The iPad was gonna save newspapers, magazines and break open the ebook market. Strictly speaking none of these preictions has come true. Nevertheless, the hottest, coolest, whatever device of the year has spawned a publishing revolution, delivering the news in an almost subliminally natural way — this is the way news is meant to be consumed.

That said, if you found iPad under your tannenbaum, then you have a need for the best news apps and here’s a great starting point for getting your news now.

• Pulse News Reader, free — I initially had some reservations about this app, but it’s become my go to news reader because it provides an easily self-curated feed that’s fast and attractive. Access to the Economist doesn’t hurt either.
— Hands on with Pulse News Reader for iPad

• SkyGrid, free — Here’s somebody else’s version of the news. It’s good to take in sources that I might not otherwise see.
— SkyGrid delivers curated news for the iPad

• Flipboard, free — Not used nearly as much since I got Pulse. Still good and it might just be the splashy attractive reader for you.

• Reuters News Pro, free — Yup, it’s just a wire service, but one of the best and a must-have source for business news.

• ABC News Pro, free — Spin the ball, it’s cool.
— ABC News for iPad: Real wow, real innovation

• Guardian Eyewitness, free — The best news photo browser out there, period.

• Fluent News Reader, free — Not beautiful, but one of the most-popular ways to drink from the fire hose.

• BBC News, free — Perhaps the best deep color reportage in the business and a point-of-view that isn’t American.

• MobileRSS HD Google RSS News Reader, free — Load it with your feeds, drink deeply.

• Hangman RSS HD, $2.99 — Who says the news can’t be fun? If you like puzzlers, this is a great bathroom (or waiting in the car) app.

Nevertheless, whether you live in a big metro or one not so large, I suggest that you subscribe to your local newspaper — I do.