4 ms·

To me what is frustrating is the planned obsolescence can just as easily be accomplished by just abandoning software support. Many older phones will never have

by kop316 9y ago

To me what is frustrating is the planned obsolescence can just as easily be accomplished by just abandoning software support. Many older phones will never have new software because cendors cannot (or will not) allow electronics to upgrade to a new kernel, functionally limiting it to an old one and limiting what it can upgrade to. I would like to see some sort of law where if the electronic is abondoned, the software can be relased to allow consumers to update it.

scarface74 9y ago
In the case of iOS, update it to what? By the time Apple drops iOS support for a device, it's already starting to show its age. I have an old working 1st gen iPod Touch that can only handle simple web pages like HN and most apps that require a back end can't connect to the server like Netflix and YouTube. My old 1st gen iPad fared a little better - you can still download "the last compatible version" of apps and use many of the streaming apps but it's crash prone trying to display complicated web pages. Sooner or later smart phone advancement will get to the point where computers are now - a 10 year old computer * can run most modern non game software but we aren't there yet. Neither of my old iOS devices needed "repairs". While I had long since abandoned my iPod Touch, I just replaced my first gen iPad as a PDF/Ebook reader with a 2017 iPad. * My parents still use my 2006 era Core Duo 1.66 Mac Mini with Windows 7 and my current Plex Server is 2008 Dell Laptop 2.66Ghz Core 2 Duo running Windows 10.
- frik 9y ago
  > My old 1st gen iPad fared a little better My iPad 2 runs on iOS6 and has perfect battery time, and runs as fast as in 2011. Only some ad-laden websites crash the browser from time to time, but that's a problem with all 512MB memory devices (both iOS and Android). Everyone that upgraded their iPad 2-4 and iPad Mini 1 to iOS7+ regretted doing so. iOS7 was a major slowdown for those hardware devices. It basically got unusable slow. iOS6 on the other hand works great and fast, but most apps on the AppStore don't work anymore (apps that require iOS7). Yet all old installed apps still work fine. On a Samsung Android tablet from the same year (2011) you still can install the latest apps, and get the latest AppStore and Google app updates (but stuck in old Android 4.x) - those AppStore updates slow down the device more and more. So it's not black and white.
  - scarface74 9y ago
    The fact that third party apps abandoned older OS version is the "fault" of the app maker. If you're an app maker and can support all devices introduced since 2013 by only supporting the latest OS, why wouldn't you? The reason Android app makers still support older OS versions is a function of the abysmal state of os updates for android devices.
- exodust 9y ago
  "By the time Apple drops iOS support for a device, it's already starting to show its age" Not really. My iPad3 no longer gets updates, but has great battery life, and runs common games and apps fine. It's fast enough for most web browsing, has retina screen and no reason whatsoever to be abandoned. iOS Safari is not a great browser, it could be improved to run better on a device such as iPad3, but that doesn't suit Apple and their focus on native apps. Now that Apple has stopped all updates for this device, my only option is to jailbreak and hope I can install an updated web browser. It's pathetic and irresponsible that Apple abandons its own products, no security patches, no nothing. They are like Facebook - they only care about "now" and "tomorrow". If you're a customer from yesterday, you are worthless.
  - scarface74 9y ago
    Not really. My iPad3 no longer gets updates, but has great battery life, and runs common games and apps fine. It's fast enough for most web browsing, has retina screen and no reason whatsoever to be abandoned. How has it been abandoned? My 1st gen iPad is still supported by iTunes (the computer app), all of Apple services (App Store, iCloud, iBooks, etc.) and starting in 2013, you've been able to download the last compatible version. iOS Safari is not a great browser, it could be improved to run better on a device such as iPad3, How? Which browser could handle today's web pages with 256MB (my iPad) or 512Mb RAM (the third gen iPad) and no virtual memory . It's pathetic and irresponsible that Apple abandons its own products, no security patches, no nothing.* The iPad 3 was introduced in 2012 and received its last update August of 2016. How many apps that you use every day have become unusable? If my iPad 1 can still run Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, Spotify, all of Apple's productivity apps, etc. I'm assuming a 3rd generation iPad running iOS 9.3.5 would be more usable. They are like Facebook - they only care about "now" and "tomorrow". If you're a customer from yesterday, you are worthless. Apple has the best history of OS support in the industry. iOS 11 supports the iPhone 5S released in 2013. All of Apples services still support your iPad. What can't you do on your iPad that you want to do?
    - exodust 9y ago
      Your argument in defence of Apple's strategy is an odd line to take. The point you've missed is that when Apple stops releasing OS updates, all the built-in apps and programs also suffer the same fate, such as Safari web browser. Some websites are starting to use ES6 javascript in some circumstances. Certain ES6 methods are not supported in browsers older than 2017. Valve's Steam website is one example, the preview videos and slideshow on each game page do not load because the highlight player now uses ES6 javascript. Newer iPads see the player, "older" iPads do not. There is absolutely no reason why this needs to be the case. Browser updates and patches for some built-in programs should be offered even when the OS is no longer updated.
- kop316 9y ago
  I would argue maybe not iOS, but if they abandoned it, it would be nice to be able to run something on it, whether it be Android or some or Linux variant. I still have an old iPod loaded with Rockbox and an SD card that holds 256 GB. I replaced the battery myself, and the thing still runs great. I also have a Novena laptop that unfortunately has not received an official update in a year and a half, so I ported over the Linux patches to a newer kernel and it runs great as well.
  - scarface74 9y ago
    While you can't install Linux. Most of the older iOS devices have had easy to use Jailbreaks for years. But if you just want to use an old iOS device (pre iOS 5) for music you can still sync with iTunes. A device that runs at least iOS 5 (any iPad and any iPhone released since since 2009) can still run most modern streaming services - both audio and video.

by kop316 9y ago

scarface74 9y ago

In the case of iOS, update it to what? By the time Apple drops iOS support for a device, it's already starting to show its age. I have an old working 1st gen iPod Touch that can only handle simple web pages like HN and most apps that require a back end can't connect to the server like Netflix and YouTube. My old 1st gen iPad fared a little better - you can still download "the last compatible version" of apps and use many of the streaming apps but it's crash prone trying to display complicated web pages. Sooner or later smart phone advancement will get to the point where computers are now - a 10 year old computer * can run most modern non game software but we aren't there yet. Neither of my old iOS devices needed "repairs". While I had long since abandoned my iPod Touch, I just replaced my first gen iPad as a PDF/Ebook reader with a 2017 iPad. * My parents still use my 2006 era Core Duo 1.66 Mac Mini with Windows 7 and my current Plex Server is 2008 Dell Laptop 2.66Ghz Core 2 Duo running Windows 10.

frik 9y ago
> My old 1st gen iPad fared a little better My iPad 2 runs on iOS6 and has perfect battery time, and runs as fast as in 2011. Only some ad-laden websites crash the browser from time to time, but that's a problem with all 512MB memory devices (both iOS and Android). Everyone that upgraded their iPad 2-4 and iPad Mini 1 to iOS7+ regretted doing so. iOS7 was a major slowdown for those hardware devices. It basically got unusable slow. iOS6 on the other hand works great and fast, but most apps on the AppStore don't work anymore (apps that require iOS7). Yet all old installed apps still work fine. On a Samsung Android tablet from the same year (2011) you still can install the latest apps, and get the latest AppStore and Google app updates (but stuck in old Android 4.x) - those AppStore updates slow down the device more and more. So it's not black and white.
- scarface74 9y ago
  The fact that third party apps abandoned older OS version is the "fault" of the app maker. If you're an app maker and can support all devices introduced since 2013 by only supporting the latest OS, why wouldn't you? The reason Android app makers still support older OS versions is a function of the abysmal state of os updates for android devices.
exodust 9y ago
"By the time Apple drops iOS support for a device, it's already starting to show its age" Not really. My iPad3 no longer gets updates, but has great battery life, and runs common games and apps fine. It's fast enough for most web browsing, has retina screen and no reason whatsoever to be abandoned. iOS Safari is not a great browser, it could be improved to run better on a device such as iPad3, but that doesn't suit Apple and their focus on native apps. Now that Apple has stopped all updates for this device, my only option is to jailbreak and hope I can install an updated web browser. It's pathetic and irresponsible that Apple abandons its own products, no security patches, no nothing. They are like Facebook - they only care about "now" and "tomorrow". If you're a customer from yesterday, you are worthless.
- scarface74 9y ago
  Not really. My iPad3 no longer gets updates, but has great battery life, and runs common games and apps fine. It's fast enough for most web browsing, has retina screen and no reason whatsoever to be abandoned. How has it been abandoned? My 1st gen iPad is still supported by iTunes (the computer app), all of Apple services (App Store, iCloud, iBooks, etc.) and starting in 2013, you've been able to download the last compatible version. iOS Safari is not a great browser, it could be improved to run better on a device such as iPad3, How? Which browser could handle today's web pages with 256MB (my iPad) or 512Mb RAM (the third gen iPad) and no virtual memory . It's pathetic and irresponsible that Apple abandons its own products, no security patches, no nothing.* The iPad 3 was introduced in 2012 and received its last update August of 2016. How many apps that you use every day have become unusable? If my iPad 1 can still run Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, Spotify, all of Apple's productivity apps, etc. I'm assuming a 3rd generation iPad running iOS 9.3.5 would be more usable. They are like Facebook - they only care about "now" and "tomorrow". If you're a customer from yesterday, you are worthless. Apple has the best history of OS support in the industry. iOS 11 supports the iPhone 5S released in 2013. All of Apples services still support your iPad. What can't you do on your iPad that you want to do?
  - exodust 9y ago
    Your argument in defence of Apple's strategy is an odd line to take. The point you've missed is that when Apple stops releasing OS updates, all the built-in apps and programs also suffer the same fate, such as Safari web browser. Some websites are starting to use ES6 javascript in some circumstances. Certain ES6 methods are not supported in browsers older than 2017. Valve's Steam website is one example, the preview videos and slideshow on each game page do not load because the highlight player now uses ES6 javascript. Newer iPads see the player, "older" iPads do not. There is absolutely no reason why this needs to be the case. Browser updates and patches for some built-in programs should be offered even when the OS is no longer updated.
kop316 9y ago
I would argue maybe not iOS, but if they abandoned it, it would be nice to be able to run something on it, whether it be Android or some or Linux variant. I still have an old iPod loaded with Rockbox and an SD card that holds 256 GB. I replaced the battery myself, and the thing still runs great. I also have a Novena laptop that unfortunately has not received an official update in a year and a half, so I ported over the Linux patches to a newer kernel and it runs great as well.
- scarface74 9y ago
  While you can't install Linux. Most of the older iOS devices have had easy to use Jailbreaks for years. But if you just want to use an old iOS device (pre iOS 5) for music you can still sync with iTunes. A device that runs at least iOS 5 (any iPad and any iPhone released since since 2009) can still run most modern streaming services - both audio and video.