Apple Store in Canada are reportedly having a “black out” period during the weekend of April 24, meaning no vacation, according to iPadinCanada. And if anything, there’s a high probability that April 24 is the release date for both models of the iPad in Canada or even the international launch, and the 3G iPad in the US.

We were contacted by a source with close ties to the Apple Store that the weekend of April 24th has been marked as a “black out period” for staff. This means no employees are allowed to book this day off. If that’s the case, then it would make sense that this indeed would be the launch date for the iPad in Canada. Anytime there’s a “black out period” you know it’s for something big.

While folks in the US are ready to pick up or purchase a WiFi iPad at an Apple Store or select Best Buy locations this Saturday. We’ll have a full-featured iPad Review in the coming days or weeks.

A tipster of TUAW has leaked several shots of the Best Buy sales playbook for the iPad. According to the internal memo, there will be a limited of 15 iPads (5 of each WiFi Models) shipped on April 2nd to one of the 670+ Best Buy stores that will be carrying the iPad on launch day. And these Best Buy locations are expected to receive another shipment of 15 iPads after the first for sale on the 11th.

The leaked shots also confirms that Best buy will not be offering the iPad online and that the physicals stores will be stocking up on the iPad accessories.

Check out the leaked sales playbook after the break.

With an estimated 120,000 iPad pre-orders on the first day alone, it wasn’t surprising to learn that Apple has sold out iPad reservations online. In addition to that, customers that are just now pre-ordering a Wi-Fi iPad won’t get theirs shipped until April 12th. WiFi iPad Pre-orders taken before today is still on scheduled to ship out on the 3rd and 3G versions late April.

I think we can expect long lines at the Apple Stores for the iPad Launch.

As we slide closer to the iPad Launch on the 3rd of April, Apple started displaying iPad promo materials in Apple Stores when the pre-orders began 2 days ago.

[via Kohichi]

According to Apple PR, “Customers can pre-order online at apple.com at 5:30am Pacific time on Friday, March 12.” Or 8:30am Eastern time.

Get your credit cards ready, folks. It’s Official: Apple will begin selling WiFi-only iPad on April 3rd, and taking Pre-orders on March 12th. No exact date was released for the 3G Models, but it will be available later in the same month.

It appears that there is indeed a slight delay on the launch of the iPad, it was scheduled for late March.

Internationally: People in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK will have to wait until “late April” to get either version of the iPad.

Steve Jobs said, “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

Be sure to vote on the Poll in the sidebar to let us know which Version of iPad you’re getting.

• 16GB WiFi only — $499
• 32GB WiFi only — $599
• 64GB WiFi only — $699
• 16GB WiFi + 3G — $629
• 32GB WiFi + 3G — $729
• 64GB WiFi + 3G — $829

Editor’s Note: You may experience some glitches on the site, we are working hard to fix them.

Press Release:

iPad Available in US on April 3

Pre-Order on March 12

CUPERTINO, California-March 5, 2010-Apple® today announced that its magical and revolutionary iPad 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.

Beginning a week from today, on March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store (www.apple.com) or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.

“iPad is something completely new,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

Starting at just $499, iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds-thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook-and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.*

iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. You can read and send email on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard or import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.

The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world’s largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. Developers are already creating exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

The new iBooks app for iPad includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile product. The iBookstore will feature books from the New York Times Best Seller list from both major and independent publishers, including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster.

The iTunes® Store gives iPad users access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 12 million songs, over 55,000 TV episodes and over 8,500 films including over 2,500 in stunning high definition. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

Pricing & Availability
iPad will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for a suggested retail price of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year.

The iBooks app for iPad including Apple’s iBookstore will be available as a free download from the App Store in the US on April 3, with additional countries added later this year.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

It turns out that the rumors of Best Buy to sell the iPad at launch were true after all. It was last week when Best Buy’s internal inventory system was leaked showing alleged iPad dummy SKUs.

At the Goldman Sachs annual tech conference in San Francisco today, Tim Cook, Apple’s COO revealed that besides directly from Apple Stores, one can get an iPad from selected retailers such as “Best Buy” and possibly AT&T. Internationally, Apple Premium Resellers will also carry the iPad in stores.

“Over time it will expand.” But “Initially it will be around places with really great assisted sales,” said Tim cook.

It was also revealed that the Apple executive personally had an iPad for about 6 months now.

[via Apple Insider]

Get your credit cards ready. If this latest rumor is true, Wi-Fi iPad pre-orders could begin as soon as Thursday, February 25th, according to AppAdvice. Citing a “reliable source”, they also say that the pre-sale will be available to the US only. This would put the pre-sale about 30 days before the scheduled release of non-3G version of the iPad.

But before any ’selling’, the iPad must first pass the FCC. So that would mean we’ll see the FCC approval of the Wi-Fi iPad sometime this week. And the 3G Models on a later date.

According to a report on the Wall Street Journey, Apple management will be “nimble” on iPad pricing, possibly issuing a price cut on the iPad if initial sales do not meet Apple’s expectations. This sounds like what happened when Apple released the original iPhone back in 2007, about 2 months after the launch, the original $599 price was down to $399. Which Apple offered a $100 Apple store credit to all the early iPhone adaptors. Could this be happening all over again with the iPad?

Although the iPad is already at a very competitive pricing, we wouldn’t mind saving some bucks.

According to Steve Chuang from Cens, the imminent launch of the Apple iPad is set to be around February of 2010 and priced at $799-$999, which sounds just about right from the other rumors so far. Steve also got the scoop on a couple of Taiwanese suppliers that will be responsible for supplying parts for the Apple iPad.

First off, DynaPack International Technology Corp. will be supplying up to 300,000 of these supposedly long lasting batteries for the Apple iPad per month. Where as Wanshih Electronic Co., Ltd. will be supplying the mini coaxial cables for the iPad. And lastly, both Layers Scientific-Technics Co., Ltd. and Wintek Corp. will be supplying the Power Chokes and the lovely 9.7 incher Touch Panel.