Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Apple of Crippling iPhone 4s With iOS 9 Update

[nj1266]

indeed, however if Apple is promising better performance etc but that isn't the case, they should at least let you downgrade to the previous version.

You can downgrade to the previous version during a limited time window when Apple is still signing the previous OS. I have done it after testing 9.1 and not liking it. I reverted back to 9.0.2 and jail broke my device.

All you had to do was test the new OS. It would have been immediately clear that it was performing poorly on your device. Followed big that you could have downgraded to the old OS.

 

[Wanted797]

I agree with this. I had a iPhone 3G back when iOS 4 came out and it would literally brick my device after a few minutes left on the lock screen. Only a soft reset would fix the issue. I was able to do DFU mode and go back. A few months later I had broken the lock button and accidentally updated forgetting the issue (This was a new version of 4.X and I think I heard it had been optimised for the 3G). It bricked again and this time I didn't have the lock button to soft reset or place it in DFU mode. Had to get a new phone. Got the iPhone 4 shortly after.

 

[ediks]

Apple should just start signing ios 6,7,8 and let the users decide which version of ios they want to use

 

[A.Goldberg]

Sorry to say this, but your post isn't elevated above any of the others just because you start your post with this. What you are saying has been said many times before in this thread.

It was merely a commentary on the borderline nauseating level that people blindly defend their cell phone manufacturer and how some of these threads are barely tolerable due to the lack of objectivity. It's usually the patent litigation article threads that are the worst. Some people don't seem to realize why we have such laws.

Anyways, Mr. Devries, I appologize if you felt personally victimized by such statements. I hope to assume you someone who can balance his passion for Apple while not becoming overly biased.

 

[LovingTeddy]

I'm hanging on to my iPad 2 for a few more years. Very usable on iOS 9 vs iOS 8. On the other hand the iPhone 7 sounds killer and may sell my 6s; which is nothing to do with your postulation.

Wow... Your usable must be very easy to achieve. If you say app takes several seconds to open and constant lag is very usable, then pretty much Android phones are very usable.

I tell you this much: my iPhone 4S with flash installation and ONLY 2 apps installed. The music app I use all that time take good 5 second to respond my touch input. It take forever to launch as well. When I am texting to someone, the keyboard lags so bad, you don't even know which word you typed. And constantly freezes without any reason. If iPhone 4S is this bad, I have hard time believing iPad 2 with similar specification would do significantly better.

This is not just about iPhine 4S. iOS 9 is pretty terrible on iPad 4 as well.

And you don't even know what the heck iPhone 7 looks like and new features of iPhone 7, you already think iPhone 7 is killer.

iOS 9 is visiblely slower on any old devices, even with iPhone 6. I am sure iOS 9 will render iPhone 6S slow. This is part of Apple's planned obsolescence. New software update sounds sweet for you folks with old devices, but it is the silver bullet to push people upgrade. Because user experience is bad.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Apple should just start signing ios 6,7,8 and let the users decide which version of ios they want to use

No they should not. If they do, they won't able to show that cool pie diagram and laugh Android in the process.

 

[oldmacs]

No device specified. No problem.

Also, you have to prove Apple knowingly LIED about performance. They can have performance data that flies in the face of what the consumer is seeing. That's life. It happens all the time.

I can do this all day.

When iOS 9 came out, and you pressed 'update' on the device, it brought up a list of new features, one of them was "Improved performance". This showed on all devices and did not say anything about older devices not getting faster etc. Many users of older devices probably saw that and updated to get better performance.

Besides its not just the A5 devices that are slower.. Anyone want to show me a Mini 2 that improved or stayed the same under iOS 9? Mine is annoyingly slow, despite promised speed improvements.

I have hard time believing iPad 2 with similar specification would do significantly better.

Oh believe me it doesn't. While i still find my iPad 2 usable, it is slower than it was in iOS 9. Every single App (bar the camera) takes longer to load every time, which means it takes longer to switch between apps and it takes longer to achieve anything. While half a second to a second increases in loading time don't look much on paper, they make the whole experience so slow. Multitasking is even worse (apps just reload more often), battery life has gone down, reloads and errors in safari have gone up, random lock ups have become a regular occurrence, app opening animations are eve more jittery than in iOS 8 (who knew it could get worse?) - again making the iPad feel slow and pokey. If these issues had disappeared following any one of the 5 to 6 clean installs I've done, then I'd put it down to a dodgy install. If these issues were also my device alone, then the same, but again they're not.

The most hilarious thing is that there are so few new features in iOS 9 for the iPad 2. Perhaps if iOS 9 was full to the brim of power sapping new features, i'd understand, but it simply isn't. I think its just poor coding and as usual a rush job. At the end of the day, I don't think Apple attempts to purposefully slow older devices though, however the obvious lack of optimisation possibly due to rushed development does work well in their favour.

 

[Radon87000]

I'm hanging on to my iPad 2 for a few more years. Very usable on iOS 9 vs iOS 8. On the other hand the iPhone 7 sounds killer and may sell my 6s; which is nothing to do with your postulation.

You know that doesn't invalidate his opinion right.My iPad Mini is unusable for anything but Netflix

 

[peterdevries]

It was merely a commentary on the borderline nauseating level that people blindly defend their cell phone manufacturer and how some of these threads are barely tolerable due to the lack of objectivity. It's usually the patent litigation article threads that are the worst. Some people don't seem to realize why we have such laws.

Anyways, Mr. Devries, I appologize if you felt personally victimized by such statements. I hope to assume you someone who can balance his passion for Apple while not becoming overly biased.

I didn't feel victimized. This board needs two things. More nuance and less people calling others names. In that respect your post and the sarcastic ending of your response to mine does not contribute.

 

[Rogifan]

Apple needs to stop forcing the latest iOS upgrades and let us install any previous version we want.

Never going to happen so if you're still using an iPhone you might as well move to something else now.

Apple should just start signing ios 6,7,8 and let the users decide which version of ios they want to use

And developers should have to target all those versions? Or developers can do whatever they want and then customers will complain when an app they use or a cool new app is missing features or isn't available because it doesn't support the latest OS?

 

[I7guy]

You know that doesn't invalidate his opinion right.My iPad Mini is unusable for anything but Netflix

For whatever reason unknown to you or me, but probably known to apple, the mini and ipad 2 seem to perform differently. Nobody's experience is invalidated, but IMO the premise is laughable that apple would purposefully and knowingly slow down devices to force users to upgrade because they got fed up with their devices.

 

[Radon87000]

For whatever reason unknown to you or me, but probably known to apple, the mini and ipad 2 seem to perform differently. Nobody's experience is invalidated, but IMO the premise is laughable that apple would purposefully and knowingly slow down devices to force users to upgrade because they got fed up with their devices.

And why is it laughable?I own 2 iOS devices which work wonderfully with each other and my desktop.Upgrading to an Android breaks the experience.And I have a lot of iOS exclusive apps which I love.Effectively Apple has me trapped in their ecosystem and they do have the capability to force me to upgrade via OS updates

 

[DoctorKrabs]

No device specified. No problem.

Also, you have to prove Apple knowingly LIED about performance. They can have performance data that flies in the face of what the consumer is seeing. That's life. It happens all the time.

I can do this all day.

You're right. You can request one argument that you think can't be made, have it be made against you, and move on to something else because you were proven wrong. All day.

I have to prove that Apple knowingly lied about performance? Easy! Let's take even Apple's most expensive and latest iPhone and use iOS 9, the "smoother animations" update on it. Let's also look at their latest midsize iPad.

Now I'll put this image here again. You know what? I'll put it here twice so you don't miss it.

But I also know that the lawsuit is specifically about the iPhone 4S, so the iPhone 6s Plus doesn't matter in the specific case even if it still goes against this advertising.

Let's see how much faster iOS 9 really is on the 4S.

"better overall performance"


On every device capable of running iOS 9, performance is either equal or worse. These are objective facts.
You can measure the frame rates, which is the main factor of perceived performance. iOS 9 has frame rates that are worse or equal to iOS 8 at best. And the 4S takes longer to load every single app in iOS 9 than in iOS 8 while having more input lag and animations with the same smoothness as iOS 8, or even occasionally worse, and not better animations. So did Apple knowingly lie about iOS 9 by saying that it "delivers faster scrolling, smoother animation, and better overall performance"?

Yes.

Of course, if you don't agree, you can always show me where iOS 8 performs worse than iOS 9.

I can do this all day.

 

[I7guy]

And why is it laughable?I own 2 iOS devices which work wonderfully with each other and my desktop.Upgrading to an Android breaks the experience.And I have a lot of iOS exclusive apps which I love.Effectively Apple has me trapped in their ecosystem and they do have the capability to force me to upgrade via OS updates

Purposefully slowing down (I'll even say sabotaging) software is simply not a sustainable long term business model. And just because their(apples) marketing may be a bit hyperbolic doesn't mean they didn't make the IOS 9 experience better for some.

 

[LovingTeddy]

And why is it laughable?I own 2 iOS devices which work wonderfully with each other and my desktop.Upgrading to an Android breaks the experience.And I have a lot of iOS exclusive apps which I love.Effectively Apple has me trapped in their ecosystem and they do have the capability to force me to upgrade via OS updates

Then you'd better think if it worth to stay in that ecosystem. I will never allow any company hold me in hostage. If any company force me to upgrade becuase of terrible software update, I will switch withouy heartbeat

 

[Michael Goff]

You're right. You can request one argument that you think can't be made, have it be made against you, and move on to something else because you were proven wrong. All day.

I have to prove that Apple knowingly lied about performance? Easy! Let's take even Apple's most expensive and latest iPhone and use iOS 9, the "smoother animations" update on it. Let's also look at their latest midsize iPad.

Now I'll put this image here again. You know what? I'll put it here twice so you don't miss it.

But I also know that the lawsuit is specifically about the iPhone 4S, so the iPhone 6s Plus doesn't matter in the specific case even if it still goes against this advertising.

Let's see how much faster iOS 9 really is on the 4S.

"better overall performance"


On every device capable of running iOS 9, performance is either equal or worse. These are objective facts.
You can measure the frame rates, which is the main factor of perceived performance. iOS 9 has frame rates that are worse or equal to iOS 8 at best. And the 4S takes longer to load every single app in iOS 9 than in iOS 8 while having more input lag and animations with the same smoothness as iOS 8, or even occasionally worse, and not better animations. So did Apple knowingly lie about iOS 9 by saying that it "delivers faster scrolling, smoother animation, and better overall performance"?

Yes.

Of course, if you don't agree, you can always show me where iOS 8 performs worse than iOS 9.

I can do this all day.

The case is still going to be thrown out.

 

[I7guy]

You're right. You can request one argument that you think can't be made, have it be made against you, and move on to something else because you were proven wrong. All day.

I have to prove that Apple knowingly lied about performance? Easy! Let's take even Apple's most expensive and latest iPhone and use iOS 9, the "smoother animations" update on it. Let's also look at their latest midsize iPad.

Now I'll put this image here again. You know what? I'll put it here twice so you don't miss it.

But I also know that the lawsuit is specifically about the iPhone 4S, so the iPhone 6s Plus doesn't matter in the specific case even if it still goes against this advertising.

Let's see how much faster iOS 9 really is on the 4S.

"better overall performance"


On every device capable of running iOS 9, performance is either equal or worse. These are objective facts.
You can measure the frame rates, which is the main factor of perceived performance. iOS 9 has frame rates that are worse or equal to iOS 8 at best. And the 4S takes longer to load every single app in iOS 9 than in iOS 8 while having more input lag and animations with the same smoothness as iOS 8, or even occasionally worse, and not better animations. So did Apple knowingly lie about iOS 9 by saying that it "delivers faster scrolling, smoother animation, and better overall performance"?

Yes.

Of course, if you don't agree, you can always show me where iOS 8 performs worse than iOS 9.

I can do this all day.

These tell a different story. As you can see from the charts IOS 9 mostly beats IOS 8. From a purely subjective point of view, on my ipad 2, IOS 9 is the clear winner over IOS 8 in terms of overall usability.

 

[ediks]

Never going to happen so if you're still using an iPhone you might as well move to something else now.

And developers should have to target all those versions? Or developers can do whatever they want and then customers will complain when an app they use or a cool new app is missing features or isn't available because it doesn't support the latest OS?

Then it is up to the user if he can live without that specific app or not. Developers can develop on which version they decide to.

 

[DoctorKrabs]

These tell a different story. As you can see from the charts IOS 9 mostly beats IOS 8. From a purely subjective point of view, on my ipad 2, IOS 9 is the clear winner over IOS 8 in terms of overall usability.

The Sunspider and Battery tests show barely any difference. That's also not even to mention that Apple said "better overall performance" and not just "better web browsing performance".

 

[I7guy]

The Sunspider and Battery tests show barely any difference. That's also not even to mention that Apple said "better overall performance" and not just "better web browsing performance".

Barely a difference is still a difference and you are picking on a nit just for the sake of it. Showing better performance than IOS 8 is a far cry from having IOS 9 cripple the device, which is what the suit is alleging.

 

[sracer]

I'm going to throw this out there:
Apple screwed up by even updating the 4S this much. They should have stopped at iOS 7.

In one sense I agree. If Apple is not going to allow downgrading to previous versions of iOS then they need to take a more conservative approach to which devices they allow to be upgraded to preserve the user experience.

Exactly, many people seem to think that there is some kind of golden solution where older hardware runs faster with a new OS and all the features of current flagship phones. It is not possible. Indeed a no-win situation.

Is it really because people think there is some kind of golden solution or is it because they trust Apple to make the right decision for them? If Apple says that "x" device is able to update to iOS version "y" then should customers trust Apple that their ownership experience won't degrade by upgrading? When one factors in that it is a "one way" street and that if a iPhone needs to be restored, even if the person didn't upgrade, they'll be forced to install the latest version that is supported on their device.

What Apple could do though is improve the information around this, but that will not do anything to stop people from complaining anyway and filing class action lawsuits.

Allowing customers the option of downgrading won't stop complaints or lawsuits but it will certainly decrease them.

 

[Michael Goff]

In one sense I agree. If Apple is not going to allow downgrading to previous versions of iOS then they need to take a more conservative approach to which devices they allow to be upgraded to preserve the user experience.

Two major OS upgrades would still make them better than most of their competition these days, even, so it wouldn't hurt them too much from a PR perspective. It might even make them look better, since they can say they're focusing on giving the users the best experience.

 

[Reason077]

I wish my iPad 2 could go back to iOS 6. They literally destroyed the device forcing us to move to iOS 7 without the ability to go back. Biggest mistake I ever made was upgrading the iPad 2. Now it is a slow mess of crashes.

My iPad 2 is still on iOS 6. Works great, and fast. Though there are more and more apps that are no longer compatible (or leave you stuck with an old version)

Web comparability is starting to become an issue too, with the old iOS 6 Safari. Still usable in general, though.

 

[JGowan]

What a joke. As if Craig Federighi tells his engineers to insert code that will intentionally slow down older devices. People sue for anything and everything these days. Only in America.



You're not forced to upgrade. Up until last October my sister was using an iPhone 5 with iOS 6. Her iPad 2 is still running iOS 6. I can't believe for one second that iOS 9 runs worse on the 4S than iOS 8 did so how far would you let people revert back?

If it's going to slow down the phone, Apple should simply take that model off the list of iPhones that should upgrade. My 4S is super slow now. This isn't a pretend issue. It's real.

 

[sracer]

Two major OS upgrades would still make them better than most of their competition these days, even, so it wouldn't hurt them too much from a PR perspective. It might even make them look better, since they can say they're focusing on giving the users the best experience.

If it is a choice between the status quo and that, I'll go with that.