In addition to the ABC (NYSE: DIS) Player hitting the iPad App Store, its parent Disney has a number of special items for the iPad’s release on Saturday. Aimed at affluent, first-adopters with kids, Disney Publishing Worldwide has built two original Toy Story read-along apps for the iPad. These iPad “books” come with video from the related feature films, as well as karaoke and voice-record tools, original games, and—welcome to the future—an interactive coloring “book” that lets kids finger-paint with up to 10 fingers on the screen. There is a free Toy Story app as well as separate Toy Story 2 app for $8.99 and comes. The paid app comes with a one-month free subscription to disneydigitalbooks.com too, as the company hopes that it can extend interest beyond the device. Disney will rolls out more free and paid iPad apps later this spring.
In addition to the apps, Disney Online has also built a custom iPad version of its flagship website, which focuses on exclusive video content. iPad videos featured at launch include new scenes from Disney classics like The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and newer films like Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, along with full-episodes of Disney Channel and Disney XD series Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place.
Staci adds: ESPN is also stepping up with two paid apps: a larger-scale—and paid version—of highly popular ESPN ScoreCenter, appropriately tagged ESPN ScoreCenter XL, for $4.99. ESPN ScoreCenter, which has been downloaded more than 5 million times for iPhone and iTouch, stays free and should work fine on iPad, continuing to provide what ESPN’s John Skipper calls a “brand halo.” The changes that make ESPN feel comfortable charging include personalized news and video. There’s also ESPN Pinball, pinball “tables” with sports themes, starting with basketball. The app costs $3.99 and includes play-by-play from SportsCenter host Jay Harris.
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