Amazon Kindle has been quite successful in the past few years. It has not only given the e-book industry the boost it needed to move forward and grow, it has provided publishers and independent authors with a platform to share their content with. Kindle Publishing Platform has certainly made it easier for more people to get their books in front of the world. Apple iPad has been received with so much enthusiasm by publishers and authors and certainly has the potential to be a game changer in multiple industries. What the device does not have is a platform for independent authors to bring their works to the iPad. While that could be in the works, independent authors can take advantage of Smashwords’ service to bring their work to iBookstore.

According to an e-mail sent to authors, qualifying Smashwords books will be available on the iPad. Smashwords seems to have a deal in place with Apple to make it possible for independent authors to get their work in front of the iPad community. Here are a few requirements for authors to abide by in order to get their books accepted to iBookstore:

The iPad has already started shipping and most people who pre-ordered the device are expected to get their hands on their gadget by April 3rd (there may be some delay for some). As expected, a brand new iTunes is in the works to give iPad owners a chance to pick up books from iTunes. So while you do get a chance to buy your e-books from Amazon and B&N (when you use their apps), iTunes 9.1 makes it much easier for iPad owners to sync their device and add more content to their iPad.

If you have been having second thoughts about the iPad and have been waiting till now to make your mind, you may have to wait a few more days to get your hands on an iPad. The demand for Apple iPad has been so high that even Apple has failed to keep up with it all. The company was expected to ship iPads starting April 3rd. But new orders will be shipped by April 12th, and you can expect that date to move yet again as more people find out and pick up their iPads.

The media has been so obsessed with Apple iPad and HP Slate that some exciting e-readers have managed to stay under the radar. While Apple iPad and HP Slate have today’s top e-readers beat in the features department, devices such as Kobo eReader are putting pressure on Amazon and other e-reader manufacturers to lower their prices. Kobo eReader offers very similar features to what we have come to expect from Kindle and other top e-readers. It has its own store (with 2 million titles), and it only costs $150. It essentially puts Sony’s latest promotion to shame.

Kobo comes with its very own platform. So you can read your books on other devices such as Blackberry and Macs. The device certainly has potential, and its price puts huge pressure on other companies to lower their prices as well. The problem with Kobo reader is the fact that it does not have a 3G service and does not support WiFi connections as well. So it is a step backwards in that regard.

More than a year ago, I wrote a piece about how exciting Plastic Logic’s plan were and how its e-book could make a difference in the e-book reader market. The device got a boost in coverage at the beginning of 2010. The company promised to bring its device to the market in April 2010. Unfortunately, I predicted a while back that the device will be in trouble as the minds behind it couldn’t seem to find a way to bring the device to the market. The device has been delayed a few times already, and it has been delayed yet again. Apparently, after months of working on the device, the company needs more time to improve the product.

Plastic Logic had a nice concept when it presented its product at DEMO a couple of years ago. At the time, Kindle and Sony Reader were kings, and Plastic Logic had features not offered by other e-readers on the market. When the product was presented at CES 2010, many were upset with its pricing model. But the device still had a good chance of making it in the business world. I am not sure that’s the case now that Apple, Amazon, and B&N are getting ready to lock horns and take their games to the next level.

The iPad is not even out yet, but many e-reader makers are feeling uneasy about the iPad effect already. We all know that Apple does not make the very best gadgets in each market that it enters in. The iPhone is not the best phone on the market if you just look at its features. There are better phones out there. But the company can always count on its sophisticated marketing machine to sell anything. That’s why companies such as Palm can’t even compete with Apple.

e-book reader makers such as Amazon and Sony understand that the iPad will grab a part of their hardware business. The iPad may not be an e-reader, but Apple has done a brilliant job make the device look like a must have gadget. Considering that most major e-reader apps are going to be available on the iPad gives the device a better chance to succeed. But if you thought e-reader makers are going to abandon their hardware business, you may want to think again.

Sony, which is expected to struggle mightily to cope with the iPad effect, is lowering its price on its pocket e-book reader to test the markets ahead of time. Till April 3rd, which happens to be the shipping date for the iPad, Sony is offering a $30 discount on Sony Pocket Reader. While it’s tough to see this move having too much success, price conscious e-reader fans may find some value in Sony’s offering.

It’s official. Amazon is bringing Kindle to a device near you. Whether you own a Mac, an iPhone, or an iPad, Amazon aims to give you access to your Kindle books on them. Considering the buzz that Apple iPad and HP Slate have generated in the past few months, it was only a matter of time before e-book retailers such as Amazon jumped on their bandwagon. Amazon does not focus only on iPad. Apparently, it’s going after other tablets on the market as well. The complete list of devices Amazon is targeting has not been announced, but it seems Amazon will be targeting the most popular tablets.