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4S 5.1.1 vs. 7.1.1

thedeejay

thedeejay

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 16, 2012
1,338
51
Toronto, Canada.
Hey guys,

A quick question for you. My mom broke her 4S and is getting a new one from her friend which apparently has 5.1.1. She said she won't upgrade to iOS 7 because her current 4S (which broke) was a little sluggish, but she loved the UI and the features. She uses apps like WhatsApp and Viber for work and I've heard that Apple allows for older versions, so is that possible? Can she pull off 5.1.1 on her future 4S? She said she doesn't mind 7.1.1 if she has to but would prefer 5.1.1

Thanks.
 
Yes she may be able to pick up older versions. iOS 5 is missing a lot of features... If she can stand missing a lot then she should be fine.

Apple wouldn't be too happy though.
 
afsnyder said:
Yes she may be able to pick up older versions. iOS 5 is missing a lot of features... If she can stand missing a lot then she should be fine.

Apple wouldn't be too happy though.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. So they don't force you anymore huh? I just remember this message in my memory: "This app requires iOS 6.0". Have they recently started allowing older downloads?
 
thedeejay said:
Thanks for the reply. So they don't force you anymore huh? I just remember this message in my memory: "This app requires iOS 6.0". Have they recently started allowing older downloads?
Click to expand...

Yes. Now it'll ask if you want to download the latest compatible version.
 
thedeejay said:
Thanks for the reply. So they don't force you anymore huh? I just remember this message in my memory: "This app requires iOS 6.0". Have they recently started allowing older downloads?
Click to expand...
Supposedly they offer older versions now, but it still depends on whether or not the developer and/or Apple actually making a particular version available. At some point developers can and often do decide to make a new version that might not support something below iOS 6 or 7. But the version you already have, if you have one at that time, should still usually work (although not always).
 
thedeejay said:
Thanks for the reply. So they don't force you anymore huh? I just remember this message in my memory: "This app requires iOS 6.0". Have they recently started allowing older downloads?
Click to expand...

That isn't how it works, "Last Compatible Verison" only works if your software is "up to date". EX. It would let you download iOS 5 apps for an iPad 1, but not for a 4S.
 
I'm still able to download the latest compatible version for my iPhone 4S running iOS 5.1.1. Apps that never had a iOS 5.1.1 compatible version won't download, but the rest will. Also, finding a 4S with iOS 5.1.1 on it still is uncommon.
 
C DM said:
Apple's own information about this doesn't seem to mention that kind of limitation: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5919
Click to expand...

What about this?
tooFr.jpg
 
thedeejay said:
Hey guys,

A quick question for you. My mom broke her 4S and is getting a new one from her friend which apparently has 5.1.1. She said she won't upgrade to iOS 7 because her current 4S (which broke) was a little sluggish, but she loved the UI and the features. She uses apps like WhatsApp and Viber for work and I've heard that Apple allows for older versions, so is that possible? Can she pull off 5.1.1 on her future 4S? She said she doesn't mind 7.1.1 if she has to but would prefer 5.1.1

Thanks.
Click to expand...

The experience on 4S for iOS 7.1.1 is similar to 5.1.1
 
Paddle1 said:
What about this?
Image
Click to expand...
It seems like that app requires iOS 7 and perhaps doesn't have a last compatible version for earlier versions of iOS, or maybe doesn't have one designated to be available on previous iOS versions (since it seems that at least the developers have the ability to decide whether or not to offer a last compatible version, and which particular version that would be).
 
Paddle1 said:
I don't know about that, iOS 5 is 4S's flagship OS.
Click to expand...

Well you said that your mother had ios 7 so she never updated to 7.1? .. It's amazingly better.. And I have no issues on it.. It is as smooth as 5.1.1.. So In my opinion .. Update..
 
Intell said:
That app never had an iOS 5 compatible version. Other apps, such as Facebook or Pages, download the last iOS 5.1.1 compatible version after a prompt.
Click to expand...

Developers have the option not to provide the "last compatible" version if they wish.
 
It looks like it is up to the developer if they want to allow it, so you may or may not be able to install your apps.
 
So turns out if apps were introduced after iOS 5.1.1 then it says "iOS 6.0 is required to download this app", which makes sense because there was no iOS 5 version. This is in the case of google Hangouts. But if there was a version of that app during iOS 5 times then it allows you to download it. Pretty cool. Atleast older iOS still gets support.

----------
Paddle1 said:
What about this?
Image
Click to expand...

Ofcourse that won't work. That app didn't have a iOS 5 version. If it did it would work. As mentioned in my above post. Try something like Instagram or Snapchat. It'll download right away.
 
thedeejay said:
So turns out if apps were introduced after iOS 5.1.1 then it says "iOS 6.0 is required to download this app", which makes sense because there was no iOS 5 version. This is in the case of google Hangouts. But if there was a version of that app during iOS 5 times then it allows you to download it. Pretty cool. Atleast older iOS still gets support.

----------



Ofcourse that won't work. That app didn't have a iOS 5 version. If it did it would work. As mentioned in my above post. Try something like Instagram or Snapchat. It'll download right away.
Click to expand...
There's the potential that even if an app did have an earlier version its developer might not make it available still for whatever reason since it seems within their control as well.
 
C DM said:
There's the potential that even if an app did have an earlier version its developer might not make it available still for whatever reason since it seems within their control as well.
Click to expand...

In other words it's an update! :)
 
thedeejay said:
Hey guys,

A quick question for you. My mom broke her 4S and is getting a new one from her friend which apparently has 5.1.1. She said she won't upgrade to iOS 7 because her current 4S (which broke) was a little sluggish, but she loved the UI and the features. She uses apps like WhatsApp and Viber for work and I've heard that Apple allows for older versions, so is that possible? Can she pull off 5.1.1 on her future 4S? She said she doesn't mind 7.1.1 if she has to but would prefer 5.1.1

Thanks.
Click to expand...
5.1.1 still has 720p60 recording. Subsequent versions have removed this feature to make owners upgrade to newer iPhone models. That is, if she wants to shoot slow-mo video, don't upgrade.
 
sunking101 said:
No way. The 4S handles iOS7 way better than the i4 does, but it still isn't anywhere near as nice an experience (ie fast/fluid) as iOS5.
Click to expand...

Umm.. I never mentioned the iphone 4 anywhere.. I said on the 4S it's similar.. I know on the iphone it isn't.. o_O
 
John T said:
I just commented on the fact that your original post described in so many words the definition of an upgrade! :)
Click to expand...
Upgrade of what? And in what relation to what I was saying? I don't follow.
 
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