iOS 10.1 Reinstates 32-Bit App Alert, Warns Older Apps May Slow iPhone

[avanpelt]

That's kind of a pointless message.

Most people who have iPhones won't care about what that message says as long as they can tap "OK" and the app still runs. After seeing that message two or three times, they won't even notice it anymore and just condition themselves to tap "OK" every time they see that message.

I doubt many people are going to be contacting devs asking them to update their apps so long as the apps continue to run.

 

[usarioclave]

I have a couple of apps from the old days that still work. Why does apple want to mess with them?

 

[Futurix]

Does anyone know if Apple means they will remove just the store facing app or all possible traces of it? For example, I've downloaded some apps over the years but can still download the latest version via the purchased tab. Will Apple remove that as well or just the main link to the app?

Such apps will still be available from 'Purchased' - only new purchases will be affected (which totally makes sense, people should not get a bad deal of purchasing apps that were not updated for ages and run suboptimallly on newer devices).

 

[JamesPDX]

Please, oh please let the "Futurama: Head-in-a-Jar Museum" app get an update. It's my favorite app ever created. I don't know how to get in contact with these folks.

 

[Regbial]

Really wish Square Enix would update Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions to 64 bit and proper Widescreen. There's NO WAY I'm deleting it from my phone. And Apple had better not delete it from the App Store... Or there will be blood.

 

[Dimer]

During the iOS 10 beta testing period, Apple added an alert message to notify users who downloaded an older 32-bit app that it could affect system performance, but the warning message does not appear to have made it into the final version of iOS 10 that was released to the public.

Starting in iOS 10.1, Apple is reinstating the warning message, with a more dire alert that will likely steer customers away from apps that have not complied with Apple's 2015 mandate stating all apps must be 64-bit. As can be seen in the alert below, the message now warns that an app "may slow down your iPhone." It goes on to say "The developer of this app needs to update it to improve its compatibility."

During the iOS 10 beta testing period, the alert instead warned 32-bit apps were "not optimized for iOS 10" and usage "may affect overall system performance."

Starting in late 2013, Apple began asking developers to submit 64-bit apps for the iPhone 5s, the first iPhone with a 64-bit processor. On February 1, 2015, Apple made 64-bit support mandatory for all new app submissions, and on June 1, 2015, all app updates submitted were required to include 64-bit support.

Apps that are popping up warnings in the iOS 10.1 beta are apps that have not been updated since that time.

Apple has likely reinstated the 32-bit alert message as part of its crackdown on older, outdated apps to clean up the App Store. In early September, Apple notified developers about an upcoming plan to remove apps that have not received compatibility updates, do not comply with current review guidelines, or that no longer function as intended.

Notices started going out on September 7, with developers given a 30 day period to fix problematic apps. After that period, Apple will be removing outdated apps from the App Store.

Article Link: iOS 10.1 Reinstates 32-Bit App Alert, Warns Older Apps May Slow iPhone

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gra·tu·i·tous
ɡrəˈt(y)o͞oədəs/
adjective

1. uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.
   

 

[0098386]

Very pleased with the wording of that warning. Puts pressure on devs. I hope it happens too, I've got too many old apps that need updating!

(I'm a console and PC dev and not mobile so I've never dealt with Apple and their certification process. But. It can't be difficult. It can't be expensive. It's just so many mobile devs operate on a conveyor belt pushing out titles all the time and dropping support soon after.)
[doublepost=1475791391][/doublepost]

Really wish Square Enix would update Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions to 64 bit and proper Widescreen. There's NO WAY I'm deleting it from my phone. And Apple had better not delete it from the App Store... Or there will be blood.

Whoa. Glad I caught your comment. I've been looking at getting that game for a while! As well as FF3. I've got them both on my PSP, probably just play them on that now!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

This thread is hilarious. Software libraries should grow over time, not shrink. And no, it is not a menial task to constantly update your application for API and device changes.

Apple should be providing a virtualization solution that allows any legacy app to run regardless of iOS and hardware version.

This isn't a problem just with compatibility. If a vendor releases an app then releases an update that takes away features, you should be able to run the old version in perpetuity, not be forced to upgrade to an inferior version.

 

[TsMkLg068426]

Apple good than why not remove 32-bit Apps and Apps that are no longer receiving updates.

 

[Tech198]

That's kind of a pointless message.

Most people who have iPhones won't care about what that message says as long as they can tap "OK" and the app still runs. After seeing that message two or three times, they won't even notice it anymore and just condition themselves to tap "OK" every time they see that message.

I doubt many people are going to be contacting devs asking them to update their apps so long as the apps continue to run.

so just proves then all people wanna do is ignore important messages that may impact then on older devices because they just wanna run an app.

I would still use such apps, but i'd also still alert developers no matter what.

Apple good than why not remove 32-bit Apps and Apps that are no longer receiving updates.

Probably not all apps can be convert to 64 bit.... others technical issues like a full rewrite is needed, and other times "Why should I when this 32-bit app just works" ?

Apps can still be updated with features so their still current, but not change what they run on.

 

[JosephAW]

32 bit apps run just fine on my iOS 8 iPhone 6, if it's slowing down using iOS 10 then the problem is with Apple's iOS developers.
First they throw 32 bit bios computers under the bus now this. What's next? All iPhone 4&5 go dark after 2017?
[doublepost=1475798612][/doublepost]It seems like Apple's code has been getting slower and slower even on new devices.
I helped my friend upgrade from OS X Snow Leopard to El Capitan and after a week he restored it back to Snow Leopard saying it was so slow and 10.6 was much snappier.

 

[pika2000]

Well, this could mean that Apple will drop all 32-bit iDevices next year. *Sad iPhone 5

 

[C DM]

Well, this could mean that Apple will drop all 32-bit iDevices next year. *Sad iPhone 5

That wouldn't really be surprising would it, given that iPhone 5 already has had 5 iOS versions that it could support, and it's almost expected that the next iOS version will likely be 64-bit only.

 

[GoodWheaties]

The question that I have is if they pull an App over this will it still be in my list of purchases, or does it disappear forever if I uninstall it?

Not sure I have any, but there may be niche apps that got abandoned that people still want to use. I would be angry if they pulled an app that I used and I had to make sure it never got deleted.

I was wondering the same thing. I use the iFixit app whose account got deleted but I'm curious if I can download it again with an iCloud backup onto another phone.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Some of these apps haven't been updated since the iPhone 4 came out.

 

[pika2000]

That wouldn't really be surprising would it, given that iPhone 5 already has had 5 iOS versions that it could support, and it's almost expected that the next iOS version will likely be 64-bit only.

The thing is, unlike the A5 which was gasping for air on newer version of iOS, the A6 inside the iPhone 5 is still running iOS 10 fairly well. So it still has the muscles and it has 1GB or RAM (same amount of RAM as even the iPhone 6. It would be sad if it is dropped simply because of 32bit (while Apple was dragging the A5 until it was just unusable).

 

[weup togo]

Some of these apps haven't been updated since the iPhone 4 came out.

And quite a few very popular apps were still 32-bit only in 2015.

 

[brdeveloper]

This is probably the intended chain of events. Old but perfectly nicely working hardware will be made useless because the only place where you can get software for it is controlled by a company that wants to make more money from hardware sales. The brand loyalty among Apple users are so strong they cheer when the master whips them!

There was a time when hardware and software were different classes of things. Now this artificial "integration" that mobile device manufacturers promote make them look the same stuff.

Apple's advice: Mini 4 to the rescue.

Yes, as cheap as $850,00 (brazilian price).
[doublepost=1475806973][/doublepost]

Yes, the reality of moving ahead and basically just progress is "planned obsolescence".

Ok, but just keep the old stuff available to old devices. Also, it's not hard to mark a checkbox in xCode which creates an additional 32-bit version of that app.

 

[deyerseve69]

I assume this warning doesn't come up on iPhone 5 or 5c, which still run 32 bit silicon, right?

Could it be that apple is trying to either scare developers into making their apps play nice with the new features of the iPhone 6s and 7 or is it to scare people into buying the newest iPhone, or maybe both?

 

[BuffyzDead]

How do you check if an App on you have is 32bit or 64bit ???

 

[Col4bin]

Only way Apple can get some (not all) lazy devs to update older apps, by publicly shaming them. Love it.

 

[Eorlas]

Good. No reason why apps should not be 64-bit compatible. It's been three years.

While we're at it, all apps should be optimized for all resolutions as well.

Tell that to ****ing CVS.

 

[smoking monkey]

I suppose 32-bit apps require different libraries, so it might be that running such apps requires the system to load additional libraries just to run that application. That could use more processing power and memory.

That being said, what is the user supposed to do with this message? Delete the app? I cannot stand useless notifications.

I have Peggle classic and had no idea it was only 32 bit and that it was slowing down my system. From that point of view the notification is quite useful. If my system slows down just having the app installed, I'll delete it happily.

 

[andybow]

Absolutely! Apple has control over the iOS ecosystem and it actually surprises me they haven't enforced your resolution point.

Apps that are unoptimised for device display resolutions look so bad, it can actually make the hardware look bad for Apple.

Take the Facebook app, it looks atrocious on the 12.9inch iPad Pro and the device has been out for a year

Agreed, Facebook app is terrible.

 

[littyboy]

Well, this could mean that Apple will drop all 32-bit iDevices next year. *Sad iPhone 5

It's a 4 year old device. You can't really blame them for not supporting it anymore.