As expected, Apple has launched its Black Friday promotions in U.S. and Canadian Apple Stores, offering gift cards in place of the discounts that have traditionally been offered. Apple is including a $150 gift card for customers purchasing a Mac, $75 for the iPad Air, and $50 for the non-Retina iPad mini, iPad 2, and iPod touch. Notably, the promotion does not include the new iPad mini with Retina Display. The gift card promotion also applies to a…