Big names unveil iPad apps
Fans of Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the Incredible Hulk will be able to view more than 500 comic books on the iPad's high-resolution screen, via an iPad app from Marvel. Each comic has been optimized for the iPad by redigitizing and recoloring each print issue for the tablet's larger, brighter format, said Marvel. Using the device's touch screen, readers can virtually flip from one page to another by swiping their fingers and can zoom in or out of each page and panel.Marvel's iPad app is free, but each individual comic will cost $1.99. Readers can view the first three pages of a comic for free before deciding whether to buy it. And for the launch, Marvel is offering a few titles for free for a limited time, including New Avengers No. 1, Captain America No. 1, Invincible Iron Man No. 1, Thor No. 1, and, for the younger readers, Super Hero Squad No. 1.The app can offer all fans recommendations of new comic books based on their past reading habits. And for people who miss the feel of a good, old-fashioned print comic book, the Marvel app even features a comic shop locator to track down their friendly neighborhood comic book dealers.These are a few of the apps debuting in time for Saturday's iPad debut. Other new iPad apps launching include:Citrix Systems' GoToMeeting (free)The Weather Channel (free)Yahoo (free)Zillow Real Estate Search (free)Dragon Dictate (free for a limited time)Autodesk SketchBook Pro ($7.99)Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences ($19.99)Updated 11:00 a.m. PDT with further details on Marvel app and list of other companies announcing iPad apps.
