IOS 11 has shown the risk of relying on Technology

[nebo1ss]

I have been using an APP called "Birthday Sweet" to keep a record of important dates for some time now. Unfortunately the APP is no longer compatible with IOS 11, I assume it is one of the 32 Bit apps. This decision by apple to stop supporting 32 Bit apps has shown me the risk of relying on Technology to store important information. I cannot find a way to recover the information i have stored in the app which no longer loads and have no other copy of the information. The developer cannot be contacted and the only solution I can see would be to downgrade my phone to the previous IOS version which I know is not possible.

This also makes me very concerned about the risk of continuing to use an Encycpted wallet app that is in fact still working and where i have stored all my credit card pins, passwords for multiple systems and other important information. I am now very worried that this is also at risk in the future.

 

[TETENAL]

Didn't you get an notification in iOS 10 that the app will be incompatible with iOS 11?

You can try to browse your phone or your phone's backup with an app like iExplorer. Depending on how "Birthday Sweet" stored its data, your information might be recoverable from its files.

Apple's calendar can show birthdays by the way.

 

[nebo1ss]

Didn't you get an notification in iOS 10 that the app will be incompatible with iOS 11?

You can try to browse your phone or your phone's backup with an app like iExplorer. Depending on how "Birthday Sweet" stored its data, your information might be recoverable from its files.

Apple's calendar can show birthdays by the way.

In answer to your question I do not recall getting any notification about this app. It was only when IOS 11 was installed that i recall seeing a notification. With regard to Iexplorer thanks for the suggestion. However, it says that the App does not have IOS file sharing enabled and that the developer would need to do this to facilitate Iexplorer having access to the files.

 

[KrisLord]

The risk is really stemming from using an app that a developer is no longer supporting, rather than an inherent problem with iOS 11.

Any previous iOS update could have caused it to fail, there’s been quite a few apps over the years that fail to launch on open and simply crash out immediately.

From the developers perspective (I’m not a dev) I guess the low cost of modern apps makes long term support unlikely unless they are popular enough to continuously attract new customers. I’m not a huge fan of subscription for software, but perhaps that’s the end solution.

 

[BrianBaughn]

OP: You could have written a version of this post decades ago.

 

[TETENAL]

With regard to Iexplorer thanks for the suggestion. However, it says that the App does not have IOS file sharing enabled and that the developer would need to do this to facilitate Iexplorer having access to the files.

I would try it anyway, you can use the free demo mode.

Browse your iPhone, or if that doesn't work, browse an iTunes backup with the backup explorer. Find "Birthday Sweet" in the "App" folder. It should contain "Library/Application Support" and "Documents" folders. Your data should be stored somewhere in there. Depending on how it is stored by the app, your data might be recoverable.

 

[KGB7]

The fault lies with app developer for not updating the app to 64bit.
Furthermore, it has been discussed in to oblivion on the entire internet, that iOS 11 will not support 32bit apps. So fault lies with you as well, for ignoring information that has been out for a year.

 

[ventmore]

Looks like the developers email is...or was:

support@bestsparks.com

Not sure if you’ve tried it, but if not, you’ve got nothing to lose.

 

[az431]

The fault lies with app developer for not updating the app to 64bit.
Furthermore, it has been discussed in to oblivion on the entire internet, that iOS 11 will not support 32bit apps. So fault lies with you as well, for ignoring information that has been out for a year.

+1

This has nothing to do with Apple or reliance on "Technology." All the developer had to do is tap one button to re-compile the app, then upload the new binary to Apple. 30 minutes of work at most.

They are likely out of business, and even if Apple had not forced the switch to 32-bit, the app would have stopped working for some other bug or compatibility issue. No software lasts forever without updates.

And yes, the fact that 32-bit apps would no longer be compatible has been known for years, and every 32-bit app when opened in iOS 10 gave an alert that it would no longer be compatible in iOS 11.

 

[sparksd]

+1

This has nothing to do with Apple or reliance on "Technology." All the developer had to do is tap one button to re-compile the app, then upload the new binary to Apple. 30 minutes of work at most.

They are likely out of business, and even if Apple had not forced the switch to 32-bit, the app would have stopped working for some other bug or compatibility issue. No software lasts forever without updates.

And yes, the fact that 32-bit apps would no longer be compatible has been known for years, and every 32-bit app when opened in iOS 10 gave an alert that it would no longer be compatible in iOS 11.

Don't disagree at all. But didn't the warning only say that the app could slow things down, not that it wouldn't work at all? I can't recall.

edit - meant to say "I can't recall seeing a warning that an app would stop working altogether."

Edit 2 - To answer my own question: the original slow down warning was updated to a compatibility warning in 10.3. (https://9to5mac.com/2017/04/09/32-bit-apps-ios/)

 

[NoBoMac]

Any previous iOS update could have caused it to fail, there’s been quite a few apps over the years that fail to launch on open and simply crash out immediately.

How true. Seen this on several occassions with apps that I acquired many moons ago and were abandoned by the developer.

This also makes me very concerned about the risk of continuing to use an Encycpted wallet app that is in fact still working and where i have stored all my credit card pins, passwords for multiple systems and other important information. I am now very worried that this is also at risk in the future.

Yes, you should be concerned.

Most people don't think about "cost of exit" when dealing with their phones (or computers, or tablets). "Cost of exit" is not a great term for this scenario, but applicable. Basically, what is the plan if something goes wrong. What if I lose my phone? Is there a viable alternate solution to move to? Any emergency process should vendor application fail/crash/go offline? Can I recover my data? Can I create backups of my data? And so on.

In the case of birthday trackers, the calendar in iOS is great for that, and with iCloud, backed up. And Contacts has a birthday field, which backs up to iCloud, and generates a birthday calendar in Calendar. Yes, probably not as nice as the dedicated app, but, works and 99% sure not going away any time soon.

Encrypted wallet: encrypted iOS Notes instead? Uses strong encryption, accessible from icloud.com, should you move to a different mobile platform and need to transfer the contents to something else (ie. Cut/paste the info).
[doublepost=1508941634][/doublepost]

edit - meant to say "I can't recall seeing a warning that an app would stop working altogether."

I believe it depended on what version of iOS one was on. Yes, the earlier notice was "will slow things down". On 10.3.3(?) it changed to "won't work on 11".

 

[gwhizkids]

Regardless of the OP's diligence in heeding the warnings (which were there, no doubt about it), the underlying point is a good one. Once you go all in with an app or, even moreso, an ecosystem, you run the risk that your data will be held hostage to that app/ecosystem. Google has at least made their Google Takeout available to be able to get all of your data out of their system (though I'm not sure what you can do with it once its out). As far as I know, Apple has no equivalent.

Although, I am quite happy with Apple's offerings now, what if, in 10 years, they decide to start charging $1000/yr for hosting all your data? I'm not sure I'll be as happy then. Or what if I decide that the Google ecosystem is where I want to be for some (unfathomable now) reason? Getting from one to the other will not be easy (though, of course like). Apple's own switching from Android app, the "receiving" ecosystem may have an incentive to help out. But then there's the situation where I just want all my stuff out of any ecosystem - how would that be done?

No real answers here, just questions/observations...

 

[nebo1ss]

The fault lies with app developer for not updating the app to 64bit.
Furthermore, it has been discussed in to oblivion on the entire internet, that iOS 11 will not support 32bit apps. So fault lies with you as well, for ignoring information that has been out for a year.

Nice reply but how the hell is a user expected to know if an app is 32 bit or 64 bit and weather or not it will be updated?

 

[sparksd]

Nice reply but how the hell is a user expected to know if an app is 32 bit or 64 bit and weather or not it will be updated?

See my link above regarding warning messages. As to whether it will be updated or not, the only way to find out is to contact the developer.

 

[nebo1ss]

+1

This has nothing to do with Apple or reliance on "Technology." All the developer had to do is tap one button to re-compile the app, then upload the new binary to Apple. 30 minutes of work at most.

They are likely out of business, and even if Apple had not forced the switch to 32-bit, the app would have stopped working for some other bug or compatibility issue. No software lasts forever without updates.

And yes, the fact that 32-bit apps would no longer be compatible has been known for years, and every 32-bit app when opened in iOS 10 gave an alert that it would no longer be compatible in iOS 11.

What many don't seem to realise is that this is not an app that is opened often. It provided alerts when birthdays anniversaries etc were due there was no need to open it and hence you are unlikely to see any compatibility issue alerts. No one is blaming Apple. I was simply pointing out that making a decision to put critical information in an app and not keeping a paper copy is a risk. However, in the case of my encrypted wallet app I would not want a paper copy floating around so would then have to buy a physical safe to keep it in.

 

[sparksd]

What many don't seem to realise is that this is not an app that is opened often. It provided alerts when birthdays anniversaries etc were due there was no need to open it and hence you are unlikely to see any compatibility issue alerts. No one is blaming Apple. I was simply pointing out that making a decision to put critical information in an app and not keeping a paper copy is a risk. However, in the case of my encrypted wallet app I would not want a paper copy floating around so would then have to buy a physical safe to keep it in.

What about an encrypted copy on local storage? Anything I value that is stored on an external server is also stored (backed up) somewhere that I have physical control over.

 

[C DM]

I was simply pointing out that making a decision to put critical information in an app and not keeping a paper copy is a risk.

That has been the reality of technology for a long time. Even in the days of just storing phone numbers in an electronic watch or addressbook or something else much simpler than apps and operating systems today. As someone else put it earlier:

OP: You could have written a version of this post decades ago.

 

[NoBoMac]

Nice reply but how the hell is a user expected to know if an app is 32 bit or 64 bit and weather or not it will be updated?

As others mentioned, there were warnings if you opened the app.

Additionally, in Settings, there was a list of any 32-bit apps installed on the device.

 

[gwhizkids]

That has been the reality of technology for a long time. Even in the days of just storing numbers in an electric watch or address book or something else much simpler than apps and operating systems today. As someone else put it earlier:

Although, I don't disagree with the timelessness of this advice, the truth of the matter is we are all putting things on our devices that used to go in file cabinets or even safety deposit boxes. We need to think carefully about how much we are entrusting to the cloud or to electronic devices in general. We are just making ourselves more and more vulnerable to a massive data breach or disruption of the cloud infrastructure (think large scale coronal mass ejection and solar storms, not to mention bad guys who want to take down our grid).

 

[370zulu]

While I would agree that it sucks to have an application that I relied on no longer work, I would attempt to be in the know for devices I use. All things are a risk when one is uninformed. Always have a plan B and always have a separate backup.

 

[jetsam]

What about an encrypted copy on local storage? Anything I value that is stored on an external server is also stored (backed up) somewhere that I have physical control over.

+1
Anything important should be backed-up using the 3/2/1 strategy:
3 Copies
2 on differing media types on-site
1 on an external server.
https://www.us-cert.gov/security-publications/data-backup-options

 

[mazdamiata210]

I have been using an APP called "Birthday Sweet" to keep a record of important dates for some time now. Unfortunately the APP is no longer compatible with IOS 11, I assume it is one of the 32 Bit apps. This decision by apple to stop supporting 32 Bit apps has shown me the risk of relying on Technology to store important information. I cannot find a way to recover the information i have stored in the app which no longer loads and have no other copy of the information. The developer cannot be contacted and the only solution I can see would be to downgrade my phone to the previous IOS version which I know is not possible.

This also makes me very concerned about the risk of continuing to use an Encycpted wallet app that is in fact still working and where i have stored all my credit card pins, passwords for multiple systems and other important information. I am now very worried that this is also at risk in the future.

If you happen to have a 6S you can still downgrade to 10.3.3

 

[iSayBoourns]

Nice reply but how the hell is a user expected to know if an app is 32 bit or 64 bit and weather or not it will be updated?

Settings > General > About > Apps

Gives you a list of your current 64bit apps in iOS 10 and 11.

You have no way of knowing if an app will be updated. Apple has told developers to make their app in 64bit for 3-4 years now. It’s just Developer laziness if they have not by this point in time.

 

[C DM]

Settings > General > About > Apps

Gives you a list of your current 64bit apps in iOS 10 and 11.

You have no way of knowing if an app will be updated. Apple has told developers to make their app in 64bit for 3-4 years now. It’s just Developer laziness if they have not by this point in time.

I believe that only gives a list in iOS 10 (at least it doesn't give me an option to select it in iOS 11, just shows me the number of apps I have), and I believe it's a list of just the 32-bit apps that are installed.

 

[iSayBoourns]

I believe that only gives a list in iOS 10 (at least it doesn't give me an option to select it in iOS 11, just shows me the number of apps I have), and I believe it's a list of just the 32-bit apps that are installed.

It won’t show a list if you don’t have any 32bit apps.