Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is bracing itself for the formal market launch of iPad tablet PC. The California based consumer electronics company, after successfully transforming itself from a computer manufacturer with iPhone, is now leaving no stone unturned ahead of the introduction of iPad. The company has started taking pre orders for the tablet devise ahead of the US launch on 3 April 2010.

After showcasing the product earlier this year at the Consumer Electronic Show, now Apple is cleaning up the myriad applications on its AppStore. The number of applications on the store swelled to 1.5 million in the starting of this year. The online store is going to be an integral part of the iPad experience, just as it proved for iPhone. To start with, the company has removed many sex related applications from the store including the infamous Wobble application.

The popularity of iPad or the lack of it will mainly rest on the applications related to books. Accordingly, the company is focusing to reduce the clutter book applications represent on the store. Applications related to books and book readers form 27,000 applications out of the 150,000 available on AppStore. Apple has also launched its iBooks e-book reading software. Since it is not bundled with the hardware, users will need to buy the application separately. That is also one of the reasons Apple would like the applications to be reduced on the store.

Due to the heads on competition with online book sellers like Barnes & Noble (NYSE:BKS) and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Apple has introduced the reader application to ensure a wholesome experience for iPad buyers. Incidently, Barnes & Noble, which sells its own e-book reader Nook, has introduced an e-book reader application for iPad. Apple has already brought about the first disruption in the e-publishing and distribution industry. Publishers, soon after the launch of iPad, forced Amazon to change its revenue sharing model. That said, it is also clear that Apple will not be able to exercise the same degree of control on e-book sales as it enjoyed in case of applications for iPhone. A variety of online retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble will be offering e-books on Apple’s platform at competitive prices.