Apple Executive Greg Joswiak Dismisses Planned Obsolescence as 'Craziest Thinking in the World'

[QCassidy352]

I consider planned obsolescence to be using software updates to deliberately slow down older devices (presumably to boost sales of newer devices).

Some people seem to be lumping in a lack of software updates for older devices. I think those are two different issues. Apple is quite good at providing software updates for older devices, and I think the criticism of them for not having Mojave run on 2011 macs is very whiny.

In fact, I’d say their flaw is in supporting older devices for too long because it’s things like the A5-based devices on iOS 9 that provide a terrible user experience.

 

[critter13]

the audio for the interview is unbearable

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

Then comes the response that proves most of the above: He/she lists their hardware as follows:

Huawei Mate 10, P10, Nova 2 and 2S, P10 Lite, Nova Plus, Honor 8, Xiaomi Mi A1, Redmi Note 4, Xiaomi Mi Max 2 and All other Android goodies. ThinkPad is my daily PC.

I think you replied to the wrong post

 

[fairuz]

I'd like to know how soldering RAM on mac mini, and removing RAM door on iMacs isn't planned obsolescence.

I can't find anything to justify anything they've done with the Mac mini.

 

[bokdol]

if planned obsolescence was not a thing why would they stop signing older os's? when the newer ones slow down your phone?

 

[macdos]

Oh, it is absolutely planned obsolescence. Apple is a hardware company, they want to sell you new stuff.

Problem is, they don't have the products that I and others ask for. A cMP 3,1 from 2008 would easily live for at least five years. By that time, the only replacement offered was the trash can Mac Pro. Where do I put my four drives in that thing? Since then, no other comparable offer has been made, they are all glued compact machines without expansion capabilities.

So we keep our old cMPs, unless we shift platform altogether. First they drew a line with Sierra. You can't install Sierra on a cMP 2008, they said. Not that there are any technical reasons for it (other than some optional WiFi unit not working with it), it has all the requirements. But people installed it anyway, despite Apple bending backwards to prevent it with artificial blocks.

Now they are intentionally blocking older Mac Pros again with Mojave, despite that the only thing required is to change GPU, that is, exactly what they are designed for. Hell, they could easily keep all the line from cMP 2008 with only minor tweaks, like providing fallbacks for SSE4.2 instructions. You do not need a major division to do that, it is a minor task for one single guy.

If Apple were honest, they would skip the blocks and say that not all new features are supported, but otherwise keep us going as long as possible. And they would of course offer new comparable expandable machines on a yearly basis, with the same basic design until they have something else in production.

 

[iReality85]

I agree with Greg here.

It's pretty amazing to me -- even though I'm now using an iPhone 7 Plus -- that come fall time I'll be able to take my old 5S which has been sitting in my dresser drawer for almost 2 years with a battery that can barely keep a charge and upgrade it to OS 12.

 

[Apple_Robert]

What a JOKE! Lmao

After almost everyone’s MacBook is now shot cause of mojave coming in the fall 2011 and below

That doesn't disprove his statement.

If a 2011 MBP can still run Mojave or even High Sierra, I call that a win. I think many people around here expect way too much.

 

[iReality85]

If a 2011 MBP can still run Mojave or even High Sierra, I call that a win. I think many people around here expect way too much.

If people are still using 2011 MBPs, it's time for an upgrade. 2018 performance and specs are calling.

 

[Bacillus]

Apparently, Joswiak's car must be throttled down to 20 mph (in order to prevent engine shutdown...) for him to understand his own nonsense.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If people are still using 2011 MBPs, it's time for an upgrade. 2018 performance and specs are calling.

I agree. However, there are many people who are on a budget or, the MBP is fitting their current needs. The problem is a lot of people expect Apple to update their MBP until it dies or they decide to update in 15 years (give or take a year or two). And because some people can't have the latest features with their older MBP, they yell Apple conspiracy.

No matter what, some here will die believing Apple is out to scam them, while they continue to be loyal to the alleged scammer. If that isn't dysfunctional thinking, I don't know what qualifies.

 

[raghu8912]

Joswiak shouldn't be so smug... either it's planned obsolesce, or Apple seriously f-d the dog with iOS 11. And I think we all know the answer to that one!

That's why they probably fixed it in iOS12, even iPhone 5s is supported in iOS 12, no other mobile hardware manufacturer supports 6 year old phones with software updates, I don't know why people are not crying foul about Android devices most of which never get even a single update.
[doublepost=1528314959][/doublepost]

Apparently, Joswiak's car must be throttled down to 20 mph (in order to prevent engine shutdown...) for him to understand his own nonsense.

I would wait till you run iOS 12 on older phones before making that comment. Apple provides updates for longer than Android, I think we should appreciate that.

 

[I7guy]

Apparently, Joswiak's car must be throttled down to 20 mph (in order to prevent engine shutdown...) for him to understand his own nonsense.

Rather have a throttled car than my engine all over the road.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I just wanted one more year too, im planning on buying a new 27" this fall/winter when Apple makes the 2018 iMac.

Not this reference again!, so... our computers are 68 years old?

Technology advances much faster than automotive, so basically.

 

[joeblow7777]

becuase all these machine are capable running new OS? Apple is basically abandon these machine and Apple will never updates High Sierra anymore?

Apple: Puts new OS on older device.
Internet: Even if an old device can run the latest OS, you shouldn't offer it because it will just slow it down! That's planned obsolescence!

Apple: Doesn't put new OS on older device.
Internet: Why abandon devices that still have the ability to run the software? That's planned obsolescence!

 

[raghu8912]

Unconvincing. Planned or not, the lifecycle of Apple’s products has diminished from generation to generation. It’s not the device itself that deteriorates. However, when it breaks, it’s the inability to replace or repair parts—including batteries—affordably. It’s requiring owners to upgrade their hardware in order to continue using a basic utility/service whose back end changed (e.g. FaceTime). It’s pushing owners to embrace the latest OS version, knowing damn well it’s not optimized to run satisfactoryly on the earlier chips.

If this suspicion wasn’t real, it wouldn’t be a common perception. And Apple wouldn’t have announced that it’s next OS will focus on the problem.

Think about it for a min, you want iPhone 5 to run iOS 11 as fast as iPhone X ? its not possible unless Apple has different iOS softwares for each phone model.

if Apple updates older phone which will sure slow down older phones people complain about planned obsolesce, if Apple doesn't update older hardware they complain about planned obsolesce, no win situation for Apple.
Android customers would be happy to get 1 more official update after buying new phone, unless people are technical enough to use a custom ROM.

 

[DNichter]

While I don’t think it’s the craziest thing someone could suggest, I still don’t believe Apple would do something like this. They support their devices and provide regular updates longer than any other tech company out there. Believe what you want, but if they wanted you to buy a new device, they’d just drop support for it.

 

[raghu8912]

Apple: Puts new OS on older device.
Internet: Even if an old device can run the latest OS, you shouldn't offer it because it will just slow it down! That's planned obsolescence!

Apple: Doesn't put new OS on older device.
Internet: Why abandon devices that still have the ability to run the software? That's planned obsolescence!

If Apple doesn't add too many new features to make sure that new OS doesn't slow down older hardware then they will complain about OS being stale, and no major updates are available.
Basically customers are expecting Apple to have one OS for each year phone/MBP and keep them updating every year.

 

[3NV7]

My Late 2011 MBP is still a beast; in terms of geekbench scores, it outclasses every device I have access to - with the exception of a 12-core Xeon workstation. My work-assigned 2018 Latitude (which is no slouch) can't touch it.

*And* it doesn't require me to cart around a bunch of USB-C dongles.

Yet, it's deigned not good enough for the next version of OS X.

 

[I7guy]

The thing is the average customer expects electronics to slow down over time so they play right into their hands. My mom tells me her iPhone has slowed down but she isn’t fazed by it because its an iPhone 6s which is 3 years old and its time to get a new one. People don’t like change and they stick to the same OS.

My 6s did not slow down. In fact under iOS 11 it is faster than it ever was. The 32 bit processors were under powered, the 64 bit processors can hold their own.

 

[Defthand]

Yea a 7 YEAR old laptop

Not to sound snarky, but how has the hardware radically changed in seven years that makes it incapable of having the latest OS abilities? Could the newest abilities have been achieved with older chips? Or is it because Apple customized—and limited— those abilities for the newer chips?

 

[Bacillus]

Rather have a throttled car than my engine all over the road.

That nightmare could only relate to project Titan (backed by Siri technology)

 

[Jim Lahey]

Planned obsolescence is something that not particularly smart people complain about. In my humble opinion only, of course - no offence intended to any individuals here.

 

[Small White Car]

Then have a chat with your employees.

Cause maybe your store techs shouldn't say stuff like "well that phone really can't handle iOS 11" after I upgraded to iOS 11 as the reason why it's not working anymore.

 

[Radon87000]

My 6s did not slow down. In fact under iOS 11 it is faster than it ever was. The 32 bit processors were under powered, the 64 bit processors can hold their own.

I am talking about my mom's opinion. She has no knowledge of this stuff. The first thing I heard when I updated hers from 10.3.3 to 11 was it was slow. Admittedly she doesn't complain about it on 11.4 but she was happier with 10.