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They could offer 32bit app support as an optional download, just like how 32bit Windows 10 still offers the 16bit NTVDM and MS-DOS support as an optional instal

by 0x0 9y ago

They could offer 32bit app support as an optional download, just like how 32bit Windows 10 still offers the 16bit NTVDM and MS-DOS support as an optional install on demand. Really sucks to lose 32bit support for legacy apps that used to work, especially when it might be a companion app for hardware/equipment that cost much more than the iPhone X (like your car).

scarface74 9y ago
Do you realize how many security vulnerabilities have been found in Windows caused by supporting legacy apps? I have some 32 bit apps that already don't work with newer versions of iOS.
- romwell 9y ago
  Do you realize that "legacy apps" are much more important to people who use them than the hardware that it runs on? Apple is a hardware company, and its need reason to push it. But what I do with hardware is run applications, and the applications matter more to me than the shiny (or not) box they run on, insofar as the box has the hardware to provide the UX that makes the software usable. I am not talking in abstract; when Everyday Looper goes, iOS will lose about half its value to me. (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzQLRPwZjIo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzQLRPwZjIo for usage example).
  - npunt 9y ago
    Looks like everyday looper added 64 bit support in an update last week, fyi.
    - romwell 9y ago
      Good news for me, thank you!
  - scarface74 9y ago
    Do you realize that "legacy apps" are much more important to people who use them than the hardware that it runs on Seeing that Apple is the most valuable company in the world and they have a long history of abandoning legacy software (Apple //e, 68K, PPC, and soon 32 bit x86) and moving customers with them, that statement doesn't jibe with the reality on the ground. What are the chances that people won't upgrade their iOS devices because they want to run an abandoned 32 bit app?
    - 0x0 9y ago
      All the other transitions could be handled by virtualization and emulation, and the software and the corresponding data files could be copied between file systems and drives, so if you have built a workflow around a legacy app, you could still access it on new hardware. But iOS being such a locked down and closed platform means there is currently no way to preserve legacy apps or the data stored within installations. This is why dropping 32bit legacy app support is such a big deal.
gigatexal 9y ago
This is apple not microsoft. Move off of 32-bit, there's no reason to be on it. And corporations have the means (or there are third parties willing to help) to rewrite things to the new 64-bit mandate.
valuearb 9y ago
If the developer doesn’t care enough to recompile an app as 64 bit, why should Apple jump through hoops to keep it alive?
npunt 9y ago
We're in a different era than before. Software is more likely to be internet connected and needs to be seen as an ongoing service to be maintained rather than a one-off program. This applies to simple things like recompiling for 64 bit support (a rather low bar), as well as more important things like security updates as new vulnerabilities are found. In addition, mobile UX has really evolved in the first decade of iPhones and mobile apps are in large part defined by their UX, as they're first and foremost consumer oriented (rather than more backend utilities). All these factors drive the need for mobile apps to stay relatively current, and those who can't cross that rather low bar tend to be a niche within a niche. That said, to your point I'm sure most people who have been on iOS for a while have that one app that seems to be abandoned that they love, myself included. I'm glad 32b is going away as it really does clean up the App Store and gains some efficiency, but I'm annoyed the developer has given up on the app I like.

by 0x0 9y ago

scarface74 9y ago

Do you realize how many security vulnerabilities have been found in Windows caused by supporting legacy apps? I have some 32 bit apps that already don't work with newer versions of iOS.

romwell 9y ago
Do you realize that "legacy apps" are much more important to people who use them than the hardware that it runs on? Apple is a hardware company, and its need reason to push it. But what I do with hardware is run applications, and the applications matter more to me than the shiny (or not) box they run on, insofar as the box has the hardware to provide the UX that makes the software usable. I am not talking in abstract; when Everyday Looper goes, iOS will lose about half its value to me. (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzQLRPwZjIo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzQLRPwZjIo for usage example).
- npunt 9y ago
  Looks like everyday looper added 64 bit support in an update last week, fyi.
  - romwell 9y ago
    Good news for me, thank you!
- scarface74 9y ago
  Do you realize that "legacy apps" are much more important to people who use them than the hardware that it runs on Seeing that Apple is the most valuable company in the world and they have a long history of abandoning legacy software (Apple //e, 68K, PPC, and soon 32 bit x86) and moving customers with them, that statement doesn't jibe with the reality on the ground. What are the chances that people won't upgrade their iOS devices because they want to run an abandoned 32 bit app?
  - 0x0 9y ago
    All the other transitions could be handled by virtualization and emulation, and the software and the corresponding data files could be copied between file systems and drives, so if you have built a workflow around a legacy app, you could still access it on new hardware. But iOS being such a locked down and closed platform means there is currently no way to preserve legacy apps or the data stored within installations. This is why dropping 32bit legacy app support is such a big deal.

gigatexal 9y ago

This is apple not microsoft. Move off of 32-bit, there's no reason to be on it. And corporations have the means (or there are third parties willing to help) to rewrite things to the new 64-bit mandate.

valuearb 9y ago

If the developer doesn’t care enough to recompile an app as 64 bit, why should Apple jump through hoops to keep it alive?

npunt 9y ago

We're in a different era than before. Software is more likely to be internet connected and needs to be seen as an ongoing service to be maintained rather than a one-off program. This applies to simple things like recompiling for 64 bit support (a rather low bar), as well as more important things like security updates as new vulnerabilities are found. In addition, mobile UX has really evolved in the first decade of iPhones and mobile apps are in large part defined by their UX, as they're first and foremost consumer oriented (rather than more backend utilities). All these factors drive the need for mobile apps to stay relatively current, and those who can't cross that rather low bar tend to be a niche within a niche. That said, to your point I'm sure most people who have been on iOS for a while have that one app that seems to be abandoned that they love, myself included. I'm glad 32b is going away as it really does clean up the App Store and gains some efficiency, but I'm annoyed the developer has given up on the app I like.