iPad App Store and Launch Day Apps Found. Hints at Premium Price Point?

Posted on March 26th, 2010. Written by Arron.

Yesterday, we reported that review site PadGadget had delved deep into the iTunes database and found what looked like iPad-specific versions of some of the more well-known App Store titles.

Today, these few are all but confirmed to be launch-day apps. Mac Rumors is reporting that, although the iPad App Store doesn’t launch for another 7 days, they have managed to gain access to it early .. and although they’re not sharing how they did so, have apparently managed to take a few screenshots within the store.

These new screenshots depict what seems to be iPad launch day software, under the category ‘Top Revenue‘. The applications found on the store currently include: Flight Control HD, Real Racing HD, Labyrinth 2 HD, Piano Lesson Piano Man for iPad, Cro-Mag Rally for iPad, Enigmo Deluxe, Manic Marble 2 for iPad and Otto Mattic for iPad.

So far though, there is still no word on if the other applications which briefly appeared on iTunes Preview yesterday, including; Ammoin HD, Azkend HD, Grind HD, HD Recovery, NBA Hotshot HD, Numba HD, Plants vs. Zombies HD, Sparkle HD or Worms HD will make the US iPad App Store launch in time.

Early pre-launch pricing for the new store seems to run from FREE up to $9.99 (£5.99), with exceptions including OmniGraphSketcher currently priced at $14.99.

Many users have already expressed their particular dislike to this pricing, especially referring to Fight Control HD, which they say considering only costs $0.99 for iPhone, some find $4.99 a bit steep. Personally, I think $4.99 is a nice price point and actually wouldn’t mind that becoming the ’99c’ point for the iPad, sometime in the future.

Screenshots courtesy of MacRumors

Again, we’re reminded that although good evidence of Apple’s movements with the new store, this is still considered pre-launch information … and as such, everything from App Store descriptions to screenshots and even final pricing could change, at any time, at the sole discretion of the developer(s) involved.