Apple Releases iOS 9.3.6 and iOS 10.3.4 With GPS Bug Fix for Older iPhones and iPads

[BBCWatcher]

At the moment there seems to be high demand (relative to Apple's capacity) for the iOS 9.3.6 update "over the air," at least on my affected device. It's just churning forever, trying to download.

Does anybody know if the iPhone 5c is included in this update?

I really wish Apple would formalize and publish its operating system support policies along these lines:

1. Minimum XX months of new versions (excluding select feature enhancements);
2. Minimum YY months of security updates;
3. Minimum ZZ months of "showstopper" updates, if technically feasible.

The XX, YY, and ZZ figures start from date of last direct Apple sale of a factory new device (or of last Apple authorized reseller sale in countries where Apple does not sell directly).

 

[crjackson2134]

This is amazing... I’ll be updating 2 iPhone 4S’s, an iPad2, an iPad3, iPad4, iPad Air, iPad Air2, 4 iPhone 6’s, 2 iPhone XS Max’s, and a cMP 5,1. Looks like a busy day at home today...

 

[BBDDVV]

At the moment there seems to be high demand (relative to Apple's capacity) for the iOS 9.3.6 update "over the air," at least on my affected device. It's just churning forever, trying to download.
...

Do you have a SIM card in the phone? It needs one to update.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Ugh, I have an iPad Air (original) that I've kept on 10.x to run some older software. Now they've released an updated 10.x, but it sounds like I won't be able to get it because the iPad Air is capable of running 12.x.

If it’s not a cellular model, or if it is but you don’t rely on GPS, you don’t need the update.

 

[SnarkyBear]

Though the iPhone 5 and 5s are included in this update, I noticed the iPhone 5c was excluded from this list--despite being capped at iOS 10. Since it is nearly identical to the iPhone 5 (at least internally) I wonder what is different about it that it doesn't need this update.

 

[WildCowboy]

5c and 5s don't need the GPS fix, as they have the WTR1605L transceiver chip that is unaffected by the issue. The 5 includes the older RTR8600 transceiver that is affected.

 

[MatthewLegacy]

They had to release this update or else the devices would have not worked at all. I would say they handled this situation in a similar fashion to the FaceTime bug - whereby you could fix it only by breaking your device at the same time (especially if you had an iPhone 4)

While iOS 10 works OK with the iPhone 5, iOS 9 is intolerable on the iPhone 4S. If they really wanted to act differently this time around, I would have at least expected some other fix included to justify the update (e.g. security fixes, lag fixes) or that they found a way not to force you to update to the latest software.

I really hope someone releases a iOS 6 fix for jailbroken devices. I would never encourage to use an iPhone 4S as a main device anymore but as a second-number device/iPod still works very well.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Very bad since iOS 12 is amazing on SE

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to, but then I have to explain to my 5 year old why her favorite games won't work anymore.

 

[AnonMac50]

I don't see a 5c listed, how come?

 

[jtinch]

How does the iPad 3 run these days? Haven't booted mine up in quite a few years, but it was definitely showing its age then

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

How does the iPad 3 run these days? Haven't booted mine up in quite a few years, but it was definitely showing its age then

it sucks. maybe only useful for youtube. stuff like netflix wont work.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Do you have a SIM card in the phone? It needs one to update.

Yes, I do. Still no joy.

 

[WildCowboy]

I don't see a 5c listed, how come?

Because it's not affected by the issue.

 

[Gravydog316]

At the moment there seems to be high demand (relative to Apple's capacity) for the iOS 9.3.6 update "over the air," at least on my affected device. It's just churning forever, trying to download.

Does anybody know if the iPhone 5c is included in this update?

iPhone 5c is not on the list, but try it anyways?

 

[Eli Kabong]

No mention of the iPhone 5c, I notice. One presumes it also gets the iOS 10.3.4 update because, like the iPhone 5, it never qualified for iOS 11 & was stuck with iOS 10.3.3 as the maximum.

 

[bodonnell202]

Actually couldn’t you download the ipsw file and upgrade it manually. It’s an active signed firmware by Apple so technically it should work in theory so you don’t have to upgrade iOS 12?!

No, it doesn't work that way. Apple is only signing 9.3.6 for devices that don't support later versions of iOS. Same for 10.3.4.

 

[bodonnell202]

iPhone 5c is not on the list, but try it anyways?

No mention of the iPhone 5c, I notice. One presumes it also gets the iOS 10.3.4 update because, like the iPhone 5, it never qualified for iOS 11 & was stuck with iOS 10.3.3 as the maximum.

As was mentioned in the forum already, while the 5c has much of the same internals as the 5, it has a newer cellular modem (same one that is in the 5s) and the newer modem apparently does not have this issue (likely uses the newer 13-bit figure so it won't be impacted for many, many more years).

 

[FamVR]

it sucks. maybe only useful for youtube. stuff like netflix wont work.

We still have two (iPad 3’s) for kids of guests and they use it for Netflix and games and such so Netflix works. Yes. It is showing its age, they are slower, but they are still working. Even with the original battery.

i’m more concerned by the lack of security patches, that somehow don’t seem to matter to Apple...for older devices.

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

Any speed gains on iPad 3?

 

[Gravydog316]

We still have two (iPad 3’s) for kids of guests and they use it for Netflix and games and such so Netflix works. Yes. It is showing its age, they are slower, but they are still working. Even with the original battery.

i’m more concerned by the lack of security patches, that somehow don’t seem to matter to Apple...for older devices.

I love how people's devices work fine, but iOS software is "updated" so nothing works,
& you're forced to buy a new device....
[doublepost=1564007022][/doublepost]

Actually couldn’t you download the ipsw file and upgrade it manually. It’s an active signed firmware by Apple so technically it should work in theory so you don’t have to upgrade iOS 12?!

No. Still won't work.

 

[Ally7p]

I installed the iOS 10.3.4 yesterday morning and I now regret it because my iPhone 5 will no longer make or receive calls. It is like my phone forgot I have 3G service with Page Plus which uses the Verizon network. But I can still send and receive texts, emails, browse online but can't use the phone. I tried to troubleshoot with Page Plus but they were help. Is there anyway to fix this or undo this update?

 

[MatthewLegacy]

I installed the iOS 10.3.4 yesterday morning and I now regret it because my iPhone 5 will no longer make or receive calls. It is like my phone forgot I have 3G service with Page Plus which uses the Verizon network. But I can still send and receive texts, emails, browse online but can't use the phone. I tried to troubleshoot with Page Plus but they were help. Is there anyway to fix this or undo this update?

You're still in time to save blobs as Apple is still signing 10.3.3. I don't know specifically about the downgrade procedure though.

 

[macsteve432]

I've been using my old 4S as my daily for a few days after my Galaxy S6 kicked the bucket, thought it was a glitch. Sure enough, they actually are still giving support to an 8 year old phone. Crazy.

 

[rashaunny]

I call BS on this...I get great battery life on my old A1387 4s but after resetting it and ONLY WIFI +3 Apps the thing is SOOO POKEY. I only use it for pomodoras with my ticktick task manager and every single system is disabled which includes iCloud mail message phone everything...

I am currently on 9.2.1 Verizon 4s and suspect this late stage update is to reverse the batterygate malware bc there is absolutely no way this device was so slow 6 years ago.

Like I said, factory reset a few months ago only apps are tick tick and the Bluetooth app to control my decora light switch.
[doublepost=1564427959][/doublepost]

They had to release this update or else the devices would have not worked at all. I would say they handled this situation in a similar fashion to the FaceTime bug - whereby you could fix it only by breaking your device at the same time (especially if you had an iPhone 4)

While iOS 10 works OK with the iPhone 5, iOS 9 is intolerable on the iPhone 4S. If they really wanted to act differently this time around, I would have at least expected some other fix included to justify the update (e.g. security fixes, lag fixes) or that they found a way not to force you to update to the latest software.

I really hope someone releases a iOS 6 fix for jailbroken devices. I would never encourage to use an iPhone 4S as a main device anymore but as a second-number device/iPod still works very well.

OMG my iPhone 4s factory reset WiFi only with 2 apps installed for my ticktick pomodoras is such a DOG! I know it's crippled bc it's impossible slow

 

[Morac]

I took my old iPad 2 Wi-Fi + GSM model out of storage and did a check for update, but it’s telling me iOS 9.3.5 is the latest version. Am I doing something wrong? How can I update it?