The new reality ushered in by the shiny, new third-generation iPad, with its improved camera boasting a pixel-loaded retina display in the palm of your hands, is inspiring developers in the mobile space.  Many are now optimizing their iPad applications as users grow fonder of the increased pixel density.

Fotopedia

More than a month after its launch, it is not the heating or other issues that surround the new iPad, but the rise in apps developed to support the new retina display.  This is what Fotopedia has focused on. Carrying several eye-candy apps, the company has recently upgraded the National Parks app for the new iPad.

Just in time for the upcoming celebrations of Earth Day and National Parks Week, the new version of the iPad app will take you through a visual journey of some of the most famous National Parks in the US.  Fotopedia CEO Jean-Marie Hullot explains their inspiration for optimizing their apps around the enhanced resolution for the iPad:

“The stunning Retina display on the new iPad delivers four times as many pixels, so we decided to do the same with Fotopedia National Parks. The result is spectacular. To celebrate National Parks Week, during which the admittance to the parks is free, we decided to make the app free as well so that everyone with an iPad or iPhone can enjoy their incredible beauty.”

The app is a product of the 10-year expedition of Quan-Tuan Long, who traveled more than 100,000 miles photographing all 58 National Parks in the U.S., even climbing the summit of Mount McKinley.  The app includes an array of 3,000 breathtaking photos, free wallpapers and slideshows, with photo-sharing options and more.

iPhoto

For travelers, keeping a photo journal is a must. Since the release of the new iPad, several users have turned to the device to take photos instead of bulky digital SLR’s. Apple’s very own iPhoto app lets users create a collection of pictures from recent trips abroad, mountain treks, cruise or adventures. It also brings a variety of photo editing capabilities like adjusting of brightness and saturation, and photo effects to the iPad. The retina display-engineered iPhoto also allows users to share the album via iCloud and across social networks.

The features are quite promising, having already reached over a million downloads in roughly two weeks following its initial release to the market.

Flipboard

A social magazine for iPad, Flipboard app is a compilation of photos and articles from a wide assortment of subject areas like Science and Technology, current events, social media streams from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more. The visual and editorial content is a paper-like spread where users can virtually “flip” through pages as reading an actual magazine or newspaper.

While there is a growing audience in the US, Flipboard’s building an audience base in China, where they are targeting more than 5 million users for this year alone. They have started linking with the country’s influential media conglomerates and microblogging service Sina Weibo.

Art Authority

Aside from offering “app internship” for art majors, the Art Authority app for iPad transports users to an enchanting museum-like experience. It parades a compilation of some of the most illustrious art pieces of the Renaissance, Baroque and Contemporary eras. They also cater to various artistic styles including surrealism, minimalism and abstract.

They are presently looking for 100 summer art interns to help them improve their present collections. Alan Oppenheimer, President of Art Authority’s partner Open Door Networks, expresses his delight in providing opportunities for both their business and students who want to explore the intersecting roads of art and technology:

“Recently we upgraded the Art Authority museum, along with a number of its key works, for the new iPad’s retina display. This summer we hope to upgrade most of the collection while providing invaluable experience to art students around the world. Art Authority is quite literally the intersection of technology and art, and we think it’s a great alternative to a traditional art internship.”

According to Apple, their retina display was first seen in iPhone. Wikipedia says this feature was “based on the assertion that a display of approximately 300 ppi at a distance of 12 inches (305 mm) from one’s eye, or 57 arcseconds per pixel is the maximum amount of detail that the human retina can perceive.”  The positive consumer response has spurred the competition as well.  Microsoft is reportedly prepping Windows 8 capabilities to match the new iPad screen’s sharpness and clarity.