iPhone 4S not connecting to iTunes

[gamepack]

My iPhone 4S is (after some system update) refusing to connect to iTunes, latest version, although it keeps saying that I need the latest version, which I already have (11.4). My desktop Mac, Intel-Quad, has system 10.6.8, the iPhone itself has 9.2.

Has anybody a solution?
Thanks!
Richard

 

[eyoungren]

Sadly…you're stuck. iOS 9 will only sync with iTunes/iPhone on systems running OS X 10.7 and above.

You will either have to upgrade your Mac or OS or use a PC.

 

[gamepack]

Thanks. This is very awkward. Apple has always these kinds of upgrades. I remember the old classic version of the desktop Mac where suddenly several applications weren't functioning without warning.
So ,can I use a PC with iTunes to connect to the iPhone, and do my things there? What happens to the apps on my desktop Mac? Can I somehow load them on my iPhone?
What if I upgrade to a higher iPhone model? How would I go about?