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iOS 10 supports iPhones released as far back as 2012. If iOS 9 is the latest you can manage, you're on device that's at least 9 years old. You can spend $20 for a newer one (or get one free with your phone plan)

I'm not wanting to get into the discussion about app vs website vs need for the information, however, I do feel that we need to consider that for a large % of people, that it isn't as easy as we (those more fortunate) may think.

First - I'm not sure how you can spend $20 and get a newer phone if you have a 4s (I'm genuinely asking).

Second, and more importantly - There is no "free" phone with your plan. Those that offer discounted/free phones, have the price of the phone factored into the plan pricing AND need you to qualify for a post-paid plan. The cheaper plans do not include these "free" offers. If you are on a tight budget, you are probably getting the lower paid plans or you can't qualify for a post-paid to begin with.

I do understand that an eight year old device is not a reasonable expectation for updated software support. However, coming from a company like Apple, it is within their means for this situation.

All I'm asking is that people keep an open mind to the reality some people are facing everyday is not as simple as the choices the rest of us have the privilege to have.
 
30% of iPhone users cannot use Apples Covid-19 app. It’s iOS 13 only. 43% of iPad users can’t use it either. Ref: https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store/

No, but 100% of iPhone and iPad users have the ability to point their browser to the CDC's website which contains the exact same info as found in Apple's app. (Considering Apple's COVID-19 app sources the CDC's data, that makes sense, no?)
 
Apple despises users of iOS 9 so much that their CoV website mentioned above won't even load - blank page.
Inexcusable

Still rocking iOS 9? On what device is that running. Regardless, you’ve likey more than got your money’s worth.

Complaining that a brand new app isn’t compatible with your 5-yr old mobile operating system displays either a lack of understanding of how technology cycles flow (for better or worse) or an interesting level of fist-waving, “get off my lawn”-ery. Perhaps a combo of both?

Carry on.
 
First - I'm not sure how you can spend $20 and get a newer phone if you have a 4s (I'm genuinely asking).

Boost Mobile, as a random example of a low-cost carrier, has Android smartphones for $10 in-store and a refurb iPhone 6s online for $90.

Second, and more importantly - There is no "free" phone with your plan. Those that offer discounted/free phones, have the price of the phone factored into the plan pricing AND need you to qualify for a post-paid plan. The cheaper plans do not include these "free" offers.

That's not true. Prepaid phones are subsidized, as shown by the $10 smartphone.

They are subsidized at all levels, though typically the cheapest/most subsidized phones are only available in a carrier store where they make you put down the first month's payment and sign up for autopay. If you buy one in a store like Wal-Mart, they'll take your ID as well. That way people don't buy the phones and use them for doorstops.

If you work out the total price, you'll find the prepaid carriers (Boost, Metro/MetroPCS, Cricket etc.) are on a whole, provide a usable service cheaper than postpaid carriers. Their limitations, like peak speeds, no free roaming to Mexico, etc. aren't relevant for the budget consumer.
 
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Boost Mobile, as a random example of a low-cost carrier, has Android smartphones for $10 in-store and a refurb iPhone 6s online for $90.

Agreed for any phone, sorry I mean to say an iPhone for $20. Your offer you showed is a great price for an iphone, no arguments - but still more than the 20 that was mentioned, and 90 for some can be a lot of money.

That's not true. Prepaid phones are subsidized, as shown by the $10 smartphone.

They are subsidized at all levels, though typically the cheapest/most subsidized phones are only available in a carrier store where they make you put down the first month's payment and sign up for autopay. If you buy one in a store like Wal-Mart, they'll take your ID as well. That way people don't buy the phones and use them for doorstops.

If you work out the total price, you'll find the prepaid carriers (Boost, Metro/MetroPCS, Cricket etc.) are on a whole, provide a usable service cheaper than postpaid carriers. Their limitations, like peak speeds, no free roaming to Mexico, etc. aren't relevant for the budget consumer.

Agreed, those are great deals (we don't get those in Canada), and no arguments they make it more available to more people, however my initial statement was simply that we cannot assume that people can just get it for free.

For me, the argument of its free (or even just $20) so people have no reason to upgrade was my only ask that we consider it's not that easy for people.
 
If someone does not have the means to upgrade to a device that can handle the latest iOS, why should they be excluded from being able to access this valuable information that only Apple thinks it can provide?
How do you read this situation as "only Apple thinks it can provide this information" rather than as "Apple is doing its best just like everyone else"? Are you really that determined to find Apple at fault in every situation? The home screen of the app says it's developed in conjunction with the CDC, the White House, and FEMA. Do you think there is information that these sources are distributing only through Apple's app?
 
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Tim claims to want to help all members of society, especially the vulnerable. If someone does not have the means to upgrade to a device that can handle the latest iOS, why should they be excluded from being able to access this valuable information that only Apple thinks it can provide?
I’m sorry, did Apple get an exclusive contract to provide this information from the government, and I missed it?

What about people with no devices at all - is it Apple’s job to knock on doors and canvas for homeless people and ask them to fill out the questionnaire’ s manually?
 
Tim claims to want to help all members of society, especially the vulnerable. If someone does not have the means to upgrade to a device that can handle the latest iOS, why should they be excluded from being able to access this valuable information that only Apple thinks it can provide?
This is an unreasonable attitude. How many OS' back do you expect them to support? I still have two original iPads -- should they be supported as well?

Grow up, use the thousands of other resources avail on the Internet instead.
 
What a propaganda joke - you need an app to give you a clue if you're sick. Typical self promotion that Apple does so well. Love the products but can't stand the politics.

What a sad comment. It’s obvious to anyone who read the article that there’s a website too. You basically just stopped to badmouth Apple for offering an additional source of information that it gathers from relevant parties.

Seems that the only bad politics are the ones that drove you to write this nonsense.
 
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I do understand that an eight year old device is not a reasonable expectation for updated software support. However, coming from a company like Apple, it is within their means for this situation.
Well how far back do you think they should go? I actually think going back to iOS 10 is really good, given that devices as old as the 5s (2013 launch) or iPad mini 2 can run iOS 12. Do they need to make this work with the original iPhone? As another poster said, do they need to hand out iOS devices to people who don’t have them?
 
Update your phone.
You are too cynical. You are implying that Apple created this web site just to push the owners of old iPhone models to upgrade. In this case they might upgrade to Android phone: cheaper and Google created web site would not do such a thing.
 
You are too cynical. You are implying that Apple created this web site just to push the owners of old iPhone models to upgrade. In this case they might upgrade to Android phone: cheaper and Google created web site would not do such a thing.

But the quote says update rather than upgrade which in my mind implies installing a newer software.
 
What a propaganda joke - you need an app to give you a clue if you're sick. Typical self promotion that Apple does so well. Love the products but can't stand the politics.
They were asked to do this by the U.S. government, in conjunction with the CDC and FEMA. This is not “self promotion.”
 
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Good thing there's a website they provided that does the same thing.
Sure, but what feature of iOS13 would you possibly need to make such an app designed only for iOS 13? Is this a public service app, or an app designed to try and push everyone onto iOS13?
 
Sure, but what feature of iOS13 would you possibly need to make such an app designed only for iOS 13? Is this a public service app, or an app designed to try and push everyone onto iOS13?

If you think that Apple, or anyone else, thinks that *this* is the app that is going to convince people to upgrade, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s possible you may not be thinking straight.

Most likely they compiled for iOS13 because of privacy/security fixes, and they thought maybe it would be a good idea, with HIPAA and everything, to not take chances with user health data.
 
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