iOS 6 Users on Devices Able to Run iOS 7 Must Upgrade to Fix FaceTime

[C DM]

Apple's been trying to move away from devices having to be tied to a computer with iTunes because lots of people are ditching their computers altogether now solely for mobile devices.

Why would they waste resources developing an antiquated method to fix antiquated software?

Apple has never been a company to support old software for a long time. They're always about updates. It's been like that for decades.



That's great, and I agree that would be a good feature for people who didn't want to update, but that's water under the bridge. The software doesn't work that way. In order to make it that way now or in the future, Apple would first need to release an update to add that functionality. At that point, you're back to the same problem here as that update would have to be part of a new version of iOS 7 and not an older version of iOS 6.



Did you misunderstand the post?

The entire point of my post is exactly that. The underlying issue here is that most people do not understand how the update software actually works. Apple can't push 6.1.6 to a device that supports iOS 7 because that device's software is coded to check only for the latest version. That version is a version of iOS 7. There is NO way to make 6.1.6 available to these devices through iOS Software Update without Apple completely turning off the iOS 7 updates altogether, which clearly, they won't be doing.



Anyone who develops software can tell you how software updates work. There's no mechanism built in to iOS Software update to "choose an update version". It picks the newest one. That's it.

Yes, we know Apple can't do it via the system they have in place now (or at least they certainly make it seem like they can't so far). The point is that they could have and still can design the system work the way it works for OS X, for example, where patches can still be released for previous OS versions and people can install them without the need to go to the latest version if they don't want to. They do this just fine with OS X, they are certainly capable of doing it with iOS. Just because they haven't been doing it so far, doesn't mean that they really can't or shouldn't. That's the point.

 

[KPOM]

They developed iOS 6.1.6... They just need spent little time to make sure these update works well for devices runs iOS 6. Come on, Microsoft choose to support their Windows XP for more than 13 years. Why can't Apple support their old OS little bit longer?

It seems unreasonable to me for any company to ask their customer either upgrade or not using certain features. They paid their earning to Apple for their devices, now they need forced to upgrade just because Apple doesn't want maintain their older OS? Apple can stop supporting their old OS, it is their right. But it is not right to have certain feature of their old OS just not working all the sudden without forcing user to upgrade.

The difference is Microsoft is a software company that works on other company's hardware. Apple is a hardware company that writes software to make their products work. Microsoft has a vested interest in selling multiple versions so that as many people as possible can buy their software. Apple has a vested interest in simplifying its support and production channels, and having people upgrade quickly to the latest versions helps with that.

Also, note that even Microsoft is discouraging people from installing older versions now. Ideally for them, people would sign up for Office 365 subscriptions, which give them annual revenue streams. As it is, they place finite lives on their products (Office 2003 is no longer supported, for instance). But sometimes even Microsoft drops support for "newer" software. Microsoft is making Windows 8.1 Update 2 the "baseline" for support, which means that within six months, those running Windows 8.1 Update 1 or earlier won't get security updates or bug fixes.

 

[rdlink]

It was brought with the idea of FaceTime seeing most of her family who live away - I don't get why I need to spent a while retracting her some functions like the App Store, music - she is old and if things look different she thinks they works different - few weeks is over exaggeration but it will take a while and I'm not happy with it as you might have guessed

Dunno. I've worked with a lot of "technically challenged" people, and none of them have experienced any issue making the jump from iOS6 to iOS7.

And if FaceTime is the only reason she has the device, it should only take about 30 seconds to show her what the new icon looks like. Honestly, she's going to have to use iOS7 at some point. Why not now?

 

[C DM]

I think it's unreal how many people make condescending comments along the lines of 'just do the update'. iOS7 turned my perfectly functioning Iphone 4 into a frustratingly slow piece of junk. What, I just have to shell out for a new phone because Apple thinks so? It amazes me how many people follow Apple like a herd of sheep, willingly putting their money in the hands of rich people that only get richer. It's completely ridiculous when you think about it, Apple stating they make a product that enriches people's lives. Enriching lives? Look around you and what you see are mostly people buried with their head in their smartphone, constantly checking the most insignificant things, twittering the utmost banalities and getting depressed because they don't get enough messages and likes on the bazzilion social networks they are part of. Is it so difficult to see that this smartphone dependency means we've got our heads stuck so far up our @sses that it has turned us into retarded zombies? And we call it progress. It seems the smarter our phones get, the dumber and lazier we become in the process. A big F#CK YOU APPLE!

You should stop telling people they are wrong for telling others what to do, you should instead just listen to them and do what they tell you because they know better and they certainly should be able to make your decisions for you (since they certainly like to live in some universe where they think they can and should be able to). </sarcasm>

 

[apolloa]

something's wrong with your iPad 3. mine is blazing fast just as it was before. try the new update or something. 7.1 has been flawless, but i have to say that 7.0.x didn't have problems as well.

Nope it's a perfectly fine iPad 3, I know it's running 7.1 cause I updated it, but it can still lag. It's no where near as smooth as iOS6 was. Did you do a complete reformat and reinstall of your iPad to iOS7, or just an over the air upgrade?

 

[sonicrobby]

What does a retina display have to do with skeuomorphism? One of the biggest benefits of a retina display is in typography and that certainly isn't skeuomorphic. IMO you don't need all that embellishing when you have a beautiful display.

Here's Spotify in iOS 6 and iOS 7. Their iOS 7 design is so much better, IMO.
Image

Image

Same with weather channel app:

Image

And Fantastical

Image

In my opinion all three of these apps look better on retina display with iOS 7 style design language.

Id agree with you if I were drunk

 

[Rogifan]

You must be the only one. It's demonstrably slower.

My parents are running iOS 7 on 1st gen iPad mini with no problems, no lag.

 

[deviant]

Dunno. I've worked with a lot of "technically challenged" people, and none of them have experienced any issue making the jump from iOS6 to iOS7.

And if FaceTime is the only reason she has the device, it should only take about 30 seconds to show her what the new icon looks like. Honestly, she's going to have to use iOS7 at some point. Why not now?

cause some people prefer stability and the same thing forever and don't like to change. just like in music and other stuff. boring people, but they exist.

 

[C DM]

Dunno. I've worked with a lot of "technically challenged" people, and none of them have experienced any issue making the jump from iOS6 to iOS7.

And if FaceTime is the only reason she has the device, it should only take about 30 seconds to show her what the new icon looks like. Honestly, she's going to have to use iOS7 at some point. Why not now?

cause some people prefer stability and the same thing forever and don't like to change. just like in music and other stuff. boring people, but they exist.

Simply because people can decide what they want and need and what works for them and use that without someone undermining that for them or forcing them to do something that they have no business to be involved in? There doesn't need to be any justification from anyone for any personal decision they make for themselves and what they do. It's no one's business but theirs.

 

[deviant]

Nope it's a perfectly fine iPad 3, I know it's running 7.1 cause I updated it, but it can still lag. It's no where near as smooth as iOS6 was. Did you do a complete reformat and reinstall of your iPad to iOS7, or just an over the air upgrade?

i actually just did over the air update on top of the iOS 6. i usually reformat and install fresh systems (like always, pcs, macs, phones or whatever) but this time it worked so well that i just let it be. i'm not trolling or anything, it really works just fine...

 

[duffman9000]

Man that is f'd up. iOS 7 on an iPhone 4 isn't very smooth. Not as bad as iOS 4 on a iPhone 3G. That was so freaking bad I can't believe Apple released that disaster with a straight face.

 

[zioxide]

If thins were truly about security flaws that apple was trying to fix then ALL devices would be able to go up to the latest version of iOS. What happens when more flaws are detected? Will we be forced to upgrade again? Why are other apps not affected by this? The fix IS simple - update the FaceTime app and leave everything else alone.

Don't you think if they could just update the app, they would have?

The certificates are built in to the operating system, not the app. Hence the need to update the OS.

It is about security. That's why they released 6.1.6 to fix this security certificate on devices that don't support iOS 7. If they didn't care about security, they wouldn't have wasted time with that 6.1.6 update for the old devices.

Apple push major OS X update through their Mac App Store, why cannot Apple do the same? Why simply put iOS 6.1.6 on iOS App Store and let user update through iOS 6.1.6?

A major OS X update is not the same as a minor iOS update. The Mac App store was designed from the start to be able to push major OS X updates. The iOS App store was not, and therefore would first need an update to accommodate this type of feature. Since the App Store is a system app, that would require a new iOS version which brings you right back to where we started.

Yes, we know Apple can't do it via the system they have in place now (or at least they certainly make it seem like they can't so far). The point is that they could have and still can design the system work the way it works for OS X, for example, where patches can still be released for previous OS versions and people can install them without the need to go to the latest version if they don't want to. They do this just fine with OS X, they are certainly capable of doing it with iOS. Just because they haven't been doing it so far, doesn't mean that they really can't or shouldn't. That's the point.

Well yeah, but this still doesn't change anything now. They could add the feature in the future (don't hold your breath) but it's not there now, so there's nothing that can be done. Again, you're right back to where you are, where any type of changes to the updating software requires an update itself.

 

[deviant]

Simply because people can decide what they want and need and what works for them and use that without someone undermining that for them or forcing them to do something that they have no business to be involved in? There doesn't need to be any justification from anyone for any personal decision they make for themselves and what they do. It's no one's business but theirs.

that's just an illusion of choice. if you really want something that works fine JUST FOR YOU, JUST HOW YOU LIKE IT you just have to build something from scratch, for yourself. we only use and like what we are presented with and our choice and what's best for us basically just depends on our LIMITED options. i know my stuff.
If you don't like something, just change it for something else. I'm serious, we don't have to depends on one brand, one manufacture etc. We have a choice. Limited, but still, we can choose.

 

[rdlink]

I think it's unreal how many people make condescending comments along the lines of 'just do the update'. iOS7 turned my perfectly functioning Iphone 4 into a frustratingly slow piece of junk. What, I just have to shell out for a new phone because Apple thinks so? It amazes me how many people follow Apple like a herd of sheep, willingly putting their money in the hands of rich people that only get richer. It's completely ridiculous when you think about it, Apple stating they make a product that enriches people's lives. Enriching lives? Look around you and what you see are mostly people buried with their head in their smartphone, constantly checking the most insignificant things, twittering the utmost banalities and getting depressed because they don't get enough messages and likes on the bazzilion social networks they are part of. Is it so difficult to see that this smartphone dependency means we've got our heads stuck so far up our @sses that it has turned us into retarded zombies? And we call it progress. It seems the smarter our phones get, the dumber and lazier we become in the process. A big F#CK YOU APPLE!

All well and good. Except for the fact that it didn't make your iPhone 4 a frustratingly slow piece of junk. Remember when you make these absurd remarks that a large number of the people you're making them to own or have used the same hardware, and are aware of what the actual experience is.

So just do the update...

 

[C DM]

Do you think Apple should support all old iOS versions merely because some people might still be using them? Or rather, they should support iOS 6 because you, for whatever reason, have decided that version is what you like? That's the most unreasonable, selfish thing I've ever heard.

Maybe, you know, because they do this kind of thing for OS X, and have been doing it for a while. Strange how this crazy idea is something they actually have quite a bit of experience in doing and are actively doing (just not for iOS). Now what sounds "most unreasonable" and "selfish"?

 

[TheRainKing]

The ignorance in this thread is astounding.

Why is there so much hostility towards people who chose to stay on iOS 6?

Some people chose not to upgrade because their device runs best on iOS 6, others just prefer the iOS 6 design. How hard is it to understand??

 

[SakuraSuki]

The difference is Microsoft is a software company that works on other company's hardware. Apple is a hardware company that writes software to make their products work. Microsoft has a vested interest in selling multiple versions so that as many people as possible can buy their software. Apple has a vested interest in simplifying its support and production channels, and having people upgrade quickly to the latest versions helps with that.

Also, note that even Microsoft is discouraging people from installing older versions now. Ideally for them, people would sign up for Office 365 subscriptions, which give them annual revenue streams. As it is, they place finite lives on their products (Office 2003 is no longer supported, for instance). But sometimes even Microsoft drops support for "newer" software. Microsoft is making Windows 8.1 Update 2 the "baseline" for support, which means that within six months, those running Windows 8.1 Update 1 or earlier won't get security updates or bug fixes.

Microsoft discouraging people installing older version, yes... because they want to sell newer version. But Microsoft does not make certain part of software stop functioning. There is no reason for FaceTime stop function like that. If it is bug, then fix it.

Windows 8.1 case is not that important. Windows 8.1 user can do two things: 1. Update to Windows 8.1 Update 2 2. Downgrade to Windows 7 or stay on Windows 8.1. Windows 7 mainstream support end at Jan. 2015 and Windows 8.1 mainstream support ends at Jan. 2018. Yes, Microsoft traditionally support service pack or update shorter than OS support. And yes, not update Windows 8.1 won't make 8.1 broken.

 

[Rogifan]

Id agree with you if I were drunk

Sure everyone will have their own opinions on what good design is. But I'm struggling to understand how a hi-res display requires lots of shadows, gradients, faux glass, leather, felt, wood grain, etc. To me that's where so-called flat design shines best. Maybe all that chrome and embellishing was necessary in crappy displays but I don't think it is any longer.

 

[weckart]

Users not reading these terms is not Apple's problem.

Apparently I must repeat myself.

As the AppleCare support terms and conditions clearly states:



So, based on the issue at hand, they owe you nothing. iOS 7 fixes the issue, therefore, you cannot harass them to fix older software. PERIOD.

It also states:



Therefore, BEFORE YOU EVEN CALL THEM, you agreed to update to iOS 7. If you don't agree to these terms, too bad. Stop using your device. You originally agreed when you opened the box and turned it on. Stop whining and get over it.

To summarize: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC4QuAIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVDW0ZnZxjn4&ei=T2tZU7DUJ9HIsASIkoGYAg&usg=AFQjCNFEvDBgxwB2hWusl_LzPZ9OWu7i6A&bvm=bv.65397613,d.cWc

So repeat yourself if it makes you happy. Just because a company throws any old crap into T&Cs does not make any of it legally binding. Apple has been taken to task on its T&Cs before, particularly in Europe where you mess with consumer rights at your peril.

Good luck getting any couched in such vague terms as these past any court if a class action does roll in. Apple has made a rod for its own back by including the Facetime fix in 6.1.6. Good luck trying to justify withholding that update from any device capable for running it.

This thread absolutely reeks of fanboy BS tonight.

 

[31 Flavas]

Haha, good move to get those last stubborn people to update to iOS 7. Bravo Apple, I approve.

Explain to me how this works: GoToFail can be ignored by someone who dislikes the iOS 7 UI. But broken Facetime? Poop, can't ignore that. Gotta upgrade now. Curse you Apple for breaking Facetime!!!!! I will hate you forever for forcing my hand.

 

[deviant]

Explain to me how this works: GoToFail can be ignored by someone who dislikes the iOS 7 UI. But broken Facetime? Poop, can't ignore that. Gotta upgrade now. Curse you Apple for breaking Facetime!!!!! I will hate you forever for forcing my hand.

dude, what's all the hate? buy another phone or something. i mean, nobody has obligations towards you. you liked it you bought it, you don't like it, but something else. it's that simple. people do this all the time

 

[sebastian...]

I'm actually glad Apple is doing something about these people that refuse to update their systems. Give them no choice if they continue to want to run FaceTime - priceless.

Such evilness in you.
Ok I'll try to reply with the same tone: I'm glad your car is gonna break down exactly when you'll need it the most.

 

[Nickerbocker]

I must be naive. Why can't Apple just update the certificate?

They can they just don't and its for the same reason that they don't allow installing older versions of iOS by their activation scheme.

 

[duffman9000]

All well and good. Except for the fact that it didn't make your iPhone 4 a frustratingly slow piece of junk. Remember when you make these absurd remarks that a large number of the people you're making them to own or have used the same hardware, and are aware of what the actual experience is.

So just do the update...

But you ignore the fact that iOS 7 on an iPhone 4 is slower than iOS 6. Before you disagree you do know websites compared the 3 releases (iOS 6, iOS7.0 and iOS 7.1)?

 

[C DM]

The ignorance in this thread is astounding.

Why is there so much hostility towards people who chose to stay on iOS 6?

Some people chose not to upgrade because their device runs best on iOS 6, others just prefer the iOS 6 design.

Anonymous posters on internet forums like to pretend that what they have to say is important and and is therefore clearly better than what any others can decide for themselves.