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Thats expected. They shouldn't offer the upgrade to the 3GS just because they still sell the phone. If the phone's hardware can't run iOS 5 smoothly, then it makes no sense to have the device support it. Derp.
 
too bad for the sucker that bought my water damaged 3GS back in february. HTC Inspire 4G cost me $20. i'll only see one OS upgrade with it from HTC/ATT but it only cost me $20 and is faster than the iphone in some ways

Sounds like he has bigger problems than not being to able to run iOS 5.
 
I have a 3GS and this does not surprise me at all. My phone definitely shows its age running iOS4, I can only imagine how it runs on the 3G (which would be like the 3GS running iOS5, at least in terms of release dates). I only wish Canadian contracts lasted two years instead of three...
 
You really need to look at it from a normal persons perspective. They are still being sold as new, so they are the latest and greatest to a lot of people. These types of people will blindly update their device when iTunes says so. However, when they see that their phone doesn't get the highly advertised iOS5, there may be problems.

No. They are not.

Everybody who buys an iPhone knows it was released way back in 2009.

iPhone 4, the big news was released in 2010. Everybody should know that. Apple says in the TOC that they will support a new phone for atleast 2 years after the release date which they did. Maybe that's why they delayed the launch to get out of the two year time-frame.

I got my kid a 3GS recently and he's happy with it. I knew the iPhone4 was there. I knew something impressive is going to show up soon.

I don't think Apple is forced to upgrade my son's 3GS. I knew that.
 
The comparison between the iOS 4 introduction/obsoleting of the iPhone3G is fair, but there is a potential big difference. This time, rumor has it, there would be no new phone. Assuming they introduce iOS 5 in June, would they continue to sell the 3GS as the cheap phone? Sounds like it would make much more sense for them to do such a move while introducing a new phone. iPhone 4 would then become the cheap option that would be supported with iOS 5.
 
Given how slow the iPhone 3G runs under iOS 4, I can't say I'm surprised. I bet iOS 5 will have optimizations for the A-class processors, and the A4 will be the cutoff.

Agreed. Apple likes to do things right and I think they learned from letting the 3G run iOS4. I have no problem with this. If this is what it takes to get a significant revamp of the OS I say go for it.
 
You really need to look at it from a normal persons perspective.
A "normal" person (in the US) expects to get a new phone every two years after their contract expires. I would imagine that the person who is up for renewal and chooses the same, 2-year old phone is an uncommon breed.
They are still being sold as new, so they are the latest and greatest to a lot of people.
How is that relevant? There are still Symbian phones being sold as new.
These types of people will blindly update their device when iTunes says so. However, when they see that their phone doesn't get the highly advertised iOS5, there may be problems.
Maybe, but the majority realize that their iPhone 3GS is older than the iPhone 4 in the display right next to it. Thus, they go into the purchase knowing their phone is outdated.
 
Even if I still would have a iPhone 3GS and assuming I could install iOS5 on it ... I wouldn't do it. The newer major OS versions are optimized for the latest model (iPhone5) and run great on those - and run ok on the previous one (iPhone4) - they usually make older models too slow to be usable.
 
If that’s the case, I sure hope the 3GS at least gets some ongoing 4.x updates for at least minor features (like new App Store stuff, Game Center, whatever). Which is rare, but not unprecedented, with OS X releases.
 
I'm pretty sure I remember Apple promising 2 years of updates for the iPhones. This falls in line with it.

The one's who are bitching are making me roll my eyes. There was quite a few meltdowns on here when the 3G performed horribly on 4.0. Now people are pissed that Apple doesn't want to repeat that?

Also, 600 MHz Cortex A8 processor with 256 MB of RAM is not the same as an 800 MHz custom built A4 processor with 512 MB of RAM.
 
I like how people state Apple learned their lesson from the iOS 4 3G fiasco. Seriously, 30 seconds with it would have said this is not production ready. Not even remotely so, it was clearly a push to get people to upgrade by basically bricking their phones. They knew full well what they were releasing.

I say give 3GS users the option. Give them iOS 5 but let them revert if it's show stoppingly bad.
 
The problem is that Apple continued to sell the 3GS and still do! It may be 2 years old, so people who bought it 2 years ago have had a lot of updates and support, but there are people embarking on 2 year contracts with them even today (although why they would I don't know) so it would be nice for them to receive software and especially security updates for that timespan.

On the other hand I expect that there will be an iOS 4.4 that backports the suitable features from iOS5 for 3GS owners.

Apple should have replaced the 3GS with a cheaper version of the iPhone 4 at the beginning of this year. Plastic back instead of glass. Lower resolution display. Less RAM. 8GB flash.
 
Well... It's my opportunity to sell my 3Gs and move to Android ^^"...

Good luck getting your Android to update to the next version of their OS. Android OS upgrade roll outs flat out fails in comparison to Apple's upgrade implementation of iOS.

Seriously, at least with Apple you understand that every 3rd generation old phone will not be supported. Every 2nd generation will with a lack of some feature or two. And they almost exactly coincide with the launch of the iOS.

With Android, it is just so fragmented, and frankly, why deal with the hassle on a mobile?
 
People should just face it, Apple will force your hand at upgrading your phone every two years. The 3GS will not run but maybe one more iOS update and then will be put on the unsupported list like the 3G. Apple is in the business of making money not friends, otherwise Steve would be wearing hawaiian shirts and sandals.
 
What's the big deal? It will be just like many Android Phones?

Really... as long as iOS 4 keeps getting updated (like they've done with MacOSX 10.5 even though 10.6 is most current) it should be fine. The iPhone3Gs people will still have a great phone.... but we must move forward and the new processors are so much faster and I'm sure the next iPhone will be much faster than the iPhone4.

Actually... maybe they can make iOS4 even better for the 3Gs people and get rid of the lags completely.

OS X 10.5 hasn't gotten a single update after 10.6 was released, unless you count security updates as updates. Apple won't do anything good for the 3GS people. Apple has already got their money and all they want now is that those people spend another 600€ on a new iPhone when it is released.

Multitasking works fine in 3G with a jailbreak, yet Apple decided not to include it because 3G does not have the "horsepower" for that. What about Home screen background? Does that eat too many resources too :rolleyes: iOS 4 for 3G was a total fiasco. It didn't add ANY resource hungry features to the 3G, yet it turned it into an expensive brick. While I don't think anyone was able to provide any concrete proofs, I would bet that Apple did that on purpose to force people to buy new phones.

If I bought my iPhone with 2-year contract, I would still be paying for my phone while not being able to get the latest OS. That is why I find this ridiculous. Basically, it would be the same if Apple limited Lion to 2009 and newer Macs.
 
I like how people state Apple learned their lesson from the iOS 4 3G fiasco. Seriously, 30 seconds with it would have said this is not production ready. Not even remotely so, it was clearly a push to get people to upgrade by basically bricking their phones. They knew full well what they were releasing.

I say give 3GS users the option. Give them iOS 5 but let them revert if it's show stoppingly bad.

Worked for me ... after 1 week of iOS4 on my 3GS I asked my boss to approve the purchase of the iPhone 4 for me ... :D ... I Love my iPhone 4 (not sure if I'm going to put iOS5 on it right away .... maybe I wait for some speed reviews this time ... but than, I might need a good 'reason' to get the new phone)
 
Recap:

iPhone 1/2G - iPhoneOS 1 updates to v.2
iPhone 3G - iPhoneOS 2 updates to v.3
iPhone 3Gs - iPhoneOS 3 to iOS 4
iPhone 4 - iOS 4 and 5 maybe 6?
iPhone 5 - iOS 5 and future iOS 6,7?
 
Apple should have replaced the 3GS with a cheaper version of the iPhone 4 at the beginning of this year. Plastic back instead of glass. Lower resolution display. Less RAM. 8GB flash.

While I agree, I still believe it will fragment the phone line up too much. They do not want to confuse people. And they want to stay premium, I do not think they want anyone to label a better priced iPhone as the "cheap" iphone.
 
The fact of the matter is the 3GS hardware just can't support the newer iOS. I am sure they will do some kind of security update, but going backwards by developing a new iOS for older hardware is not practical and economical. Besides they still sell the 3GS because it is a low cost introduction to the iPhone. The goal is to get people to buy the new phone. The fact Apple regularly updates the iOS puts them far ahead of everyone else. Most phone manufacturers roll out firmware updates once a year, if that much.
 
iPhone 3G had 128MB of RAM. iPhone 3GS had 256MB of RAM.

I can still see some performance hits but the phone is way useful, smooth and productive.

I am fine with the 3GS not being updated. 2 years of great usage and experience. Time to buy a new phone. :)

The iPad arguably has a higher need for RAM due to its increased pixel count compared to the 3GS (over 4x) and its apps with more enhanced GUIs. Apple also did not make a big deal about it not having some features like they did with the 3GS. Finally, the iPad also got some exclusive productivity apps like pages etc. The point was that it did fine with those demands and 256 MB of memory, so it doesn't logically follow that they're going to add something in iOS5 that will kill the 3GS.

Similarly, this would also mean the iPad 1 shouldn't get iOS 5 given they have the same amount of RAM. There would be riots about that.
 
The problem is that Apple continued to sell the 3GS and still do! It may be 2 years old, so people who bought it 2 years ago have had a lot of updates and support, but there are people embarking on 2 year contracts with them even today (although why they would I don't know) so it would be nice for them to receive software and especially security updates for that timespan.

On the other hand I expect that there will be an iOS 4.4 that backports the suitable features from iOS5 for 3GS owners.

Apple should have replaced the 3GS with a cheaper version of the iPhone 4 at the beginning of this year. Plastic back instead of glass CHECK. Lower resolution display CHECK. Less RAM CHECK. 8GB flash CHECK.

So Apple should make an 3GS with an A4 chip?
 
Multitasking works fine in 3G with a jailbreak, yet Apple decided not to include it because 3G does not have the "horsepower" for that. What about Home screen background? Does that eat too many resources too :rolleyes: iOS 4 for 3G was a total fiasco. It didn't add ANY resource hungry features to the 3G, yet it turned it into an expensive brick.

I agree with you up until the quoted. Multitasking on the 3G is literally unusable. Wallpapers lag like nothing else as well. I'm sure you can find a you tube video documenting this.
 
GOOD.

Apple is already slow with major phone and iOS updates (compared to the quickly evolving Android). Progress should not be halted because of legacy hardware. Okay, calling the 3GS "legacy" is kind of aggressive, but if Apple can't make iOS 5 work WELL on it, then that's that. Don't dumb the OS down to satisfy people on $49 phones. Sorry.
 
Apple will want people on 3Gs' to upgrade to the iPhone 5 whn it comes out. By restricting the iOS it increases the incentive to do this.

Contracts for early adopters of the 3Gs will end around or a little before the iPhone 5s arrival so they are in the perfect window to upgrade.

For those who are buying the 3Gs' that are available now will know it's old kit so can't expect to have the latest and greatest iOS going forwards, this is part of the deal in buying older kit. They don't get the future advances, but they get an iPhone really cheap.
 
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