A new report from AppleInsider via Forbes has Apple making some last minute tweaking to the App Store and iBookstore prior to the forthcoming April 3 launch of the iPad. The report has Apple having designated 20 categories for books on its iBookstore, and they will be available for download on the iPad.  That number had previously been listed at 35 back in February.

Filed under: iPad During CES 2010, HP gave the public a slight tease of its upcoming slate device. The touchscreen device, which runs Windows 7 , sports a form factor similar to Apple’s iPad , as well as similar uses; it supports eBooks, music, videos, and of course, the Internet

Though the 3G-equipped version of the iPad will only be able to get data services from AT&T, Verizon apparently sees the introduction of Apple’s tablet device as “an opportunity” for the company to sell data services. A supposed

That’s the “glass is half full” attitude we like, Verizon — always looking for a way to sign a few more of those lucrative data contracts, no matter the circumstances! Turns out Big Red is tipping off its staffers on how it can encourage customers to go with the WiFi-only version of the iPad and pair it up with a device like the MiFi rather than shelling out $130 more for integrated AT&T 3G and waiting a few extra weeks. As usual, Verizon’s keen on playing up the anti-AT&T sentiment it’s cultivated in its recent ad campaign by openly calling its biggest competitor’s 3G network “overloaded,” but we see one big hangup: 5GB of data on a Verizon MiFi is going to run you $60 a month, twice as much as AT&T will be charging for its dedicated, unlimited iPad plan. Then again, even AT&T’s own boss thinks the WiFi-only iPad is the way to go , so who knows — maybe Verizon’s onto something here

Filed under: iPad Our English-speaking friends across the pond have been anxiously awaiting pricing and availability dates for the iPad. Macworld UK’s Nick Spence notes that both the Wi-Fi and 3G models will be available in late April, meaning that developers in the UK who want to get their hands on an iPad earlier may have to consider flying to the US on April 3rd. Spence reported that Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Switzerland will also see the iPad shipping in late April

Filed under: Hardware , Retail , Surveys and Polls , iPad Some positive news for the iPad: ChangeWave Research says when they surveyed people who already have an e-reader, 27% wish they had waited for an iPad . Now, if someone can work out a Kindle/iPad trade-in program, there’s bound to be some money in it. The survey included 3,171 consumers; it also indicates that for people planning on buying an e-reader in the next 90 days, 40% said they will buy an iPad for that purpose

The folks over at Kotaku have really stumbled upon a gem.

Apple has announced that the WiFi model of the iPad will be available in stores on April 3, and that the company will begin taking preorders for the device on March 12. Apple also said that the 3G model will be available in late April. The company originally announced that the WiFi iPad would ship in late March, missing its self-imposed deadline by a few days

Filed under: Apple Today Apple announced that the iPad will ship in April , writing that the device 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.” Consumers will be able to pre-order their units starting March 12th, with pick-up at Apple retail stores. With Apple’s reportedly limited stock , will pre-orders work the way they did with the iPhone 3GS?