or Word doc? Get Goodreader.

Twitter. I can’t leave it out, although I find it to be just meh. I wish it had typeahead for twitter IDs and a better retweet functionality. However, I’ve been told Tweetdeck on iPad is crashy and bad, so I stick with the regular Twitter for iPad app.

Tripit. I love Tipit and this is another multi-device app. Browser for the laptop, apps for the Blackberry and the iPad. Fantastic way to track all of my travel details and share them with others when appropriate.

IM+ PRO . This is my new favorite app for the iPad. Mostly because I can access Skype on there and it kicks the regular Skype client’s a$$. The chats load WAY faster and the regular Skype client (on my Mac) seems to pick up where I left off with IM+ Pro, something the Skype app can’t seem to do.

Those are my must-haves on the iPad, what are yours?