The iPad 2′s RAM and the New iMovie App

So I was scanning this MacRumors article listing a few smaller “tidbits” about the iPad 2 launch and I noticed this:

iMovie and GarageBand Compatibility: According to Apple’s iMovie page, the new universal iMovie application for iOS will be compatible with the iPad 2, iPhone 4, and fourth-generation iPod touch, but not the original iPad. The new GarageBand application for iPad will, however, be compatible with both first- and second-generation iPad devices, according to Apple engineer Danny Patterson.

Sure enough, the Apple web page linked says “iMovie works with iPhone 4, fourth-generation iPod touch, and iPad 2″.

So why not?

Of course, it could be just money. Apple just wants to add a feature to the new iPad to get people to upgrade. There is a nice Applesque symmetry to it since the devices that run the iOS iMovie app all have cameras built-in. But then why offer GarageBand for the original iPad? And since they’re actually selling the app, wouldn’t they want to use the whole platform if they could? There are millions of iPad users out there, after all, who all have original iPads.

On the other hand, maybe it is just that all the wiz-bang stuff in the iPad version of iMovie just can’t run on the iPad 1′s hardware. Which brings up a point: It is a universal app and it does run on the iPhone 4, which has a slower A4 CPU than the original iPad, but has 512MB of RAM. But then, of course, even though it is a universal app and they share a common code base, the iPad and iPhone versions really are two separate and distinct applications in most respects, and this certainly has a dramatic impact on performance.

I don’t know… Just wondering.

iPad 2: How’d I Do?

So, last night I predicted. Today they announced. How did I do? Well… Not bad, but certainly not perfect. For reference, Apple posted the Specs page for the iPad 2, so you can follow along at home.

Here’s what I predicted:

• Improved, anti-glare, scratch-resistant IPS screen at 1024×768 (same resolution as iPad 1). They may make a big deal about improved color performance.
• Dual-core A5 CPU at (roughly) 1.2GHz based on Cortex A9 ARM, with improved graphics
• 512MB RAM
• 16GB/32GB/64GB
• Improved external speaker, and maybe microphone improvements mentioned too.
• Front and rear cameras, but I think the front camera will be the high-res HD-capable one. The rear camera, if it exists, will be a lower-quality one similar to the iPhone 4′s front camera
• No on-board USB port or SD card slot, but they might include a “camera connection” dock-connector in the box which includes both (satisfying EU). If I’m wrong and they do build something in, it’ll be the SD card slot, not the micro-USB.
• Thinner and lighter, of course.
• Gyroscope like the iPhone 4.
• And this is really a leap, but I’m going to go with a single model capable of both GSM and CDMA rather than two separate models. No LTE, since these networks aren’t “ready yet” (in Apple’s opinion), but they might fully support HSPA+ this time around.

What did I get right and which ones did I totally miss? Read on to find out…

iPad 2 Predictions for Tomorrow

Putting it on the line:

• Improved, anti-glare, scratch-resistant IPS screen at 1024×768 (same resolution as iPad 1). They may make a big deal about improved color performance.
• Dual-core A5 CPU at (roughly) 1.2GHz based on Cortex A9 ARM, with improved graphics
• 512MB RAM
• 16GB/32GB/64GB
• Improved external speaker, and maybe microphone improvements mentioned too
• Front and rear cameras, but I think the front camera will be the high-res HD-capable one. The rear camera, if it exists, will be a lower-quality one similar to the iPhone 4′s front camera
• No on-board USB port or SD card slot, but they might include a “camera connection” dock-connector in the box which includes both (satisfying EU). If I’m wrong and they do build something in, it’ll be the SD card slot, not the micro-USB.
• Thinner and lighter, of course.
• Gyroscope like the iPhone 4.
• And this is really a leap, but I’m going to go with a single model capable of both GSM and CDMA rather than two separate models. No LTE, since these networks aren’t “ready yet” (in Apple’s opinion), but they might fully support HSPA+ this time around.

So that’s all I’m willing to say I’m actually “predicting”. I have other ideas, but they’re much hazier. Follow me after the jump to see the rest.