Apple’s iMovie will now work on your iPad 1!

File this one under “whaaa?”

There was a time when Apple’s consumer grade video editing app, iMovie ($4.99), was unavailable on the original iPad.  If you wanted to bask in the app’s cheesy glory, you were required to own an iPad 2 (presumably due to the extra strain on the processor). But, with the release of iMovie 1.3, that restriction has been lifted! Soccer moms rejoice!

So, iPad 1 owner, are you excited to create your very first iMovie Trailer? Not so fast… It seems Apple still has you sitting at the kid’s table.  While you’re able to edit video with ease, you don’t have access to the app’s new Movie Trailers feature.  For that, you’ll still need to upgrade your iPad.

If you already purchased iMovie for your iPhone, you’ll be happy to know that the app is universal, so you won’t have to repurchase it for your iPad.

Here are the real questions… Why did Apple wait so long to let iPad 1 owners into the party (clearly the iPad WAS powerful enough to handle the task)? And, why did they suddenly open the floodgates at the same moment they introduced their third generation iPad? I’m guessing it has more to do with Avid Studio, the impressive video editor released by Avid a couple weeks back (check out our full review). Unlike previous versions of iMovie, Avid Studio worked on early iPads from day one. Perhaps that’s the push Apple needed. Either way, I’m glad to see that iMovie will be empowering first-generation iPad owners who are reluctant to upgrade.

I make fun of iMovie now and again, but the truth is, it’s pretty powerful stuff. Turn off Apple’s cutesy themes, and you’ve got a very usable video editor with multiple audio tracks, and a nearly non-existent learning curve. Not bad for 5 bucks!

Big thanks to HHH reader, Chris Stengel, for giving me the heads-up about this!

Get App QR-Code

‎iMovie

Developer: Apple

Price: Free

The app was not found in the store. :-(

Go to store Google websearch