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Part of that 7% are people who choose not to upgrade, they aren’t neglected. iOS 6 runs on devices as old as 4 years. Meanwhile, every day new Android models ar

Part of that 7% are people who choose not to upgrade, they aren’t neglected. iOS 6 runs on devices as old as 4 years. Meanwhile, every day new Android models are launched that come with years old system software and will never see an update.

smackfu 13y ago
> iOS 6 runs on devices as old as 4 years. It's an interesting side effect of Apple selling old hardware as a new lower cost option for several years. Apple isn't being altruistic or noble by supporting those devices... they are giving normal support for a device that someone can still buy new with a two-year contract. Once Apple actually retires a product, like the iPad 1, it stops getting updates pretty quickly.
- Samuel_Michon 13y ago
  It’s also a RAM issue. iPhone 3G and iPod touch 2nd gen only have 128MB RAM. That’s why those models can’t run iOS 5 or later. iPad 1st gen has 256MB RAM but it has to drive a much larger screen. It can officially run iOS 5.1 but the experience isn’t great; it’s better to keep it at iOS 4.3. As for the upcoming iOS 7: it will run on almost all the devices that can run iOS 6 (except iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4th gen). That means Apple is actually extending the period during which devices receive major updates. Assuming iOS 7 will be released on September 20[1] and iOS 8 will be released a year from then, that means iPhone 4 will be able to run the latest OS version for 4 years and 3 months (I’m also assuming iPhone 4 won’t be able to run iOS 8). [1] http://www.cultofmac.com/232580/when-will-the-next-ios-7-beta-arrive-when-will-ios-7-be-released-ios-7-timeline/ http://www.cultofmac.com/232580/when-will-the-next-ios-7-bet...
  - smackfu 13y ago
    > iPhone 4 will be able to run the latest OS version for 4 years and 3 months Right. My point is that another way to look at it is that an iPhone 4 bought in August 2013 on a two-year contract will probably stop getting OS updates while it is still under contract.
    - Samuel_Michon 13y ago
      It will get OS updates (patches and bug fixes), but it probably won’t be able to run the next major release after iOS 7 (an upgrade, not an update). But your point is valid, and it’s why I wouldn’t recommend anyone to buy the current entry level iPhone (iPhone 4). I’m hoping Apple will change their strategy of discounting older iPhone models and create a separate entry level iPhone. That model should not compromise RAM and CPU so that it will be able to keep up with future OS releases, but it could compromise in other areas such as screen size, battery size, and choice of materials.

smackfu 13y ago

> iOS 6 runs on devices as old as 4 years. It's an interesting side effect of Apple selling old hardware as a new lower cost option for several years. Apple isn't being altruistic or noble by supporting those devices... they are giving normal support for a device that someone can still buy new with a two-year contract. Once Apple actually retires a product, like the iPad 1, it stops getting updates pretty quickly.

Samuel_Michon 13y ago
It’s also a RAM issue. iPhone 3G and iPod touch 2nd gen only have 128MB RAM. That’s why those models can’t run iOS 5 or later. iPad 1st gen has 256MB RAM but it has to drive a much larger screen. It can officially run iOS 5.1 but the experience isn’t great; it’s better to keep it at iOS 4.3. As for the upcoming iOS 7: it will run on almost all the devices that can run iOS 6 (except iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4th gen). That means Apple is actually extending the period during which devices receive major updates. Assuming iOS 7 will be released on September 20[1] and iOS 8 will be released a year from then, that means iPhone 4 will be able to run the latest OS version for 4 years and 3 months (I’m also assuming iPhone 4 won’t be able to run iOS 8). [1] http://www.cultofmac.com/232580/when-will-the-next-ios-7-beta-arrive-when-will-ios-7-be-released-ios-7-timeline/ http://www.cultofmac.com/232580/when-will-the-next-ios-7-bet...
- smackfu 13y ago
  > iPhone 4 will be able to run the latest OS version for 4 years and 3 months Right. My point is that another way to look at it is that an iPhone 4 bought in August 2013 on a two-year contract will probably stop getting OS updates while it is still under contract.
  - Samuel_Michon 13y ago
    It will get OS updates (patches and bug fixes), but it probably won’t be able to run the next major release after iOS 7 (an upgrade, not an update). But your point is valid, and it’s why I wouldn’t recommend anyone to buy the current entry level iPhone (iPhone 4). I’m hoping Apple will change their strategy of discounting older iPhone models and create a separate entry level iPhone. That model should not compromise RAM and CPU so that it will be able to keep up with future OS releases, but it could compromise in other areas such as screen size, battery size, and choice of materials.