As the new iPad Pro makes its way into the hands of customers, Apple has debuted two new featured sections in the App Store to highlight apps and games that are either enhanced for the device or take advantage of its larger screen.
The first section, "Amazing Apps for iPad Pro", is split into five subcategories: Enhanced for Apple Pencil, Desktop-Class Apps, Powerful Multitasking, Unleash Your Creativity, Bigger with a Bigger Screen and Immersive Experiences. Apple says the section includes Apple's favorite apps "that take advantage of its expansive Retina display and astounding experiences."
The second section, "Great Games for iPad Pro", is split into three subcategories: Gorgeous Games, Fantastic Sounds and Big Screen, Big Fun. Apple says the section will help iPad Pro owners "get started with games whose breathtaking graphics, spectacular sound, and immersive features create incredible experiences."
Limited quantities of the iPad Pro are available at Apple Retail Stores in multiple countries with Personal Pickup available in U.S. locations. Online, 32 GB variants in any color are available for delivery on Monday while other configurations are available for delivery in late November. Smart Covers and Silicone Cases are well stocked in Apple Stores, but the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard are out of stock or in very limited quantities in stores and are a 4 - 5 week wait online.
MacRumors' sister-site AppShopper also has a running list of all the apps updated with iPad Pro support.
Top Rated Comments
Low Pencil availability is odd. What else is odd: the Apple Store I went to had two iPad Pro units completely without power for the first two/three hours I spent there. I actually walked away from the iPads for a while to let other people try out "mine" from the two working units for a while, since I had gotten some good time with them and saw two or three groups of people come and go without getting a chance to try one. Had these other customers been more determined/disappointed-looking, I'd have given over the one I was testing, but they didn't seem super motivated.
Two out of four iPad Pro units dead, two Pencils for four iPads. Bad job, Apple Store.
By the time I wandered back to the iPads from looking at new iPhones, the store employees (several of which had already seen the disabled iPads hours before) had finally gotten them powered. Looks like no one takes ownership over there. (Lehigh Valley Mall store in northeast, PA)
Another confusing choice: the graphics apps. Out of all of the apps on the iPad Pro demo units, only ONE had Pencil support. Adobe Sketch. There was no Procreate. Pixelmator was an older version and was SLOW as tar (and missing many brushes in the "demo edition"). The inking app I can't recall the name of had no Pencil support. I stood there and looked up each of the art apps on the App Store to confirm that there were indeed newer versions available with Pencil support, but Apple did NOT have those versions installed.
The second of the two apps I used to test the Pencil was Apple's own Notes app. It's good that they bothered to put that much effort into Pencil support in Notes. But the Adobe app saved Apple the sale. I think Adobe has gone to crap, but their app saved the day.
Lucky for Apple, that was enough to tell me the product is something I indeed want. But they need to do better.