Barnes & Noble today officially acknowledged that it is developing an iPad-specific application that will provide access to content available in the company’s eBookstore.

Designed specifically for the iPad, our new B&N eReader will give our customers access to more than one million eBooks, magazines and newspapers in the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, as well as the existing content in their Barnes & Noble digital library. (That includes eBooks and content customers have downloaded to their nook eBook reader.)
The news should not come as a tremendous surprise, as the company already offers a B&N eReader application for the iPhone and iPod touch. Unlike the existing iPhone application, however, Barnes & Noble’s eBookstore will offer direct competition with Apple’s iBookstore planned for the iPad.

Barnes & Noble’s eBookstore allows users to purchase electronic book material and store it online in their “eBook Library”. Users who wish to view content on-the-go can download it to their portable devices and view it using the company’s eReader applications for a number of different platforms.

Forbes reports on information obtained by App Store research firm Busted Loop as part of its AppSlice project, revealing Apple’s plans for eBook categories to be rolled out for its iBookstore.

AppSlice’s findings point to a highly organized approach to bookselling. Apple has designated about 20 “top-level” categories for books, including “Fiction & Literature”, “Reference,” “Romance,” “Cookbooks” and “Comics & Graphic Novels.” Below those categories lie more than 150 sub-categories, including some very specific genres, such as “Manga” under “Comics & Graphic Novels,” “Special Ingredients” under “Cookbooks,” and “Etiquette” under “Reference.” Some sub-categories, such as “Fantasy” and “Science Fiction & Literature,” even have sub-sub-categories (“Historical” and “Paranormal,” for example.) There are also two sections for “Erotica” books; one under “Fiction & Literature” and one under “Romance.”
The report notes that the apparent categorization system for eBooks, which has reportedly changed several times since the iPad and iBookstore were announced January, appears to offer a great deal more specificity than Apple’s App Store, which currently offers 20 different top-level categories with only its “Games” category offering sub-categories for further sorting.

Busted Loop’s data also reveals that a little over 10% of the App Store’s current applications have already been certified as being iPad-compatible. As with the existing App Store system, the “iPad Wi-Fi” and “iPad 3G” appear as separate entries for developers to list compatibility, as some applications such as those requiring GPS functionality will only be compatible with the 3G models. Likewise, some existing App Store applications such as those utilizing the iPhone’s camera will not be compatible with the iPad at all.

Last month, speculation that a number of minor iPhone applications such as Stocks, Weather, Voice Memo, Clock, and Calculator “missing” from the iPad could reappear in some sort of “widget mode” similar to Dashboard on Mac OS X received a bit of publicity.

According to Daring Fireball’s John Gruber’s sources, however, there is no secret “widget mode” and these applications were in fact scrapped by Apple CEO Steve Jobs after internal “blown up” versions of them for the iPad were deemed unsatisfactory.

It’s not that Apple couldn’t just create bigger versions of these apps and have them run on the iPad. It wasn’t a technical problem, it was a design problem. There were, internally to Apple (of course), versions of these apps (or least some of them) with upscaled iPad-sized graphics, but otherwise the same UI and layout as the iPhone versions. Ends up that just blowing up iPhone apps to fill the iPad screen looks and feels weird, even if you use higher-resolution graphics so that nothing looks pixelated. So they were scrapped by you-know-who. Perhaps they’ll appear on the iPad in some re-imagined form this summer with OS 4.0, but when the iPad ships next month, there won’t be versions of these apps. At least that’s the story I’ve heard from a few well-informed little birdies.

(There is, alas, no secret “widget” mode for iPad in OS 3.2, either.)
Gruber further notes that, while some iPhone games will work well on the iPad, simpler non-game iPhone applications will just feel strange whether run full-screen or in the iPhone-sized box in the middle of the screen. Similar observations were made by a number of attendees at Apple’s media event to introduce the iPad. In particular, the Facebook iPhone application was thought by many to look and feel slightly “off” at the expanded size.

Many developers will likely take advantage of the iPad’s expanded screen real estate to offer enhanced versions of their iPhone applications, and Apple could easily due the same with its own minor applications if it so chooses, but it may take some time for those reworked versions to be completed.

The sale of applications, e-books, newspapers and magazines for the iPad is predicted to equal nearly 30 percent of the revenue Apple will earn from selling the hardware by the end of 2011.

Analyst Brian Marshall with Broadpoint.AmTech issued a note to investors Tuesday forecasting the “sticky” nature of the iPad and content purchases for the new device. He believes content revenue will top 10 percent of total iPad hardware revenue by December of 2010, and a year later that number will nearly triple.

“We believe the iPad offers a rich media experience that will translate into a content-based recurring revenue stream over time,” Marshall wrote.

If true, it would be a significant change for Apple, which had long maintained that both the App Store and iTunes do not create much profit for the Cupertino, Calif., company. In January, Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said the company runs “a bit over break even” for both the App Store and iTunes stores. Apple has said for some time that those businesses are not meant to be profit generators, but rather a means of attracting customers to the products they represent.

The analyst has also increased his forecast for iPad shipments in the 2010 calendar year to 4 million units, up from a previous prediction of 2.2 million. He said that “if the device lives up to its potential,” he could see it shipping more than 7 million in this year alone, a number that skews higher than most Wall Street estimates.

Accordingly, Marshall has also raised his earnings per share estimates for 2010 by 6 percent, to $12.75. That’s up from his previous prediction of $12, and above the Wall Street consensus of $12.14.

Marshall said he believes the general view of the iPad, particularly in the media, is overly pessimistic.

“We note the vast majority of the naysayers have not yet had the opportunity to use the iPad on a firsthand basis,” he wrote. “As we stated in the past, we were hooked after the first 15 minutes of use. In our view, the true genius of the device is its media/content aspects (e.g. eBooks, newspapers/magazines, Apps/games, movies/TV episodes, etc.) which we believe will be recurring in nature.”

Anyone want a job as an English translator for poorly translated iPhone App Press Releases??? Must be a team player, able to translate from Babble Fish to English, see contact below… 

WildSpace is able for free!

The game WildSpace is able for free only at March 8th. Lets be in a hurry to download the game and play!

The company of the developers APPA Games announces the game output WildSpace in genre Arcade.
Almost each person has a dream to become a spaceman. To plough the space of the Universe on the spaceship, to explore unknown worlds, to become a hero for all humanity…
Whether you know, what size and weight of the most typical meteorite? Believe it is huge! Do you know how many hamburgers can you eat for breakfast? I suppose, you do your best. But very far-far, in deep space, someone casts away these meteorites, stones and comets. And someone – hamburgers, sandwiches, hot dogs. Disbelieve?
Travel on the Universe on the spaceship we, certainly, will dodge stone flying on us weighting some tones. But from food it is impossible to dodge! You should eat it!
So, safely handle the device (iPhone/iPod), go faster and slow down – we have gas and brake pedals, catch hamburgers and dodge meteorite collision, thereby safe your life (you have three lives during the game), we accumulate points and use bonuses – it is the main purpose of the game. However, bonuses can be unpleasant – it is a surprise from developers . We can operate rocket as with help of the accelerometer, as with help of the special manipulator on the playing field – what we will operate you can choose in game options.
Also don’t think that you get rid of one flight in the game. There are 10 levels with increasing complexity in the game: the speed of the rocket becomes more aggressive, well to hamburgers will be added other food for every capture to the hero of our game will be put more points.
Whit the help of options it is possible to control volume of amazing background music and effects, to calibrate the accelerometer. To pleasant surprises we can carry the support of the OpenFeint. Now to connect to the network and to set up a record it is so easy.
The game develops attentiveness, coordination of movements and patience.

The list of the changes:
1. Now it is provided for two methods of control the heroes: accelerometer and touch with independent rules of opening the levels.
2. The function of calibration the accelerometer is added.
3. The general timer of game time is added. Thanks to the timer in certain time spans ( 30-60 minutes), you can choose the background picture of the game space.
4. The OpenFeint assistance is added.

All listed changes you can test having come into section of the settings.

Link to game: itms://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wildspace/id343311580?mt=8

Developer Name: APPAgames
Developer URL: http://appagames.com
Application Name: Wildspace

Valleywag reports that The Wall Street Journal’s online executive editor Alan Murray posted to his Twitter account last Thursday, claiming that that he had done so from an iPad. The tweet was quickly deleted, however, and it appears that it had been posted during a meeting with Apple CEO Steve Jobs, part of Jobs’ recent trip to New York to show off the gadget to publishing executives in a bid to bring their content to the tablet device.

According to Valleywag, Murray deleted the tweet in response to a “furious” Steve Jobs, who was no doubt displeased at the disclosure.

A tipster told us the deletion ultimately traces back to a furious Jobs. We asked Murray for comment, and he wrote back “I would love to talk about this, but can’t.” In a later email, he added:

“I will say that Apple’s general paranoia about news coverage is truly extraordinary- but that’s not telling you anything you didn’t already know.”
Apple’s obsession with secrecy is well-known, and while a simple, two-sentence tweet from a newspaper executive claiming to have access to the already-announced device may seem trivial, Jobs’ desire to control the flow of information about its products and plans clearly continues to extends to all facets of Apple’s activities.

Last week, RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky released the results of a survey showing pent-up demand for the iPad exceeding that of the original iPhone, highest customer demand for low-capacity Wi-Fi-only and high-capacity 3G-enabled iPads, and moderate cannibalization of other Apple products by the iPad.

ChangeWave today released additional data from the survey, showing Apple poised to take the top spot among e-reader purchasers over the next 90 days, with 40% of purchasers in the survey planning to opt for an iPad. Amazon’s Kindle holds the second spot in the survey at 28%, with Barnes and Noble’s Nook placing third at only 6%.

In short, while the iPad launch is likely to strengthen overall e-Reader demand, the survey suggests Amazon and its competitors could well find themselves relegated to playing catch-up within just a few quarters if they don’t preemptively move quickly to upgrade their own e-Readers.
Also of interest is ChangeWave’s data from customers who already own an e-reader, 27% of whom would have purchased an iPad had it been available when they made their purchase. 45% of purchasers would still have purchased their current e-reader, while 30% registered as undecided.

Finally, in looking at timing for iPad purchasing, the survey found that many potential iPad customers are looking beyond the usual 90-day window typically used by ChangeWave for its data, with purchasing windows actually peaking in the 4-6 month post-launch timeframe and considerable numbers of customers planning to hold off even longer.

It is important to note that ChangeWave’s research focuses mainly on business, technical and medical professional, as well as early-adopter consumers, so its results are not necessarily indicative of broader consumer buying patterns. Its data does, however, offer a glimpse into the thinking of those who are frequently considered to be at the forefront of such trends.

Apple today announced that Wi-Fi models of the iPad will go on sale in the United States on Saturday, April 3rd. 3G-capable models in the U.S., as well as both Wi-Fi and 3G models for a number of other countries, will be available in late April. U.S. preorders for all iPad models begin on March 12th.

Apple today announced that its magical and revolutionary iPad will be available in the US on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.

Beginning a week from today, on March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store (www.apple.com) or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.

Apple also noted that its free iBooks application offering access to the iBookstore will be available in the U.S. App Store on April 3rd, with other countries to follow “later this year”.

Apple had initially announced worldwide availability of Wi-Fi models for late March, with 3G-capable models to follow in April. Several reports from analysts this week claimed, however, that Apple’s manufacturing partner Foxconn has been experiencing production delays that will result in limited initial availability. Based on the iPad’s U.S. launch slipping into April and the delay of international availability of the Wi-Fi models, it appears that those reports may have been correct.

1Password will be releasing their popular iPhone/Mac application for the iPad, attached are a few screen shots of what it may look like.

I hope it comes as no surprise that we’re planning, plotting, and otherwise scheming to bring 1Password to the iPad in a big way. But if you are surprised, well… surprise! I hope it’s good news, because we’re really excited about our progress. So excited, in fact, that we feel like sharing some of our design concepts with you.

We aren’t content to leave you with using that 2x button on our iPhone app. It’s an iPhone app! And while it is the Best 1Password iPhone App Ever (if we may so humbly say ourselves), the iPad is an entirely different beast, and we’re giving it the utmost attention it deserves. Keep in mind that the following screenshots are design mockups from deep within our labs. They aren’t finished or even working models yet, and you wouldn’t believe what I had to go through to be able to post them publicly. Honestly, don’t bother asking, because I can’t tell.

Pleasantries aside, let’s get on with the show. Meet our initial vision of 1Password for iPad!

Above is a mockup of 1Password running vertically on iPad. Smashing, isn’t it? Dan Peterson, our in-house design demigod, has been cranking away on iPad and 1Password touch projects since we got back from The Agile Cruise, and it shows!

But of course, what is 1Password on iPad without a landscape mode? I’m glad you asked.

Check out those gorgeous icons, the item list with alphabet scroller, and the stylish bolts that really bring the item detail area together. And yes, we have popovers! I told you we’re hitting the iPad in a big way.

We’re not finished yet, but we think we’re on the right track. We want to bring you the best 1Password on iPad experience possible, so let us know what you think of our prototypes here in the comments!

Apple’s overseas manufacturing partner Foxconn has not experienced any production problems in building the new iPad, due for release later this month, sources have reportedly told DigiTimes.

While the company would not offer any official comment, anonymous people within the company said they should be able to ship between 600,000 and 700,000 units this month, and another million in April. The sources also indicated that is “unlikely” that Apple would change the launch window of the iPad.

The claims came in response to an analyst who, on Monday, alleged that iPad production had hit a “manufacturing bottleneck” and would see its initial supply reduced to just 300,000. The analyst also said that the issues could limit the initial debut to the U.S. only, and could even delay the launch by a month. The issues were attributed to an “unspecified production problem.”

The report follows a rumor from this week that the iPad is on track for an alleged sale date of March 26. The 3G-enabled versions of the iPad, which sell for an additional $130, will arrive a month later.

That same report suggested Apple store employees could begin receiving training on the new hardware starting March 10. It also stated that Apple intends to begin airing iPad commercials, which will emphasize the device’s e-book capabilities, on TV starting March 15.

Apple is expected to face strong demand for the iPad at launch, with most on Wall Street predicting first-year sales of between 1 million and 5 million.