Apple will grab 10% mobile gaming, as eBooks explode and iTablet looms

Games may be exploding on Apple’s handheld devices, with Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst, Michael Pachter, predicting the iPod touch will grab 10-15 per cent of all handheld game sales in the near future, but as Apple closes in on the purported release of the much-speculated upon 10-inch iTablet, there’s yet more signals that the Amazon Kindle’s days as pre-eminent e-Book reader are coming to an end.

We’ve already reported on the flurry of activity taking place within the education market to offer eBooks for the iPhone and iPod touch in that sector, but now it seems companies are hustling to offer bespoke solutions which should see a new wave of newspapers and magazines offering their material to users of these Apple devices, and profitable solutions, too. And don’t neglect that eBooks are the second-biggest category on the App Store.

First out the block to offer such a turnstile solution (not forgetting that outfits in the music sector, including iLike and The Orchard already offer App-creation solutions for musical acts) comes PixelMags. That company has announced plans to offer publishers a platform on the Apple iTunes App Store to publish magazines, newspapers, books, catalogues and brochures.

The Apple developer will allow publishers to easily digitise publications with custom-made Apps for no set up or monthly fees and publish them on the App store says PixelMags. Better still, it’s the first dedicated iPhone App platform to be accredited by the Audit Bureau of Circulation, all downloads will count towards circulation figures.

Adventure games have always been popular, and there’s yet more of these looming for your Apple handheld device. Melbourne-based developer, Tin Man Games, today announced plans to release a library of fantasy adventure gamebooks for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

The library will initially consist of three original adventures, the first being Siege of the Necromancer, and readers will be able to grow their collection as new books are released. There’s no need for dice – all you need to do is shake your iPhone/touch to get that random factor when playing through an adventure.

Earlier this week, Coursesmart announced plans to bring 7,000 educational titles to the Apple mobile platforms, opening up further Apple opportunities in the education sector.

We think the new App Store gold rush will be eBooks, and we think that rush will become a deluge when Apple introduces its larger-screened iTablet. Kindle may face a problem…