AppleInsider StaffSome iPad applications have already been approved by Apple and are listed in the Web-based iTunes Preview list of App Store software, as first discovered by PadGadget. Developers have chosen to label their iPad applications as "HD" or "XL" versions to distinguish them from their iPhone and iPod touch counterparts.
But iPhone and iPod touch users will not be able to access iPad applications from those devices, as the new software is specifically written for the 9.7-inch display on Apple's forthcoming hardware.
Titles discovered so far are games, including Plants vs. Zombies HD, Flight Control HD, Labyrinth 2 HD and Worms HD.
Last week, Apple began accepting submissions for iPad applications on the App Store. The appearance of software in iTunes Preview would suggest that they were whisked through the approval process in under a week.
In addition to iPad-specific software, the new device will be able to run virtually all of the existing App Store software, which has more than 150,000 applications. The Wi-Fi-only version of the hardware will go on sale in the U.S. on April 3.
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150 Comments
I'll be on line at my closes apple store in NYC
Is this Apple's way to STICK IT to the people (like me) who claim that the iPad (which I like very much and will be buying TWO) isn't really a TRUE HD device since it's limited to 720i (edit note 720i NOT 720p), isn't widescreen AND can only output basic video? I guess that'll teach us!
Apparently the 'HD' doesn't stand for High Definition... though the XL is quite fitting for a device that is 'largely' an XL version of the iPod Touch.
As a soon-to-be iPad owner, I can understand app developers using the 'XL' suffix to distinguish iPad versions of their applications from iPhone/iPod touch versions. However (and please correct me if I'm completely wrong here), isn't using the term 'HD' here just a bit misleading?
If I remember correctly, the iPad's screen resolution is 1024x768 - which would make it a bit shy of the minimum requirement to display true HD content, right?
As a soon-to-be iPad owner, I can understand app developers using the 'XL' suffix to distinguish iPad versions of their applications from iPhone/iPod touch versions. However (and please correct me if I'm completely wrong here), isn't using the term 'HD' here just a bit misleading?
If I remember correctly, the iPad's screen resolution is 1024x768 - which would make it a bit shy of the minimum requirement to display true HD content, right?
Correct...
The iPad can support 720 lines of horizontal resolution (1024x768), but to be considered true 720p capable, the resolution needs to be at least 1280×720.
The result of going with such an archaic screen aspect ration of 4:3 rather than widescreen.
Oh Well...