If you’re planning to pick up an Apple iPad on April 3, you’ll not only enjoy learning all about it, but you’ll probably want to both explore accessories and press it into productive service right away. Here are the hottest products I’ve heard about so far for the iPad.

iWork. For just $10 each, the iWork suite is a terrific way to get started with the iPad. Keynote, Pages and Numbers are written by Apple, so they’ll not only showcase the best the iPad has to offer, but they’ll be great for creating content, out of the box. Availability: April 3.

iWork/Keynote

Mini apps. This looks like a “must have” paid app, out of the box, for new iPad customers. It adds a calculator, stickies, a multi-browser, weather, and NASA Image of the day —- with more coming. Get it right away at the introductory price of $0.99 before the price goes up. Free updates are expected to be plentiful. Availability: April 3.

Mini apps

Bento. Filemaker has announced Bento for the iPad.  TMO has seen a preview, and the verdict is: you will want this app. We do. The price is an incredible US$4.99, too low not to experiment with. One can browse as well as send e-mail from within the app and access all the Bento pre-built templates.  Availability: April 3.

NewerTech iFolio Leather Case. This week, NewerTech announced today their iFolio, a custom handcrafted carrying/protection case for the new Apple iPad. This is the one I’ll be buying. It’s made in the U.S. from premium imported black or red Brazilian leather and, they claim, made with meticulous attention to highest quality. It comes backed by a lifetime warranty.

The iFolio is normally US$129.99, is available in black or red leather colors. It can pre-ordered now at a special introductory price of US$99.99 from NewerTech’s exclusive distributor, Other World Computing All pre-orders and regular orders of the NewerTech iFolio will begin shipping April 5.

NewerTech iFolio

iPad Tutorials. Apple has released a series of 11 iPad tutorial videos covering topics such as iBooks, and working with the iPad versions of the iWork applications. You want to watch these tutorials, of course, on your new iPad.

iPad Camera Connection Kit. This kit is a 30-pin to USB camera cable adapter and a 30-pin to SD card reader so that you can import your picture directly into the Photo app on the iPad. It’s priced at US$29. Availability: end of April.

Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit

BodyGuardz. This is a scratch-proof transparent skin designed to custom fit the iPad for full body and screen protection,. It adds a layer of scratch-proof film to the back and sides that will allow the device to be placed on harsh surfaces without a single scratch. One can buy the full body package (US$29.95), just the screen protector ($19.95), or just the back and sides protector ($24.95). Availability: April 5.

BodyGuardz

iKit Leather Folio Case. iKit sells several different iPad products, but this one stood out for me. It’s made of real leather and also serves as a stand to prop up the iPad. All ports and functions remain accessible. It also includes a screen protector and cleaning kit. It’s priced at US$40.00. Availability: May, 2010.

iKit Leather Folio

Netflix for iPad. appadvice on Wednesday said it’s official. There will be a Netflix app for the iPad from the App store, and it’ll be free. I expect many iPad owners will be downloading this app day one and testing the video capabilities of their new iPad. My advice to spouses: cuddle up and go for the ride. This is the app we’ve been waiting for.

Netflix for iPad - credit: appadvice.com

And that’s just the beginning, here on April 1, 2010. The rest of 2010 should bring a whole lot more exciting products as well as updates to the iPad OS that’ll have us loving our iPads even more. Stay tuned to TMO; we’ll tell you about all of them.