Don’t expect a deluge of new apps like the one that flooded the iPhone App Store in 2008  “It’s going to be a slow burn,” says Bart Decrem, CEO of Tapulous, speaking about the arrival of original apps for the iPad tablet computer that goes on sale this Saturday.

Decrem has a unique perspective on such things. He’s co-creator of the Tap Tap music game, one of the thousands of applications that flooded Apple’s (AAPL) newly-opened App Store in the summer of 2008. He was lucky; within a month, more than a million people had downloaded his game. By December it was the most popular free app of the year. It now generates in-app sales of nearly $1 million a month.

Most developers, by contrast, have lost money writing for the iPhone and iPod touch.

More detail via Why iPad developers are holding back – Apple 2.0 – Fortune Brainstorm Tech.

Mirror’s Edge has been one of the most mysterious and elusive iPhone games. Since being announced by EA late last year its never held a firm release date, despite tonnes of screenshots and videos showing just how complete it is. Mirror’s Edge has been supersized for an iPad launch this week and comes to the tablet with a giant price. Like Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Mirror’s Edge will jump onto the iPad at $14.99, meaning EA will sell the most expensive iPad games so far. When they hit the UK, they will likely be priced at about £9.99.

via Mirror’s Edge joins C&C as most expensive iPad launch games | Mirror’s Edge news | Pocket Gamer.

Amazon will allow publishers to decide the prices of new eBook releases, as it responds to renewed competition from Apple's iBooks store.

The retail giant had previously imposed a $9.99 price cap on new releases, but this was challenged by Macmillan, which pulled both eBooks and hardbacks from the store in protest.

via Amazon eBook prices to rise as iPad launch looms | News | PC Pro.

With the iPad a few days away, now begins one of the great rituals of the release of a new Apple product: the posting of the reviews from the lucky few journalists who were given a week to play with the product. Here are the reviews Macworld has  found so far:

via this link  First iPad reviews hit the web | Tablets | iPhone Central | Macworld.

Since Chilli X’s apps rely so heavily on screen real estate, you might figure that the iPad and its larger screen would provide too tempting an opportunity for the developer to pass up. You would figure correctly—Chilli X plans on offering an app called PhotoFramePlus for the iPad.

More via Chilli X promises iPad version of PhotoFrame app | Utilities | iPhone Central | Macworld.

Firemint confirmed on Friday that its award-winning racing title for the iPhone, Real Racing (), is coming to the iPad later this week. Meanwhile, rap-rock icons Linkin Park announced on Tuesday its own iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad adventure game entitled, 8-Bit Rebellion.

More via Firemint, Linkin Park, others confirm iPad game titles | Games | iPhone Central | Macworld.

Apple released iPhoto 8.1.2 on Tuesday, a minor update for iPhoto '09 users. The 13.6 MB download is mostly a bug fix, with some iPad syncing compatibility thrown in. T

More via iPhoto update released, adds iPad compatibility | Photography | Digital Photo | Macworld.

Words With Friends, the insanely popular turn-based multiplayer Scrabulous-like word game for the iPhone and iPod touch is being enhanced for iPad and released as an “HD” version this coming weekend.

via Words with Friends coming to iPad | Word | iPhone Central | Macworld.

The deluge of apps for the iPad has begun, and among the number that will be appearing in the App Store on day one is Memeo Connect Reader, a program that lets you access your Google Docs account and view the files you’ve stored there.

via Memeo announces Memeo Connect Reader for iPad | Productivity | iPhone Central | Macworld.

As if anyone expected Apple to behave any different, retail-store employees are reportedly going to have two hours of hands-on training with the iPad, ahead of its official debut this Saturday.

ifoAppleStore, the main source of information on all things Apple-retail-store, reveals that, “None of the 14,000 or so U.S. store employees have yet touched an iPad.” “In fact, their first exposure will occur at 7 a.m. on Saturday, when all-hands training sessions begin at the U.S. stores,”

via Apple Staffers Have Just Two Hours to Experience iPad Before Launch – Retail employees reportedly begin training at 7AM Saturday morning, to familiarize themselves with the device – Softpedia.