US iPad sells over 300k in one day

The iPad has sold over 300,000 units in its first day on sale, according to Apple figures.

The portable touch screen device went on sale in US shops on Saturday, April 3 and, by midnight, had reached the 300k mark.

Over one million iPad apps were downloaded from the App Store throughout the day, and 250,000 ebooks from the iBookstore were purchased.

"It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world - it's going to be a game changer," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "iPad users, on average, downloaded more than three apps and close to one book within hours of unpacking their new iPad."

As the device launched, Unity Technologies announced the release of development platform iPhone 1.7, which comes with iPad deployment for both Unity iPhone Basic and Unity iPhone Advanced and iPad Simulator support.

According to Unity, more than 15 Unity-authored iPad specific games have launched on the App Store already, including three games from Infinite Dreams.

"We were able to get our games submitted and accepted to the iPad App Store without ever seeing hardware," said Seweryn Panczyniak, lead programmer at Infinite Dreams. "Unity is a wonderful piece of software that let us do things fast and with minimum level of frustration and maximum level of creativity."

Gameloft had eight gaming apps ready for the iPad upon its release, including NOVA and Asphalt 5.

"With iPhone and iPod touch, Apple changed the way consumers perceive and interact with their devices and created a revolutionary era for the mobile gaming industry," said Michel Guillemot, president of Gameloft. "We are taking full advantage of all the new possibilities and features iPad is bringing to developers with games that will once again transform the digital gaming experience."

The UK is expected to see the release of the iPad at the end of April, when both the Wi-Fi and 3G versions on the device will reach its shores.