4s back to iOS 6 from 8 -- is it possible?

[tennisproha]

it's not about ethics. you're making this a bigger deal than it actually is.

See, people have this misconception issue where they feel that the things that exist in their world have to be tailored exactly to them and that the wants and needs of the majority of consumers do not apply to them. They also feel that when these needs aren't met that it is personal.

Here's the thing: iOS updates aren't strictly feature upgrades. They are enhancements to the way the OS operates, and are also heavily geared toward security. In the mobile world, threats can appear very quickly. Using an outdated operating system only makes you more at risk for these types of problems.

If you COULD go back to 6, you'd be temporarily happy. You'd have some improvements to speed and what not, but you'd be without most apps (which are also updated to fix bugs and security flaws) and all the new iOS features. Not to mention, you'll have to get a new phone at some point in the future.

This is not an "ethical" problem in the slightest. Again, this is you taking things personal. Apple is not letting everyone else downgrade except you. They are focusing their energies on new technologies and features. They certainly are not focusing their energies on allowing people to downgrade to a 2 year old OS. They'd much rather focus on the people who want to upgrade.

20% of Android users are on 4.0 or earlier. 4.0 was released in 2011. Many of these users would update if they could.

I understand your POV and agree with it for the most part. But you are being really unfair to the OP. I guarantee if you were in the OPs situation, you'd be just as pissed.

It's fine to want to progress but it's wrong to handicap your older customers in the name of progress. If Apple wants to be this progressive, then they shouldn't claim to support older devices with newer OSs. You really can't have it both ways. It's idiotic. It's like my 10 yr old PC running Windows 8 now, not gonna work too well.

now lets say Apple is not forcing you to update, OP did it to his own accord… not really. As you well know, Apple automatically DLs the update and in iOS 6 there was no way to delete that download. So OP is forced to update or lose 3 GB of storage. So Apple should update iOS 6 to allow these updates to be deleted, which you be progressive if they really are still supporting the 4S.

And this is brings me to the main problem. If Apple were still supporting the 4S, they would listen to it's customers and release bug fixes for the 4S. If there is a bug found on iPhone 6 running iOS 8, Apple eventually releases a bug fix. What are the chances of Apple doing the same for iPhone 4S running ios 8? Slim to none. It would be better if Apple just dropped 4S instead of claiming to support it. Either fully support it with the full OS or drop it and at least leave your customers with a decent OS. Don't half-ass it.

 

[Paddle1]

I understand your POV and agree with it for the most part. But you are being really unfair to the OP. I guarantee if you were in the OPs situation, you'd be just as pissed.

It's fine to want to progress but it's wrong to handicap your older customers in the name of progress. If Apple wants to be this progressive, then they shouldn't claim to support older devices with newer OSs. You really can't have it both ways. It's idiotic. It's like my 10 yr old PC running Windows 8 now, not gonna work too well.

now lets say Apple is not forcing you to update, OP did it to his own accord… not really. As you well know, Apple automatically DLs the update and in iOS 6 there was no way to delete that download. So OP is forced to update or lose 3 GB of storage. So Apple should update iOS 6 to allow these updates to be deleted, which you be progressive if they really are still supporting the 4S.

And this is brings me to the main problem. If Apple were still supporting the 4S, they would listen to it's customers and release bug fixes for the 4S. If there is a bug found on iPhone 6 running iOS 8, Apple eventually releases a bug fix. What are the chances of Apple doing the same for iPhone 4S running ios 8? Slim to none. It would be better if Apple just dropped 4S instead of claiming to support it. Either fully support it with the full OS or drop it and at least leave your customers with a decent OS. Don't half-ass it.

The 4s does get bug fixes on iOS 8... what are you talking about?

 

[crjackson2134]

The 4s does get bug fixes on iOS 8... what are you talking about?

I think he is refering to iOS 8 bugs that specifically affect the 4S, rather than iOS 8 bugs in general. I'm not sure what specific bugs affect only the 4S, but I'm guessing that's what we're talking about.

 

[Count Blah]

I wish

 

[Padmini]

Thankfully no

 

[C DM]

Thankfully no

Because things would somehow be worse?

 

[braddick]

Quietly sell your current 4S and scour eBay for another 4S with 6.1.3
It is what I did. Sold my near mint 4S on 7.1.2 and use those funds to purchase a 4S running 6.1.3

I was even able to find one with 32GB (mine was a 16GB) and broke even on the deal.

(Now. . . if I could only find a way to jailbreak this one!)

 

[tennisproha]

I think he is refering to iOS 8 bugs that specifically affect the 4S, rather than iOS 8 bugs in general. I'm not sure what specific bugs affect only the 4S, but I'm guessing that's what we're talking about.

correct.

 

[navodwickra]

That's only for Nexus devices or sometimes "development" devices. Trying to downgrade the boot loader (to downgrade the OS) on most android phones will result in a hard bricked device.

Nope you can do it on Samsung Galaxy phones as well.I think Sony and HTC you can't do it. On Galaxy phones you can use Odin to flash previous ROM images.

 

[Syndicate0017]

Nope you can do it on Samsung Galaxy phones as well.I think Sony and HTC you can't do it. On Galaxy phones you can use Odin to flash previous ROM images.

I did not know that about the Galaxy phones. However, quick searching on that shows many lose access to things like stock email app, wifi, gps, and even sometimes cell connection. YMMV on devices without an unlocked boot loader. I'll just go ahead and say that I would fully recommend only downgrading on nexus or development devices. Which is far from all android phones (or even a majority) as was implied earlier in the thread.

 

[Padmini]

Because things would somehow be worse?

Yep.

 

[Paddle1]

I think he is refering to iOS 8 bugs that specifically affect the 4S, rather than iOS 8 bugs in general. I'm not sure what specific bugs affect only the 4S, but I'm guessing that's what we're talking about.

I've never heard of this happening. Usually the new devices are the ones with exclusive bugs.

 

[C DM]

Yep.

Ah, imaginary reasoning. Got it.

 

[navodwickra]

I did not know that about the Galaxy phones. However, quick searching on that shows many lose access to things like stock email app, wifi, gps, and even sometimes cell connection. YMMV on devices without an unlocked boot loader. I'll just go ahead and say that I would fully recommend only downgrading on nexus or development devices. Which is far from all android phones (or even a majority) as was implied earlier in the thread.

Samsung don't lock bootloaders on thier phones. It's bit odd because even nexus phones come out with locked bootloaders(which can be unlocked with minimum effort ) but Galaxy phones don't. HTC and Sony are locked (since I can remember)
You are correct about the bootloader business but if it is unlocked then there is no problem and you can go back to the original OS version. Remember on Android you can also downgrade the radio module unlike on IOS.