PDF Expert 5 is the shiny new version of one of the best PDF and document handling apps for iPad. Just released this week, it is updated for iOS 7 with a fresh, flat design and, as always, a wealth of powerful features for working with PDFs.

As you can see in the screencap above the app also boasts a new PDF viewer, support for AirDrop, a new file manager, and more. If you had a previous version installed PDF Expert 5 prompts you to import your docs and settings the first time you open it.

Aside from PDF, the app’s supported file formats include iWork, MS Office files, text files, and image and video files. It also provides easy access to Dropbox, Google Drive / Docs, and in Skydrive – and of course it supports the iOS ‘Open In’ feature so you can choose to pull in documents from other apps on your iPad.

Here are just a few of the notable capabilities of the app:

- Highlight Text -
Mark important things in books, journals or documents you want to review.
- Fill Forms -
Work with static PDF forms created in Adobe Acrobat.
- Create Notes -
Add comments to the texts you read.
- Draw with your finger-
Use it to make handwritten notes or highlight text in scanned books.
- Make Bookmarks -
Create table of contents for your document right on the iPad.
- Review Documents -
Mark-up errors and place special emphasis on important sentences.
- Sign Contracts -
Additional types of PDF annotations are coming in the next updates.

PDF Expert for iPad was one of our picks for Best iPad Apps of 2012. This new version looks to be nice step up for an already superb app.

Here’s an App Store link for PDF Expert 5; it’s priced at $9.99.

Rocket Science 101, by NASA, is an iPad app for aspiring rocket scientists – or just those who would like to learn more about NASA rockets and to try their hand at building one. I spotted it via a review at iPad Apps for School.

Here’s a little of the App Store introduction to the app:

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to launch a NASA spacecraft with NASA’s Rocket Science 101 (RS101)! Select your favorite NASA mission and build a rocket to send the spacecraft into orbit. As you take the RS101 challenge, you can learn more about thrilling missions and the various components of the launch vehicles, how they are configured and how they work together to successfully launch a NASA spacecraft. NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) does the same things for real rockets and exciting spacecraft missions every day – now it’s your turn!

The app has 3 sections that offer varying levels of challenge in choosing and building one of the included rockets – Have Fun, Challenge Yourself, and Rocket Scientist.

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Paper by 53, the popular and award-winning drawing app, got an exciting new update at the start of this week. Version 1.5.0 brings a handful of new features that support the new Pencil accessory to be used with Paper by 53.

This app is touted as being ‘the easiest and most beautiful way to create on iPad’ and ‘where ideas begin’ – and there are a number of iPad artists out there making those promises ring true. One of them is Michael Acosta, whose brilliant work has been featured in our iPad Art section quite a few times.

Here is the detail on what’s new in this update to Paper by 53:

PENCIL. THINK WITH YOUR HANDS.
Pencil is the most natural and expressive tool for getting ideas on Paper. Order your Pencil, a new hardware accessory for Paper, from our in-app store. Please update to this version to begin using your Pencil.
Palm Rejection— Pencil and Paper work together to produce the most sophisticated and effective palm rejection in any app available today. No setup, no calibration, just natural feeling writing and drawing.
Erase— Pencil’s unique built-in eraser lets you get down to what’s essential. 

Blend— Pencil takes care of the lines so you can use your fingers to blend colors on the page and smooth rough edges without ever picking up a tool.
Kaizen
- Expressive Ink Engine — Rebuilt to feel faster and more responsive across all tools.

I can’t wait to see what Acosta and other iPad artists will do with Pencil and Paper by 53.