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Depending on your point of view, security updates for old devices are almost preferable to full-feature updates. My reasoning is as follows: Each new version o

Depending on your point of view, security updates for old devices are almost preferable to full-feature updates. My reasoning is as follows: Each new version of iOS/Android is more resource-hungry than the last, and expects better hardware to run it. Many people with Apple device complain, "This new version makes my old iPhone/iPad so slow it's practically useless." So in most cases, people want to keep using their old devices (presumably at the performance speed they were running previously), but they are compelled to stop using them when they stop receiving updates, because the unpatched bugs/exploits could put their data at risk. While there are definitely many people who would like the latest-greatest OS on their device, I think a large number of people would be happy with their device's current OS, patched to ensure that it's not vulnerable to an active 0-day exploit.

177tcca 6y ago
This is why a Pixel 3a or later with GrapheneOS.org is tough to beat. Best of all worlds.
ryandrake 6y ago
Frankly, this goes for most software, for me. When I update, I want security fixes, bugs fixed, and performance improvements. I generally don't want more feature cram, pointless UX re-designs, and deprecated functionality. Unfortunately, the way 99% of software companies do updates, you have to take the bad if you want the good. They don't do separate tracks, where people who just want under-the-hood fixes can get them.
leetcrew 6y ago
> While there are definitely many people who would like the latest-greatest OS on their device, I think a large number of people would be happy with their device's current OS, patched to ensure that it's not vulnerable to an active 0-day exploit. most people don't care about patch level either. if they care about OS versions at all, they just want the option to decline so their old phone doesn't get "slower". outside of my tech friends, no one I know takes security updates into account when purchasing a new phone and/or retiring an old one. in any case, OS security updates are only part of the story. eventually important apps you use will require a higher OS version for updates. then you're using a secure OS, but possibly stuck using an old version of an app with its own known vulnerabilities.

177tcca 6y ago

This is why a Pixel 3a or later with GrapheneOS.org is tough to beat. Best of all worlds.

ryandrake 6y ago

Frankly, this goes for most software, for me. When I update, I want security fixes, bugs fixed, and performance improvements. I generally don't want more feature cram, pointless UX re-designs, and deprecated functionality. Unfortunately, the way 99% of software companies do updates, you have to take the bad if you want the good. They don't do separate tracks, where people who just want under-the-hood fixes can get them.

leetcrew 6y ago

> While there are definitely many people who would like the latest-greatest OS on their device, I think a large number of people would be happy with their device's current OS, patched to ensure that it's not vulnerable to an active 0-day exploit. most people don't care about patch level either. if they care about OS versions at all, they just want the option to decline so their old phone doesn't get "slower". outside of my tech friends, no one I know takes security updates into account when purchasing a new phone and/or retiring an old one. in any case, OS security updates are only part of the story. eventually important apps you use will require a higher OS version for updates. then you're using a secure OS, but possibly stuck using an old version of an app with its own known vulnerabilities.