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Why is there no iOS 6 update for the iPad 1?

Does anyone know why the original iPad can't be updated with iOS 6?

iPad, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Sep 20, 2012 8:01 AM

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Posted on Sep 20, 2012 8:06 AM

Apple frequently drops off support for older hardware models. Unfortunately, they dropped the 1st gen iPads from being updated to iOS 6. Often times the hardware isn't capable of taking full advantage of newer OS's. I'm not sure if this is the reason why they dropped the original iPad but the 3rd gen iPads are quite a bit more powerful and I can only assume that when Apple designed iOS 6 they wanted to take full advantage of the iPad 3's processing power.


The new iOS 6 will run on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5; the iPad 2 and third-generation iPad; and the fourth- and fifth-generation iPod touch.


I hope this answers your question.

~Joe

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Sep 20, 2012 8:06 AM in response to Bomartin5

Apple frequently drops off support for older hardware models. Unfortunately, they dropped the 1st gen iPads from being updated to iOS 6. Often times the hardware isn't capable of taking full advantage of newer OS's. I'm not sure if this is the reason why they dropped the original iPad but the 3rd gen iPads are quite a bit more powerful and I can only assume that when Apple designed iOS 6 they wanted to take full advantage of the iPad 3's processing power.


The new iOS 6 will run on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5; the iPad 2 and third-generation iPad; and the fourth- and fifth-generation iPod touch.


I hope this answers your question.

~Joe

Sep 20, 2012 8:53 AM in response to Bomartin5

The decision to support the 3GS instead of the iPad (which has a faster processor) has been open to wide debate. General consensus has been that the iPad is no longer sold, whereas the 3GS still is. However many people, especially developers, have stated that although the iPad has superior hardware, its hardware is still proportionally weaker than the 3GS. The iPad has more than quadruple the pixels to power than the 3GS, yet still uses the same graphics processor. The iPad also has the same amount of RAM, 256 MB, which in proportion to its screen resolution, is hardly enough. The only hardware advantage the iPad has is a faster processor. However, the processor is not enough to make up for the lack of RAM and graphics power. As a result, there have been numerous complaints on the performance of iOS 5 on the iPad. The 3GS, on the other hand, had generally positive reviews of smooth performance on iOS 5 (some even claim better performance), making it still a good candidate for iOS 6. Last week, Apple announced that they will no longer be selling and supporting the iPhone 3GS, therefore meaning iOS 6 will be the final iOS to support the 3GS.

Sep 24, 2012 2:56 PM in response to Bomartin5

I bought my original Ipad 18 months ago, New ! I've been waiting for this update for a half a year, now Apple is telling us there's not going to be any update... The pad is still not even beyond the guarantee period.

Now does this mean there will never be another update?

People of Apple, do you really think that my next product be be an Apple? No way, a company who chooses market strategies over customer support just doesn't go down well in my books.

Don't you get it? I ask myself how stupid must we people really be to to queue up for the the new Iphone, when the support can't be guarateed beyond the 18 month mark?

That really *****!

I need a product that I can rely on beyond an 18 month period and if you can't do this then the law has to act, this just can't be legal.

Sep 24, 2012 4:14 PM in response to Bomartin5

I was so excited about this iOS 6 update but the more I learn the more I don't like it. First we can't update the 1st generation iPad with iOS 6 and now I find out that I still can't use FaceTime unless I have a wifi network because I don't have the iPhone 4S or iPhone 5. It is absolutely terrible that apple would not allow all the new features to be used on the iPhone 4. At this point there really was no reason to update to iOS 6. I'm very disappointed with this Apple!!

Sep 27, 2012 12:41 PM in response to Bomartin5

I had this same question when I learned that iOS 6 would not be available for my gen 1 iPad. In my case it's less than 2 years old! I too have been a loyal Apple customer going back to the Apple IIc and including converting my business to Apple products and servers a number of years ago. I appreciate the speed of tech changes these days, but not Apple's increasingly cavalier attitude towards it's customers. Not unlike the arrogance that has gotten many great companies in serious trouble in the past. At any rate, I'm keeping my iPad and my two iPhones, 4 & 4s on iOS 5 since it serves me quite well and will just stay with that until they are unsupported. I for one and certainly not going to leap for the new iPad or the iPhone 5 anytime soon and like the post just prior to mine plan on sending a letter to Tim Cook....not that I have any expectation he will ever see it!

Sep 28, 2012 5:22 AM in response to Bomartin5

I am shocked to find out that my iPad will not be receiving the update. I can no longer use quite a few of the apps that I have purchased. It says that they need the ios6 updates. After spending $800 for a device less than a year ago, I am devastated to find out that it is practically obsolete. We have a house full of Apple products and I am sure that they don't care but I will be reevaluating our purchases in the future. This is ridiculous. How can they not support the devices that are currently out there? That seems so wrong. I was considering iPads for my children for Christmas. I will not be making those purhcases now. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can make my apps run or am I out that money also? This *****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is there no iOS 6 update for the iPad 1?

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