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

[LiveM]

Consumers are entitled to rely upon the claims of the manufacturer. In this case, the alleged claim is that the OS will improve performance. Discovering that it actually does the opposite means false advertising. Discovering that the harm is irreparable is grounds for damages as well, at face value being the cost of a new iPhone 4s.

 

[Tech198]

Usually Apple would improve, not slow it down..

But this is an iPhone 4s..... Think of it this way.... if Apple mentioned slow down in their advertising, users would not upgrade their 4s device.

It's like anything... You wouldn't advertise that in a store this other product is cheaper, so go buy that one instead.

It's just a slower phone... and the slowness of all the GUI flashy transparency crap Apple has stuck in slows older phones down.. Apple would have known this, but still u don't tell people not to upgrade this device if you want their business as running the latest OS, and Apple is in that bracket. However, an indication "May not run smoothly on iPhone 4s" may have been a good mention.

it happens.

 

[TechFann]

It's like almost a promises that they can't really do, but still done it.
How's the iOS9 on iPhone 5/5c/5s?

I can't really say, I have a 6. But I have an iPad 4 which had similar specs to the iPhone 5/5s and it is running fine to me, a little lag here or there but is running much better than it was on iOS 8.

 

[apolloa]

I have iOS 9 on both my iPhone 6+ and iPad air 2 and they work just fine. Why is apple always being sued for stuff like this and not android?

Because Google make the OS and updates then release them to the manufactures and carriers, it is up to them to then pass on the updates to the customer, unless you have a Google Play edition or a Nexus device of course.

And Google do it different, for instance they recently launched their monthly security update programme and older devices like the Nexus 4, won't get the latest Android version but they will get security patches.

 

[\-V-/]

I have iOS 9 on both my iPhone 6+ and iPad air 2 and they work just fine. Why is apple always being sued for stuff like this and not android?

Did you even read the headline?

 

[OtherJesus]

So your 4S is almost full capacity of junk apps and text messages that are 5 years old and you wonder why your phone is running slow?

It's not because of the OS.

Apple will walk into the courtroom with a clean install of iOS 9 on a 4S. Case closed.

The idiots who filed this case must think the iPhone is made out of unicorn dust. It's not. It's basically just a small computer in your pocket and everyone and their great grandma knows that sometimes "computers get slow after awhile".

 

[RMo]

I may not upgrade my 6s past iOS 9 either. I like the idea of sticking with the OS the item came with until you upgrade, especially in terms of better performance. Not sure I'll be able to do with this my new iMac, but I'll hold out as long as I can there too.

Why? There's less of a point of doing so on a Mac, both because unless you get the low-end Apple doesn't tend to woefully underspec them for future upgrades (I'd like to re-iterate that this probably doesn't apply to machines with 4 GB RAM) and because on a Mac you're actually capable of downgrading--you aren't dependent on Apple "signing" your OS to enable you to install it. You do have to save the installers as they tend to disappear from the App Store (even when Option+clicking "Purchases") after a while, but you had to save your CDs/DVDs too in the past.

Obviously, the same cannot be said for iOS devices, which are difficult at best and sometimes impossible to downgrade. In either case I wouldn't do it after Apple (or any vendor for any OS) stops supporting the OS, but you usually at least have a few years for that.

 

[morphineseason]

So your 4S is almost full capacity of junk apps and text messages that are 5 years old and you wonder why your phone is running slow?

It's not because of the OS.

Apple will walk into the courtroom with a clean install of iOS 9 on a 4S. Case closed.

The idiots who filed this case must think the iPhone is made out of unicorn dust. It's not. It's basically just a small computer in your pocket and everyone and their great grandma knows that sometimes "computers get slow after awhile".

If only they made an iOS version of FinallyFast!

 

[ScottishCaptain]

Good.

I just wish it was $500M, or $5B, or some other significant amount of money that might actually make Apple think twice about implementing planned obsolescence.

Also, this whole "nobody is forcing you to upgrade" attitude is utter ********.

You know who's forcing people to upgrade? Apple. If you EVER have to do a full restore through iTunes, your only option is to install the latest operating system. Even if you saved the ipsw archives from an older OS, it doesn't matter, because Apple won't approve the restore through their servers so you're hosed. Up to iOS 9 you go!

Likewise, as developers slowly stop supporting older operating systems... Well, iTunes doesn't give a ****. It'll download the latest versions of all your applications, then merrily tell you that they can't be installed on an older OS. Now your only option is to restore the older IPA packages through Time Machine, or try and download them through the app store on the actual device itself. But that might not work, because it seems like a lot of older devices on older operating systems are now having "connectivity" issues with the app store, which is pretty convenient for Apple.

-SC

 

[\-V-/]

So your 4S is almost full capacity of junk apps and text messages that are 5 years old and you wonder why your phone is running slow?

It's not because of the OS.

Yes ... yes it is because of the OS. I still have a 4S lying around with a clean install of iOS 9 on it and it's dog crap slow.

Apple will walk into the courtroom with a clean install of iOS 9 on a 4S. Case closed.

See above.

The idiots who filed this case must think the iPhone is made out of unicorn dust. It's not. It's basically just a small computer in your pocket and everyone and their great grandma knows that sometimes "computers get slow after awhile".

The people who filed this case have slow iPhones after installing the newest version of iOS. They're not imagining it. It's a thing.

 

[Zwhaler]

More Conspiracies about software planned obsolesce. #Funny

Why is it a conspiracy? It is true..

 

[997941]

Nobody forced you to move to iOS 7.

When someone makes a ridiculous comment like this they should be banned from the forum. Comments like this prove not all responses are created equal.

Yes, no one forces anyone to upgrade. We know this. The allure of a new OS is strong and not everyone understands or even knows that the new OS update can significantly slow down their device. Should they be screwed? Should they now be forced to purchase a new device? Apple should allow any one to downgrade to a previous OS when the need arises. This should be simple.

I have a love hate relationship with apple. I love their products but hate many of their corporate decisions. Choice is not one of their concerns.

 

[pran76]

I notice that the older devices get increasingly slower after each iOS update. It's not after a while. It's immediately after, and no it's not full of junk, and hoarding resources. I have an iPad 1,3(yes I know that was a dumb purchase), an iPhone 4s and a range of iPod touches and newer devices ie - an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6s and iPad Air 2. Every device other than the 5s and above are all incredibly slow now.

Why update? You can't use any of the newer features(not a big deal with older devices), old software cannot be used anymore without an iOS update(YouTube etc - that is a big deal).

I hand my older devices to my kids so that they can use them. My iPod touch 4th generation is so incredibly slow and the ONLY thing I have on it are podcasts! It takes nearly 2-3 seconds or more to even open up the podcast app. That's not what it was like before.

Do any of the posters who say it's not a big deal even have older devices with which to compare after an update?

 

[\-V-/]

When someone makes a ridiculous comment like this they should be banned from the forum. Comments like this prove not all responses are created equal.

Yes, no one forces anyone to upgrade. We know this. The allure of a new OS is strong and not everyone understands or even knows that the new OS update can significantly slow down their device. Should they be screwed? Should they now be forced to purchase a new device? Apple should allow any one to downgrade to a previous OS when the need arises. This should be simple.

I have a love hate relationship with apple. I love their products but hate many of their corporate decisions. Choice is not one of their concerns.

Nobody forced you to respond.







I kid!

 

[macduke]

Everyone was surprised they didn't kill support for the 4s in iOS 9. Perhaps they should have. If the iPhone 4 was dropped in iOS 8, why not the 4s in iOS 9?

Apple should at least provide the option for users on devices several years old to downgrade. If not through their device, through Apple Support and a special link that downloads and installs it. Perhaps that would get cracked so that everyone could do it, but it would be a minority of tinkerers. No way Apple wants to see their adoption numbers start going down—which is probably why they limit this—but I doubt it would be more than a percent or two.

 

[rzc16512]

Can non-business customers who upgrade to Windows 10 downgrade to Windows 7?

Ummm yes they can if they are upgrading...? Microsoft provides the option to easily downgrade within a month. After that you can downgrade by reinstalling using your OEM media if your computer came with Windows 7. If the computer came with Windows 10 that's another story...you can still technically downgrade but I'm pretty sure it violates the license except going from pro 10 to pro 7 (which consumers can use not just businesses) as that has downgrade rights.

 

[scoobydoo99]

No, they did not literally destroy the device. But they did not come to your house and break it. It still functions, just not how you prefer. That is the opposite of literal. You mean they figuratively destroyed the device.

Your interpretation, while at one time correct, is now outdated. Because of the rampant misuse of "literally" to mean "figuratively", Webster, Macmillan, and Cambridge Dictionaries (and probably others) have now adopted the meaning of "figuratively" to be applied to the word "literally".

From Salon:

"Webster’s first definition of literally is, “in a literal sense or matter; actually.” Its second definition is, “in effect; virtually.” In addressing this seeming contradiction, its authors comment:

“Since some people take sense 2 to be the opposition of sense 1, it has been frequently criticized as a misuse. Instead, the use is pure hyperbole intended to gain emphasis, but it often appears in contexts where no additional emphasis is necessary.”"

So, your critique is not appropriate today. Times have changed.

 

[iapplelove]

The 4S is pretty old now in smart phone years, if I had to use one I wouldn't be installing the latest mobile operating systems on it.

 

[\-V-/]

The 4S is pretty old now in smart phone years, if I had to use one I wouldn't be installing the latest mobile operating systems on it.

Unless of course something went wrong and you had to restore it to the latest OS because you don't have a choice ...

 

[iapplelove]

Unless of course something went wrong and you had to restore it to the latest OS because you don't have a choice ...

True and in most cases people update by accident. However if something went wrong I would either use a backup (given the fact I never updated) or reset the phone back to new, again given the fact it wasn't updated ever.

 

[mi7chy]

If Apple made older phones faster or even just as fast with iOS updates then people won't have a reason to upgrade phones, Apple won't report record profits, customers won't be able to gloat about how profitable Apple is, etc. You can't have it both ways.

 

[SSDGUY]

Christ!, who holds on to such relics these days?

Oh, probably just poor old dumb people and losers like me. Not sure why I don't want to spend hundreds every year for something that does basically the same thing as what I bought three year earlier.

 

[\-V-/]

True and in most cases people update by accident. However if something went wrong I would either use a backup (given the fact I never updated) or reset the phone back to new, again given the fact it wasn't updated ever.

You can't restore the OS from a backup ... the backup only contains your data. If something went wrong and your only option was to Restore you are forced into the latest OS. That's what I meant if something goes wrong.

Oh, probably just poor old dumb people and losers like me. Not sure why I don't want to spend hundreds every year for something that does basically the same thing as what I bought three year earlier.

Money grows on trees ... don't ya know?

 

[jahall05]

What happens when that software ruins your device? Too bad, so sad?

That's a pretty awful precedent to set. At the very least, the only thing Apple would need to do is allow you to revert back to an older version of iOS. That would solve this whole issue for once and for all.

So then they can get hit with a class action lawsuit for all the people in this lawsuit because a glitch or something that wasn't fixed in previous iterations of iOS affects security or performance in that way? Not something I think Apple wants to deal with.

 

[iapplelove]

You can't restore the OS from a backup ... the backup only contains your data. If something went wrong and your only option was to Restore you are forced into the latest OS. That's what I meant if something goes wrong.
?

You can't restore the OS from a backup ... the backup only contains your data. If something went wrong and your only option was to Restore you are forced into the latest OS. That's what I meant if something goes wrong.

I guess yeah if you are talking worst case scenarios and literally the only option was a restore, but that doesn't happen as often with the masses as it does on tech forums like these.