iTunes 9.1 Released
In preparation for the iPads release this coming Saturday, Apple has added iPad syncing and book support to iTunes.
Anyone who upgrades to iTunes version 9.1 will immediately have the capability of adding ePub format books to their library. The new book functionality will retain the ePub books original meta data and cover art. Non ePub format books will require a 3rd party converter such as Calibre to get them into the proper format for iTunes.
Unfortunately without an iPad there isn’t a way to access any ePub books that are added to an iTunes library.
Apple typically doesn’t update iTunes for a new product until the day it is released. A strong case can be made that Apple’s pre-release of the updated iTunes application indicates their belief that Saturday’s iPad sales numbers will set a new record
Lulu Titles Coming to iPad
Online publisher Lulu has entered into an agreement with Apple to provide titles for the iPad.
Lulu who uses their own proprietary format will convert its books to the ePub format free of charge, provided that an author doesn’t decline the service of course. After the conversion it will still be up Apple to determine whether or not the title will be made available on the iBook store.
Lulu is hoping that their deal with Apple will help boost the price of their Canadian Initial Public Offering scheduled for April of this year.
Lulu allows authors to publish their work for free with complete editorial and copyright control. Lulu’s elimination of traditional publishing barriers allows authors to sell their work directly to their particular audience. Authors can take advantage of Lulu’s global marketplace, social networking, free customized storefronts and retail listings on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Lulu’s lucrative 80/20-revenue split allows authors to profit greatly from their work.
How Will the iPad Affect the Ereader Market
iPad Guided Tour
In an effort to educate new and potential iPad owners, Apple has published an iPad Guided Tour page on their website. The page consists of eleven Quicktime tutorial videos on Safari, Mail, Photos, Videos, YouTube, iPod, iTunes, iBooks, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers.
The eleven videos range in length from 1:20 to 3:30. They all are shot from an end user point of view, and demonstrate the touch interactivity movements required to use each app.
With the iPad predicted to unseat the Kindle from the eReader throne by the end of this year, the video drawing the most attention will be the one on the iBooks app. Running 2:24 it gives a good overview of the eReaders basic functionality. Personally, I think that the video should have been a bit longer and included a demonstration of the iPad reading out loud.
All of the videos are of the highest quality production and should be categorized as a must see for any iPad enthusiast.
iPad in Store Training
New iPad owners who seek real end user training will be able to get it free of charge starting on April 3 at their local Apple store.
Apple Geniuses will configure e-mail, download apps, and perform any customizations that an iPad owner desires. Workshops will also start on Saturday morning to give customers an in depth view of their new device.
The level of iPad training for new users will be similar to what Apple has done for its iPhone customers every time a new version was released.
The Week of iPad App Screen Leaks
With the official launch date less than a week away, developers will be trying to stir up as much excitement as possible around their iPad app offering(s).
The leaked iPad Store screen captures along with a video clip of someone browsing the store have gone viral this past weekend, thus opening up the floodgates for pre-released app screen captures all this week.
You can already find 60 images over at the Boy Genius Report Gallery. And it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another 150 or so by Saturday morning.
After reviewing all of the leaked images to date, all doubt about the iPad being more than a big iPod Touch should be removed. From what has been revealed so far, the majority of iPad apps will be primarily focused on feature rich content delivery.
Below is a screen capture of the Yahoo! Entertainment app. The image shows what it will be like checking a TV schedule on the iPad.
Browsing the iPad App Store
iPad Sold Out
As of March 27 anyone who wants to pre-order an iPad will not be getting it on April 3. All new pre-orders now have a shipping date of April 12. The in store pickup option for new pre-orders has also been removed. It would appear that Apple does not have enough units to meet the current demand.
April 3rd Pre-Orders Closed
iPad App Store Preview
It would appear that in an effort to stir up more hype around the iPad, as if there already wasn’t enough, Apple has strategically leaked a few screen captures of their iPad App store.
The leaked images have been going viral around the internet for a few days now. The point that is being made the most of, regarding the screen captures is that one of them (shown below) shows that the majority of the top 24 revenue apps are games.
Apple Gift Card Contest
iPad Quick Vids
