It is going to be hard to find an excuse not to buy an iPad 2 now at these prices. It would be a nice gift just in time for mothers day. Not seeing any refurbished iPad 3 models yet.

Macrumors has a full page of all the details.
iPad 2

- 16 GB Wi-Fi: $319, down $30 from $349
- 32 GB Wi-Fi: $399, down $50 from $449
- 64 GB Wi-Fi: $499, down $50 from $449

- 16 GB Wi-Fi+3G: $449, down $30 from $479
- 32 GB Wi-Fi+3G: $529, down $50 from $579
- 64 GB Wi-Fi+3G: $629, down $50 from $679

Original iPad

- 16 GB Wi-Fi: $279, down $20 from $299
- 32 GB Wi-Fi: $349, down $50 from $399
- 64 GB Wi-Fi: $449, down $50 from $499

- 16 GB Wi-Fi+3G: $379, down $20 from $399
- 32 GB Wi-Fi+3G: $449, down $50 from $499
- 64 GB Wi-Fi+3G: $549, down $50 from $599

Coloring has always been an excellent activity for learning with young children. The Coloring Smart app is great for developing your child’s skill levels in learning numbers, shape recognition and mental calculation.(video demo and screenshots after the break)

Below is the Features description found on the iTunes App store:

✔ 36 beautiful colorful illustrations in 6 categories included!
✔ Categories: Nature, Animals, Transport, People, Fairy Tale and Seasons.
✔ Intuitive interface that has been tested and refined with children of many ages.
✔ Best for kids between 3-8 years.
✔ Wonderful music and atmospheric sounds enhance the experience.
✔ No more frustrating finger-painting: just touch an area to fill it with color.
✔ Touch locator improves touch accuracy.
✔ Supports all devices: iPad 1, 2 and 3 with Retina, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 with HD, iPod Touch
✔ No banner advertising

We think you’ll be pleased to offer this app to your child and watch them enjoy coloring. This iPad app will develop your child’s hand-eye coordination and increase their interest in drawing and painting write on the iPad tablet. Kids also learn to recognize a variety of animals and different shapes.

The Coloring Smart app is available $2.99 on the app store and can be downloaded here.

This top iPad app has a stylish interface and clever graphic design that is please to the eye. When you start a new project and give it a name you have so many choices to set up your look and feel of that project. Everything from color pick to uploading your own image or icon. This is helpful when you need to find that specific project. Easily jump between multiple projects with a tap of the iPad to quickly access and track progress of all your tasks and events.

This iPad app looks good and is free on the iTunes App tore. The iPad app they used- Codea is available on the App store for $9.99. Codea uses the Lua programming language and has called the GarageBand of iPad coding for its visual ease of use. ( video demo after the break)

Here is the Cargo-Bot description on the app store:

It’s the first game of its kind, prototyped, programmed and polished on iPad. Cargo-Bot was created by Rui Viana, a Codea user who developed his initial prototype and shared it with the Codea community. Two Lives Left reached out to Rui in order to turn his prototype into a published App Store game. They also enlisted the aid of Fred Bogg, a composer who developed a music library for Codea, to create the music for Cargo-Bot. Coinciding with the release of Cargo-Bot, Two Lives Left is releasing the Codea Runtime Library source code under the Apache License Version 2.0. Registered Apple iOS Developers will be able to export their Codea projects into the Codea Runtime Library in order to release them as standalone apps, just like Cargo-Bot.

This wonderful app for iPad has designed a great and engaging user interface so that with the swipe of your finger you can explore the dramatic ways earth is changing due to rising temperatures. Prepare to enjoy the ease of use and wonderful images but also you will probably be a saddened to visually see how rapidly climate change is changing our world.

This innovative design of Painting with Time: Climate Change allows everyone from the young to the old to interact with this app. We really like that you can touch and slide your finger across 17 different images of landscapes that reveal the rapid effects of climate change. This app should be added as a part of classroom curriculum for 4th thru 8th graders especially, although all age groups would benefit.

Below are the features listed on the app store:

- 17 time lapse sequences of climate change
- Two artistic modes – Painting and Slicing
- Eight preset brushes and slicing patterns
- Illustrated summary of Climate Change
- Step-by-step tutorial on Capturing Change yourself

This app is available for $1.99 on the iTunes app store here.

The developer has integrated this iPad app with Game Center so you can play online and strategize with other team members who meet you online. This app allows you to customize and modify easily so you can enforce time limits between chess moves and number of player modes. When you first tap to open the game app the default mode is “Timed” but you can customize it how you like.

Below are the features described on the app store:

• Compatible with iphone and ipad.
• Bird’s-eye 2D and 3D views giving you the choice of preference.
• Pinch Zoom and Rotation Gesture support in 3D view.
• Legal moves are highlighted to assist beginners.
• Support for up to four AI players
• Intuitive controls
• Tap-tap to move pieces
• Review your performance statistics

This app is available for $0.99 on the iTunes app store here.

Scanner Pro for the iPad uses your device’s camera to create a scan of any document onto your iPad 3 device. It mimics a real scanner, but with even more efficiency because you are using the new iPad 3 camera that can connect to the internet. That internet connection allows you to quickly upload your scanned files to your favorite services like Dropbox, Evernote and Google Docs. (sreenshots below the break)

Here is the developer’s description of the app:
★ Scan documents
Scanner Pro handles any type of documents ranging from a receipt to multipage agreements. You can add, move, delete and even combine pages in landscape and portrait modes

★ Process image smartly
Automatic edge detection and advanced image processing help you to get great scans blazingly fast. You can adjust the crop area manually by tapping on the screen

★ Set custom page size
Custom page size is supported to fit physical size of the original document. It is very handy for scanning receipts

★ Make Industry standard PDF files
All scanned document are produced as industry-standard PDF files

★ Protect documents with password
Scanner Pro allows you to set a password for PDF files you have created. Only people who know the password will be able to open the documents

★ Transfer documents to Mac and PC
Mount Scanner Pro as a shared network drive over the Wi-Fi network to any computer and copy the scanned PDF files from your iOS device. No additional software is required

★ Send scans by email
Just scan any document you want and tap the Send button. Yes, it’s that simple

★ Preview documents before sending
A built-in PDF viewer allows to preview your scans exactly in a way they will look on a desktop computer

★ Upload scans to online file storages
Your documents can be uploaded to Dropbox, Google Docs or any other WebDAV enabled online storage

This iPad app is available on the app store here for $6.99

We think you’ll enjoy how the Piano Dust Buster app allows you to play the notes using an onscreen piano keyboard or you can play with your own piano. Germ Attack and Staff Master are the 2 game modes that turn piano practice into a fun game. In Germ Attack players play a note as it reaches a specific rhythm line. The note comes down over the key on the onscreen keyboard making it easy to see what to play. Points are earned and the Germ Attack tracks high scores and integrates with Game Center. (screenshot and video demo after break) 

Staff Master game mode is similar in that you still tap the germ notes as they hit the rhythm line but now the screen resembles sheet music. The notes no longer come down from the top of the screen above the keyboard. This game is for more advanced piano players and requires that they know where the notes are on the piano. Each song has a practice and performance option.

We really like this new iPad app and you can’t go wrong since it is free on the iTunes app store. We think this belongs in our best iPad apps category and enthusiastically recommend you download it right away.

The Word-2-Text iPad app takes the content of a MS Word document and extracts as plain text so users can import .DOCX- and .DOC files to all common text editors, and notebook apps. This allows you to take full advantage of full-text-search and editing. For example, another great app by this developer is TextKraft and it works seamlessly with Word-2-Text Converter app to allow you to import Word-documents. (screenshots below the break)

Here are some other features mentioned by the developer on the app store:

• Processing Microsoft Word-documents (DOCX & DOC) from any platform.
• Opening Word-documents directly from e-mail attachments.
• Receiving Word-documents from all Apps that can share those.
• Loading Word-documents from Dropbox or iTunes® file sharing.
• Exporting text via clipboard, e-mail text, e-mail attachment, iCloud®, Dropbox or local filesystem.
• Passing on plain text directly to other Apps.
• Variable font size with “pinching”.
• Direct printing with AirPrint™.

What we really like with this new iPad app is the simplicity of just tapping to transfer your Microsoft Word file to your favorite text editor. This new iPad app is a nice addition for your mobile office on your iPad tablet.

This app is available for $1.99 on the iTunes app store.

When you first launch this iPad app, you’ll be greeted with an overview of what NoteLedge is all about and it’s features. You’ll be surprised and the wide-ranging features to interact with this app. It is waaaay more than those plain and simple writing apps. NoteLedge is functions seamlessly as a sketch pad and you can simply swipe your finger on the screen to draw or write your content. Easily change the writing type tool (pencil, brush, crayon, etc.) or adjust the line size, opacity, and color with a tap of the sidebar menu. 

We really like the user interface which easily lets you make corrections with an eraser or the undo and redo buttons located at the top navigation. You can noteonly type and handwrite in this app but also record audio and video(iPad 2 and iPad 3 only) on the fly within the NoteLedge interface. Also, included are the ability to save your work on the iPad tablet or save it on the cloud with you favorite cloud backup service (Dropbox, iCloud, Box.net, GoogleDocs, FTP, WebDAV).

Also, you can easily share you work by emailing it to a friend or sharing it to Facebook. One wow design feature is the ability to switch to presentation mode and freeze the sketch mode so you can share a slideshow of the different frames of your work. This would be especially useful when sitting with a client and reviewing the notes from the meeting.

One of my favorite features that distinguish NoteLedge from other productivity apps for note-taking is the ability to crop and copy your texts, pictures and drawings in your own way and paste them wherever you like within the active area of your current work. They’ve even included some built-in stamps to use for some added flare to your creations.

We think you’ll enjoy the NoteLedge app and possibly make this your new favorite note-taking and journaling app. NoteLedge is available for $1.99 on the iTunes app store.

We found this app easy to navigate and smartly designed with it’s game board interface. Also, we found the pop-up explanations and tutorial to be helpful and clearly explained so that you can be up and playing a game quickly. We also liked that the game can not only be played against the iPad but can be for two player gaming also.

Here’s how configure HD works. First you’ll place runs of one to six numbered tokens in sequence on the game board. Symbols indicate that token values are to be doubled, trebled or squared and runs are to be doubled or trebled. Runs can be placed horizontally, vertically or diagonally but each new token must lie in sequence with those already on the board.

Below is the explanation on the app store for the c-o-n-f-i-g-u-r-e sequence of this new iPad app:

 Neighboring tokens have the same value or differ by one (zero can be placed next to nine), e.g. 78898 or 12109.
When it is impossible to place a number in sequence, a blank token can be used. Blanks can score high. Flip any token to become a blank.
A six can be rotated to a nine and a nine can be rotated to a six.
You will have to use you ingenuity to and devise cunning strategies to score high. Typical high score are above 1000.

This newly release iPad app is available now for $1.99 on the iTunes app store.

The countries that received the new iPad on Friday were Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

This 2nd wave of countries to receive the new iPad 3 should push the sales to even higher levels as Apple stock continues to soar on Wall Street.

When you first open up the PaperDesk iPad app for the first time, you will actually be presented with an empty wooden desk. That is where you’ll store all of your notebooks. (Screenshots and video demo after break) See below the developers description of all the features of PaperDesk:

• While playing audio, tap a word and PaperDesk will take you to the point in the recording when you typed that word!
• Import PDFs from other apps, or from iTunes
• Insert images from photo library or camera
• Free access to myPaperDesk.com to store notes and backups
• Type or paste in any amount of text, and PaperDesk will automatically overflow text onto proceeding pages
• Rest your wrist on screen while drawing
• Share any range of pages via email
• Upload entire notebooks to GoogleDocs, or share on Twitter
• Keep a task list in each notebooks, with notifications
• Organize notebooks by name or date
• Bookmark pages to navigate easily
• 20 level undo support while drawing
• Choose from several different types of pages
• Password protect your notebooks
• Printing supported in iOS 4.2
• Color picker with thousands of colors

What we really liked about the minimalist design of PaperDesk is that it allows you to keep a “Desk” to store all of your notebooks. Each of your notebooks has an unlimited number of pages in PaperDesk(PaperDesk LITE, you are limited to 3 pages per notebook). We also like how PaperDesk remembers where you left off when you last opened that specific notebook. Another really great feature we liked is the ability to turn your new iPad into a whiteboard.

The lite version is free and the full version is on sale for only $0.99 in the app store.

The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold―the strongest iPad launch yet,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Customers are loving the incredible new features of iPad, including the stunning Retina display, and we can’t wait to get it into the hands of even more customers around the world this Friday.

• Unexpected and vivid pop-up animations
• Creative, adult illustrations
• Automatic bookmark, return to last page read
• Original soundtrack
• Dynamic page layout
• Varied sound effects (linked and automatic)
• Smooth navigation

This is way more than an ebook app and you’ll be spellbound as you watch the characters in this interactive novel come alive as you wander through their world. But, watch out…this Wishing Star isn’t cute or cuddly, and while everyone will have wishes come true, wishes are tricky and fate is undependable, if not murderous. This is not a children’s book although the illustrations and animations would easily attract all ages.

You can download the iPad app soon and we’ll update it once it goes live on the store. For you Kindle and Android users you can buy the Spoon and the Moon by clicking here on the Amazon store for $0.99.

The iPad 3 reviews are starting to roll in. Josh at The Verge is one of the first reviews of the 3rd generation iPad.

Apple also confirmed other big box retailer stores for the U.S.  that will offer the iPad 3 tablet they are as follows: Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart. As for the international launch, Apple is still on track to launch in an additional 23 countries the following week on March 23. The full press release from Apple is after the break.

CUPERTINO, California―March 14, 2012―Apple® today announced the new iPad®, the third generation of its category defining mobile device, will arrive at Apple’s retail stores and the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com) on Friday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m. local time in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the UK; along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The new iPad features a stunning new Retina™ display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight® camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video and still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life* while remaining amazingly thin and light. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G supports ultrafast 4G LTE networks in the US and Canada, and fast 3G networks around the world including those based on HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA.** Additionally, iPad 2 is available at a more affordable price starting at just $399.

Every customer who buys a new iPad at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPad by setting up email, loading new apps from the App Store™ and more, so they’ll be up and running with their new iPad before they leave the store. Personal Pickup, available at Apple retail stores in the US and a feature of the free Apple Store® app, lets iPad customers shop and buy from anywhere they are, then pick up their purchase at any Apple retail store. In the US the new iPad will also be available at Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart.

Pricing & Availability
The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white starting on Friday, March 16 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G for ultrafast 4G LTE networks in the US and Canada and fast 3G networks around the world including those based on HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA, will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and select Apple Authorized Resellers. Additionally, the incredible iPad 2 is now offered at a more affordable price of $399 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and just $529 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model. iOS 5.1 and iTunes® 10.6 are currently available as free software updates. iPhoto®, iMovie® 1.3 and GarageBand® 1.2 are now available for $4.99 (US) each from the App Store (www.itunes.com/appstore). Keynote® 1.6, Pages® 1.6 and Numbers® 1.6 are available for $9.99 (US) each from the App Store. Updates are available for free to existing customers.

Starting March 23 the new iPad will be available in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

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

**4G LTE is supported only on AT&T and Verizon networks in the US and on Bell, Rogers and Telus networks in Canada. Data plans sold separately.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.