Which apps are ready for the new iPad?
If you preordered Apple's tablet or will stand in line to buy on March 16, one question surely must come to mind: Which apps will look good on the high-resolution display? According to Apple there are 32, but we know that's a fib. There's at least one more, and its omission stinks of a little dirty competition -- Apple against one of its developer partners.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company opened a new section on the iTunes Store: "Great Apps for the New iPad". Caveat: Apple doesn't explicitly say all the apps support the Retina display, just insinuates. Missing: Kindle 3.0 for iOS, which Amazon announced today. This competitor to Apple's iBooks app/iBookstore is ready for the new iPad's 2048 x 1536 resolution. Apple just isn't ready to let you know about it. Now why is that?
Perhaps it's just an oversight. While I wrote this post, two more apps showed up on the list. Good thing I checked before reporting 30. Newest apps are listed as updated or new on March 16.
Among the 32 apps in the section, only seven are free to download -- and among these only two are totally free. I applaud the approach of updating paid apps or those requiring subscriptions first.
Two years ago, soon after Apple announced but hadn't shipped iPad, I recommended against offering free content. Reasoning: To establish iPad as a more premium brand and also to give publishers one place they could actually charge for content (versus the free web). Instead, there is free content but also a healthy dose of stuff paid for upfront, added to via in-app purchases or available on subscription basis. The balance between free and paid is actually quite good.
The new iPad's Retina display offers a premium over every other tablet available, and it's sensible that developers charging for apps should cash in this benefit. Of course, free stuff will be updated in time. If you already paid for the app, it's a free update anyway.
Among the apps Apple highlights:
Barefoot World Atlas, which released today; $7.99.
Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy, which also released today; $4.99.
Flight Control Rocket, which also released today; 99 cents.
The Daily, updated today; free to download, subscription required.
Infinity Blade II, updated today; $6.99.
Tweetbot, updated March 13; $2.99.
SketchBook Pro, updated March 14; $4.99.
The Early Edition II, updated today; $4.99.
Mass Effect -- Infiltrator, updated today; $6.99.
Solar Walk -- 3D System Model, updated March 16; $2.99.
Surely the list will grow overnight and over the coming days. Who knows, maybe even Kindle for iOS will appear there.