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Apple Begins Offering 'Last Compatible' Version of Apps for Users Running Legacy Versions of iOS

Traverse said:
Seems like a nice step in the right direction, but I find It odd that they would allow this. I would assume that since iPhone is all about the apps incompatible apps would push people to buy newer hardware.

I guess this was a customer oriented move instead of a profit oriented move. :D
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Apple may be getting ready for the 64 bit transition a few years from now...when a whole bunch of iOS hardware and apps will be orphaned in 32 bit-ville - and this should handle that very nicely - beautiful move Apple.

Nice to see them doing this and it'll help them when the transition occurs.
 
Awesome news! I'm definitely dropping iOS 5/6 support then.
No more 3 times the testing work just to cover those few people who don't backup their old app versions.

I just wished they had announced it at WWDC. That would have saved me a ton of work.

And while I'm wishing, I wouldn't mind being able to push minor bugfixes for old versions.
 
Amazing Iceman said:
I'm glad Apple is doing this.
BTW, this is not fragmentation as someone else posted previously; it's simply an inevitable effect caused by progress.
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I believe that is the definition of fragmentation, when progress leads to newer features that are incompatible with existing members of the installed base.

I don't see it as a problem, like you say, it's just how things move forward.

I just hope that the clarity provided by the move will end the silly arguments about fragmentation altogether.
 
I assume devs have to opt in to this? If it's enabled by default that could open up security flaws.

Still, glad they've done this - I too know a couple of people with very old iPhone (my handmedowns, in fact).
 
This is long over-due and a warm welcome. I'm still running iOS 4.3.
I can now grab the apps that people have been raving about 4 3 years ago :)
 
If Apple increases the screen size next year the same thing will happen when the iPhone 5 was released last year. All apps would have be be rewritten to take advantage of the new screen resolution. How many developers are going to produce 2 app versions for new releases?
 
lilo777 said:
iPhone's usable life is limited by irreplaceable battery. This new feature will do nothing to help it.
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You actually believe that all iPhones batteries die before apps get updated to newer versions :confused: Because unless you believe that, this change DOES extend the usefulness of old iPhones.

And iPhone batteries ARE replaceable. $79 and Apple installs it for you. Even simpler: third party snap-on battery extender packs are common.

Meanwhile my old iPhone 3G's original battery still gets great battery life... my parents use it. Habits vary of course, and some people's usage will kill batteries quicker than others. To say nothing of iPads: they get such massive battery life that it will take a LONG time before they can't last for a useful session.

When my iPhone battery eventually dies, instead of adding a battery pack or getting the battery replaced, it will live out its life as a stereo component (iTunes library) and wired couch-side email/surf/social media/game station for guests. All the better for having more app downloads :) It will be a LONG time before it needs recycling.

Meanwhile, I'm just glad my battery isn't near worthless brand-new out of the box, as it is with my Android friends :eek: They keep buying new Android phones hoping THIS is the one that can last all day and won't freeze up... Guess the Wild West app model (which still doesn't give them a way to have the great apps my iPhone does) isn't working out for them.


cdmoore74 said:
If Apple increases the screen size next year the same thing will happen when the iPhone 5 was released last year. All apps would have be be rewritten to take advantage of the new screen resolution. How many developers are going to produce 2 app versions for new releases?
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That's not what happened with the iPhone 5 screen change: a single app continues to run on BOTH sizes. Work to be done (sometimes) but no need for 2 versions. In fact, many apps run (fully optimized, no less) on both iPhone and iPad.
 
Berserker-UK said:
I noticed a few months ago that the App Store had stopped asking to install incompatible updates to apps, so this is a nice improvement on top of that.
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I noticed the same thing, which is great because my iPad 1 had a pretty decent list of incompatible apps growing. Then one day, poof. Fixed. :)

flottenheimer said:
Good one.

I have several apps on my iPad 1 that are stuck updating due to incompatibility. Hope this takes care of it : )
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All you have to do is when it sits at Installing, is tap it again. When it goes back to loading and says Waiting, hold on it, and X it out.
 
mazz0 said:
I assume devs have to opt in to this? If it's enabled by default that could open up security flaws.
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No, there´s no opt in for devs! This could lead to some problems for several devs. For instance: If you had any kind of licensing deal for your app V1 (min req. iOS 3.1) which you dropped with app V2 (min req. iOS 5.1) you´ll have a big problem. :eek:
 
SILen(e said:
This is nothing that has any developer input, it just saves people from updating an app that requires a higher iOS version than they (can) run and being unable to use their app anymore.

I don't think developers will be able to submit additional versions of their apps that support older iOS versions (like ONE iOS7 version and ANOTHER iOS4 version), but Apple will simply take the last version that was able to run on iOS 6 (for those devices that are stuck on iOS 6 and apps that require iOS7 after an update) and offer it to those users who need it.



This is targeting users on an iPhone 3GS or iPod Touch 4th Gen, the moment you release an update to your app that requires iOS7 (and they install it - no one reads the "DON'T INSTALL ON 3GS!!!!!" in the update notes) , those users wouldn't be able to use your service anymore.

With this, they will at least be able to use services that had no backend-changes.

Result: More users - and the complaints from problems due to backend changes will probably less less of a problem than complaints from people who can't use your app at all, due to them clicking "Update All".
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This means that now we'll have a growing number of users using old versions of our app, potentially. They'll start complaining about how they have bugs. We have no means of fixing those bugs (because we've already diverged our code away from being compatible with your device) and the user, unaware to these complications, just whines. They don't understand that we've shut down support for their device already and that Apple is the one who is offering the illusion that it's still supported, not us.
 
Rogifan said:
So does this mean the iOS 7 haters can stay on iOS 6 now? :)
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I think it means exactly that. I don't count myself as an iOS 7 hater, but I don't plan to jump to iOS 7 right away.... because.... (drum roll) I'm perfectly happy with iOS 6, which does everything I want.

Maybe once iOS 7.1 comes out, a bit more polished, super stable, and having added a few more compelling features, then I'll upgrade.

By the way, does anyone recall what iOS 6's reigning lifespan was (I lose track), starting from the date of its official release until the date of iOS 7's official release? Was it well over 1 year? Not even 2?
 
nagromme said:
You actually believe that all iPhones batteries die before apps get updated to newer versions :confused: Because unless you believe that, this change DOES extend the usefulness of old iPhones.
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I think he meant "conveniently user serviceable" battery since a battery swap in a 4/4S/5 takes about 10 minutes and $10, or $30 or so at dozens of mall kiosks or ship-for-service companies.

I know dozens of people with 4/4S phones that have no battery issue, but want to stay on earlier version of iOS. This absolutely helps them and their lack of an "easily" replaced battery is of zero consequence. :)
 
Fragmentation :eek:

This isn't a particularly good sign. Along with the bloated binaries which will "update" many existing apps, the AppStore world is getting more complex.
 
Sven11 said:
This is VERY nice from Apple. However it doesn't work with Angry Birds on my old 3G.
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The original Angry Birds changed publisher - it was originally issued through Chillingo, before switching to Rovio in a later update. The switch of publisher is probably something to do with this one.
 
mmcc said:
Yes, as a developer I am glad my working games can be re-accessed by customers that do not upgrade. The same is sorely needed in the Mac App Store -- anyone know if the same feature is available there?
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I never have to worry about this, thankfully, as I always stay on the latest hardware/software. I do wish there were a better quality of apps on the Mac App store.

At the moment, all I use is iBank, Home Inventory, Twitter, and Things.

iBank is great at managing my accounts, but the investment arena sucks. I'd like to see something that can better track my gains/losses, graph historical data of past purchases with stock prices since I've first purchased, etc. There's definitely lots of opportunity for MAS devs to take advantage of. I have the ideas, just not the coding ability.

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iGrip said:
This isn't a particularly good sign. Along with the bloated binaries which will "update" many existing apps, the AppStore world is getting more complex.
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I remember back in the 90's walking into CompUSA with just 2-3 aisles of software. Now if they were to put the iTunes App Store in a brick and mortar place, it would be larger than Sams Club. I gave up browsing new apps and only download apps from physical hardware that requires it or through word of mouth/referall. Its too time consuming and painful to find something cool in the app stores.
 
Bravo Apple! This really needed to happen.

There will still be some issues with some new features not working correctly, but for apps that worked fine. This is important.

Unfortunately, I just sold my old iPod touch because I couldn't get enough of the apps to run on it. Well, it's unfortunate for who I was going to give it to; I sold it and have the ca$h now :)

Gary
 
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