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iOS 6 limitations in iPhone4 is a great reminder why INTERNALS are all that matters
- Thread starter kre62
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Same here, and I rag on Apple as much as anyone here (mostly because I want people so see past the smoke and mirrors). Words like 'iSheep' immediately negate anything intelligent you might have to say.
To OP's point, this is just the way Apple operates. And this time (IMHO) the new OS is particularly weak, so they have to keep the best things for the latest and next iPhone. Can't blame them.
I agree it applies to all companies who are guilty of this. But since I am an iphone forum, I mention apple. Iphone is notorious for not having basic features then adding it next year as an "upgrade". Its just sad that consumers keep falling for this crap every year.
So no turn by turn navigation or facetime over 3g for the iphone 4? See i was already upset about siri but this is too much. Apple is a great company but they are too money hungry. Its things like that which makes me want to go to android and just use my iphone as a ipod or such.
No turn by turn because it's integrated with Siri, something we've known they're not going to bring to the 4.
No Facetime over 3G because the 4 has different models for different networks and they focused only on the 4S and above since they're 'universal phones.'
Why is this so hard to understand?
It should be overly clear by now that ANY time you buy technology, there's a very good chance that what you're holding is as good as it's going to get and that you shouldn't expect ANY updates.
Oh no, my iPhone 4, that had everything I could ever dream when I bought it isn't getting the same latest and greatest updates as the newer models.
By all means, name ANY other cell phone that, after 28 months, can be updated to run latest OS with all the bells and whistles.
The IP4S has a faster HSDPA of 14.4 Mbps (compared to 7.2 on the IP4) which could be part of Apple's reasoning behind the limitations. Certain functions like Facetime over cellular could require faster speeds in order to maintain a good QoS with its customers. My $0.02.
Facetime does not need that much bandwidth.
Most Wi-Fi networks run at lower speeds!
That's really only partially true...sure, the older devices could run Siri, but the experience wouldn't be that great. And its got nothing to do with the processing power, either. There's a special chip in the 4s and new iPad made by a company called Audience that is particularly good at filtering out background noise, allowing Siri to work as well as it does (and even with that, it's not so great...imagine it without it)
my corp plan allows me to upgrade every 6 months. I've been using the gnex and im due for an upgrade now. get a corp plan and you wont have to worry about it 
I have a 5 year old iMac. Lion runs great on it. That said, we're talking apples and oranges here.
I think a company has a right to reserve some some software features for the newest generation of hardware. Gadgets aren't generally expected to be "top of the line" for their entire lifespan. I equate the "lifespan" of a phone to be just short of a standard cellular contract. So 18-24 months (here in US). Just short so you are ready for a new device when the contract ends. The only question is, who set this "lifespan"? Apple or the cell providers (AT&T, Verizon)? There are people still rockin original iPhones, so the hardware will last. I wouldn't want to run iOS 4 or 5 on them though.
Some people bash Apple because they only put out 1 update a year of the iPhone. Now, some are complaining that the older devices don't get all the newest goodies. If we compare to Android, how many legacy devices get the latest and greatest? At least iOS will run on legacy hardware, albeit with some limitations.
Is Apple purposefully limiting some features to newer hardware that could run on legacy equipment? Probably. Is it a good business decision to do so? Probably. Do they owe it to their stockholders to maximize profits? Definately.
Besides all your points the iphone 4 has the capabilities to perform all those actions. I've had siri running flawless, ive had facetime over 3g for the longest, and im sure there will be a workaround to have turn by turn available through jailbreaking.
Please do explain how I got Siri to run and how I can do facetime over 3G on a jailbroken i4.
And please, if a T-Mobile G1 from 2007 can support turn by turn navigation, then a iPhone with double the specs could easily support it.
And please, if a T-Mobile G1 from 2007 can support turn by turn navigation, then a iPhone with double the specs could easily support it.
I agree to an extent...but it's been stated that there are numerous features that can be implemented on older devices but simply don't (ex. VIP List on the 3GS...). They purposely decided not to give the VIP List to the 3GS; it does not need more RAM/better Processor to tag contacts as VIPs...
I would rather have Apple bring all the features it could rather than artificially crippling the OS. Just because other companies don't support older devices properly doesn't mean it is right.
Three flaws with that theory:
- AT&T's network is not nearly fast enough to max out the iPhone 4's bandwidth, let alone the 4S'
- Verizon/Sprint on the 4S will be far slower than AT&T on the 4
- 3G Unrestrictor has proven that facetime over 3G works fine since iOS 4.
So the facetime over 3G limitation is entirely artificial
Technology works this way. Over time hardware gets old and you need newer one to keep up.
My iPhone 4 on iOS 5.1.1 has trouble keeping up with 3 apps open at same time or opening simple apps like settings (2 seconds wait times didn't exist on iOS 4).
No matter what others say, specs do matter. But, they are not the only thing that matters. Software matters too.
So with new and demanding software, new hardware is a logical requirement. It is normal with a lot of other things in life, what's the problem with smartphones?
My iPhone 4 on iOS 5.1.1 has trouble keeping up with 3 apps open at same time or opening simple apps like settings (2 seconds wait times didn't exist on iOS 4).
No matter what others say, specs do matter. But, they are not the only thing that matters. Software matters too.
So with new and demanding software, new hardware is a logical requirement. It is normal with a lot of other things in life, what's the problem with smartphones?
To everyone who says phones, even old phones can support turn by turn: Yeah no sh...t. Thats not the point.
The point is Apple chose to build their turn by turn with full SIRI integration. She calls out the route AND you can ask her to navigate to places AND find places AND sort local restaurants by rating AND...goes on. Because the i4 does not support SIRI, the i4 does not get APPLES turn by turn implementation. Go buy one of the 100 other great turn by turn apps.
As far as Facetime over 3G....no excuse on that one I'll admit. Hopefully by the time iOS6 is released, it will have changed. Seeing as the i4 was Facetime's debut...seems like it should get it.
Hmm... Well it was the best device on the market when I bought it exactly two years ago next week..
Besides, later this year, the next iPhone comes out. And you're going to be in the same boat when iOS 7 makes it's debut in a year, and your tech is gonna be left out of many features, just like mine was now.. I, however, am eligible for upgrade now, so I'll be rocking the latest and greatest by then.
And you'll come to realize that your tech is just fine, and that the reason that features are omitted is because Apple doesn't want you to have all the bells and whistles if you haven't spent any $$$ this year..
Hmm... Well it was the best device on the market when I bought it exactly two years ago next week..
Besides, later this year, the next iPhone comes out. And you're going to be in the same boat when iOS 7 makes it's debut in a year, and your tech is gonna be left out of many features, just like mine was now.. I, however, am eligible for upgrade now, so I'll be rocking the latest and greatest by then.
And you'll come to realize that your tech is just fine, and that the reason that features are omitted is because Apple doesn't want you to have all the bells and whistles if you haven't spent any $$$ this year..
Not correct man, you still arent thinking this through. The 4S has a next gen dual core processor, just like the 3GS had a next gen chip. The 3G had the original iPhones tech, so it died off quickly. The 3GS is still going strong. The 4 has the 3GS tech in it, so it's dying more quickly, like the 3G.
The 4S is the next 3GS..relevent for much longer. I feel so sorry for the people who buy on design, and dont think this through. The odd cycle is the one to be on with Apple.
You are just an iPhone 4 hater wanting to laugh at people who own one. The 4 was the first iPhone to give us the Retina Display, Facetime, a much improved camera with flash, HD video recorder, and double the RAM from the 3Gs that is equal to the 4s right now. It improved the processor speed by 200 MHz which is slightly higher than from 3G to 3Gs (188 MHz). You make it sound like the only thing that changed with the 4 was the external design. Get off your high horse. Nothing stays on top forever. You just want some more reassurance that owning a 4s is more future-proof than the 4 when we can't predict this. The first gen iPad can't even get iOS6 but the iPhone 3Gs could? This is just Apple's strategy on their part, not hardware limitations.
Apple hold the features of iphone 4 and 3gs so people will upgrade.. they have been doing this for years. It has nothing to do with internal hardware.
You wanna tell me iphone 4 cant handle turn by turn nav and siri......?
For me, the most frustrating thing about forums is generalizations like this. In some cases, Apple has good reason for withholding features. There are many occasions where their motivations are business-related (some say greed), but not every time.
Why do you think buyers are "falling for this crap"? I buy products knowing full-well what Apple is about, understanding that I'll need to upgrade when something new arrives in a new device. Just because a feature is possible on an older doesn't mean users are entitled to it (unless it was promised at some point in the past). Also, products come in the form of hardware and software. I have no problem if one benefit with the iPhone 5 is software-based. Reading between the lines, you're suggesting that Apple can never market something software-based as a reason to upgrade.
Of course, there are cases when Apple does something in bad taste. As an iPhone 4 owner, FaceTime over 3G not being supported is one personal example. When Apple announced that FaceTime over 3G would be coming in 2011, I understood that would be through a carrier update. I suspect anyone watching the keynote then thought the same thing.
As a developer, the fact that someone with an iPhone 4 (that includes me) can't use Siri doesn't make a difference to me. If they have access to the latest system with the new APIs, then I can ignore the hardware. I suspect that's why iPhone 4 users get maps but not directions.
On that note, I'm very interested to see how maps and passbook integrate.
Dude.. To me your logic does not make any sense..
But.. If the next iPhone has a quad core chip, your 4S will then be "dying more quickly".. Also, I happen to care a lot about design and physical features, not just the CPU... I'm on the iPhone 3G and 4 cycle (or the "even cycle" if you will), and by this fall I will be eligible for an iPhone with LTE.. That, to me is worth muuuuch more than a CPU bump. And if it comes with a larger screen, forget it.. The iphone 4S will be insignificant.
And the reason I don't understand your logic, is because you will be left out in iOS 7, so what difference will your CPU specs make then?.. Just wait.. you'll see.. Next year it's the 4S that will get the shaft..
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I still think AT&T pressure had something to do with this decision... I mean, I'm not familiar with their current infrastructure, but it could get a little messy if all of a sudden all iPhones 4 and 4S are video conferencing over their 3G network.. Especially that first week or two, when everyone tries out the new feature... (and especially those who have never really used it, as the only internet source they have is the 3G on their phone).
I think AT&T knows they need to give up on that restriction, but it would have to be a gradual process, and not just all at once. And by restricting certain phones (they probably have more 4's than 4S's on their network), I'm sure they are gently breaking into the process.
