Irrespective of Apple policy, we know that many of our readers already purchased a US iPad for use --
gasp -- outside of the United States. With favorable exchange rates and an early US launch really, who could blame you? But after notifying your local customs office and paying your government tithe, the very next thing you probably did was notice that you couldn't buy iPad apps from your local iTunes app store. Now you can, at least if the sudden deluge of tweets and tips from Dutch, UK, German and Swiss iPad owners now hitting our inbox is any indication. Go ahead, give it a go and let us know the results in comments.
Update: Australia confirmed too -- it's not just Europe. Things seem a bit unstable as Apple lights up the service
a week ahead of the official international iPad launch.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted May 20th 2010 3:29AM
App store live in Greece too...!
That debt calculator app might be helpful. ;)
@ross228080 Its part of the bailout money
@assb10yr yeap.. after launching in the US, it was time to approach other failing economies... :)
@ross228080 its not working in UK, just tried it.
@160680 It is now! :D
@Son Goku There's no iTunes store for Iceland, they could really do with that app as well.
Works in Poland well :)
You could buy apps if you were using a US iTunes account, right? I bought an app or two on mine when I was visiting London last week.
@GrandMoffTarkin
I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board....
But yes, I'm from the US but live in the U.A.E. now, have never had an issue downloading anything from iTunes or directly through the iPhone or iPad through my US iTunes account.
@GrandMoffTarkin
That's one of the interesting things about the tiff between Adobe and Apple.
They are reasonably reliant on support from each other. If Adobe dropped Mac support from Photoshop and co. (which they won't) Apple would lose out in a very big way. In fact, I wonder why Apple don't cosy up to Adobe a bit more because of this. I guess it is more of a symbiotic relationship than I realise.
hah. Adobe creates apps for the ipad? and Apple doesn't block them? who would have guessed? :)
@davepermen
But Adobe hearts Apple :D
On a serious note, Adobe has created a number of apps for the iPhone OS... It's been quite some time.
@akbc i don't have any of the apple'84 products (the one locked into those stores), so i don't know. never seen one yet till today :)
always nice to see on one side a war about politics, on the other side working together as usual where it's best for business :)
$617 for the base 16gb wi-fi unit in the U.K.
No thanks.
@Threlly Just remember that includes VAT (17.5%) which is not listed on US prices as VAT varies from place to place there. For a price to directly compare with the VAT-less US price use £365.11, which is $524.75 at current exchange rates.
@stephenallred this is a joke, right? don't you still have to add sales tax on top of the VAT?
@stephenallred Ultimately it's about what comes out of your pocket, after tax. So comparing pre-tax prices is not that useful IMHO.
Also live in Vietnam (you know, the country where Apple prototype hardware rains from the skies), but it's still useless, since Apple haven't put the iWork apps in there yet, Command & Conquer is still iPhone only .. and Metal Gear Solid is MIA ...
Come on guys, haven't you heard of the global marketplace?
if you knew the app name, that European (iPhone) app stores would already list the iPad app prior to that change ... and allow payments in the now softer Euro :-( (a $.99 app is .79€, i.e., 1.25$/€ which is about the current exch. rate)
Not only easier now but also allowing for regional iPad apps
Any sign of the iBooks app though? It wasn't awailable yesterday
@drunkenmax Finally Apps store for UK!.. Yeah... still no sign of iBooks/ iWork Suite?..
@RH1 They will be on there the day the iPad is officially on sale in your country.
@Camperton Although the ibooks app may vary in availability from country to country.
@qlimax
got anything original to say ?
didn't think so k bai
The iPad App Store has been live in the UK since the US launch. That would be how I've pre-downloaded a few apps for the iPad that I'll load on to it when it arrives on the 28th.
@stephenallred
You did this from iTunes on a computer, though, not from your ipad.
@qlimax My uncle has one, it's pretty nifty for browsing the web on the couch or in bed.
Not 500$ nifty, but still a neat device.
Russian App Store works too!
For anyone wondering - the iBooks app and all the iWork apps are still MIA in the international stores.
@Diraan Thanks for that. Anyone know whether it compares favourably to the Kindle app as a reader rather than the store side
@Diraan MIA = Missing In Action = Not there.
@Diraan Like I said above they will be on there the day the iPad is officially on sale in your country.
In Romania too
... app store austria works ...
I guess im the only canadian... its been working for weeks almost since the wifi came out
Yes apple spread your shit over the globe like used toilet paper. Engadget will buy it off someone from Vietnam and showcase how revolutionary it is!
@Robert Jordan wtf is your problem?
czech app store working as well
I would like to confirm that Middle East (Saudi Arabia) App Store is working as well.. have fun all!!
Singapore app store working as well!
This is all well and good but where the flying frack is my iPad?! I'm beginning to think the "delivered by 28th May" notice on my pre-order means I'm getting it on the 28th and not a day earlier. The wait is killing me.
@vanglorious
Did people in the US start receiving their iPads before their ships by date?
Still not officially sold in Japan,A blogger confirmed App Store Japan works!!
It started working in Canada tonight as well. @Zeroexe43 It didn't work with my Canadian account up until tonight; I got the "store not available in this country" message.
@jefforr Confirming it's working in Canada.
Works in Turkey too...
Flight Control HD is live in Denmark.
@FlonZ
I was very disappointed by Flight Control HD. Try Habor Master.
What about Egypt?