14 DAY TRIAL // People eager to see whether or not the original iPad’s A4 chip is able to handle the tablet-oriented iMovie have worked up a guide to show everyone just how easy it is to get the app installed on Apple’s first-generation tablet, ensuring that no hacks are involved.
The process does seem fairly easy, even for non-savvy users, while the iPad doesn’t need to be jailbroken or tampered with in any way.
Instead, users need to have a copy of iMovie for iPad at hand (purchasable for 5 bucks from the iTunes App Store), and Apple’s own iPhone Configuration Utility.
According to fscklog.com (Google translate), the latest version (iPhone Configuration Utility 3.3) will be necessary to get iMovie up and running on the original iPad.
Users need to download and install the utility, plug in the iPad, then browse for the iMovie 120.ipa from its interface, and finally tell the program to send iMovie to the device.
Once the user hits the “install” button, “iMovie should also perform well” according to a rough translation of the text accompanying the guide.
Prior to launching iOS 4.3 and the iPad 2, Apple was careful to specify that iMovie for iPad will only be supported on the second-generation tablet, as well as on iPhone 4, and new-generation iPod touch devices.
It is believed that the incompatibility with the original iPad stems from the less performant A4 chip and, of course, the lack of built-in cameras on the iPad 1.
Based on this incompatibility, Softpedia speculated earlier this week that iPad 2 should pack at least 512MB of RAM (random access memory), whereas the original only boasts 256MB.
Apple does not publicly disclose the amount of RAM employed by its iOS devices.
While the aforementioned assumption should hold some water, Softpedia Twitter followers have pointed out that the ‘supported’ iPod touch 3rd generation also has just 256MB RAM.