Not Cool

[firstapple]

I don't understand why people complain about this issue... Are you buying the iPad because of what it is currently, or because of what it could be in a couple of years after iOS updates? I buy the iPad because of what it currently is, and any additional updates on top of that are considered gifts from Apple. The only thing they are more or less required to do is update the current iOS for bug fixes. Everyone is wanting all these upgrades for free, but that's not how life works. This kind of business has been going on for many years and it really shouldn't catch people off guard.

 

[phonk]

Updates messed up my iPhone 3g which obviously couldn't handle the new (though watered down) features. My 1. generation iPad already feels slower with the last OS so i'm not eager for another update.

 

[MattInOz]

Outside the USA the iPad has been on sale less than 2 years.
Sure they'll keep working well with iOS 5 for many years to come, but can't help thinking that it should have held up better hardware wise and should be on iOS6 update list.

 

[kiwiboi87]

i think apple made a smart move,
it shows they have learned from their mistakes with iOS 4,
and rather then trying to update a old model, and running into issues

just leave it out all together,


i would rather have a working device, on a decent os, 5.1.1
then a slow almost bricked device on a os, that i can't enjoy because its so slow

 

[mnemonix]

Your points are completely valid, but I don't know about "years to come." my iPod tough 1G has been rendered useless for almost 2 years now. As almost all apps require 4.0. :/

Nope, still not useless, still capable of running all the apps and doing all the things, if not more, than it could do the day you bought it.

You still don't get it do you? there is no entitlement to an OS upgrade beyond that original agreement, nor to functionality above and beyond what it could do when you bought it.

I'm sick of the children on this board wih their over-excitement, limited attention span, unrealistic expectations and retarded excitement leading up to each and every product launch, followed by the petulant, self entitled whining when they don't get want they want afterwards. It's one of the the most depressing and repetitive cycle I've ever witnessed. I'm sure there were adults on this forum once.

 

[AR999]

Here's a few things to think about.

1. The iPad 1 and the iPhone both have 256mb of RAM to play around with. (So everything is the same so far, but thats it)

2. The iPad is no longer sold, Apple isn't going to sell a product that isn't being supported. (That will prob change when they drop the iPhone 4 to the Free on contract spot where the 3GS is at)

3. The Display on the 3GS is only 480 x 320 where the iPad 1 has a display of 1024 x 768. So its already using up 3x the amount of RAM just to power the display.

So when the running apps on the iPad, the developer already has less room to play with, hence why A LOT of apps don't run properly on the iPad 1. So add that with a new OS loaded on to it now 2 times over and there is no more room to do anything more.

True, but why would ios 6 take up much more in RAM to run, I mean theres nothing obvious going on that I could think of that would require much more ram, its not like its having to run widgets or the like, as far as I'm concerned this is apple locking out ipad 1 users and giving them an artificial reason to upgrade.

 

[iBreatheApple]

Nope, still not useless, still capable of running all the apps and doing all the things, if not more, than it could do the day you bought it.

You still don't get it do you? there is no entitlement to an OS upgrade beyond that original agreement, nor to functionality above and beyond what it could do when you bought it.

I'm sick of the children on this board wih their over-excitement, limited attention span, unrealistic expectations and retarded excitement leading up to each and every product launch, followed by the petulant, self entitled whining when they don't get want they want afterwards. It's one of the the most depressing and repetitive cycle I've ever witnessed. I'm sure there were adults on this forum once.

Actually, I couldn't care less about my 1G touch. And I don't expect it to be supported, nor did I claim otherwise. And no, you absolutely CANNOT download many, many apps from the app store as it will tell you it requires iOS x.x. You're chastising others and claiming to be an adult when your lash out was as childish and irrelevant as anyone's, not to mention completely uncalled for. Either do some research or only say what you know for a fact.

I'm sick of people talking out of their ass. It's one thing to disagree or oppose an idea of another, but don't overreact so much especially given that 1) you obviously don't know what you're talking about, and 2) my original statement was actually agreeing with you and I merely pointed something out.

 

[Aidoneus]

One great selling point of Apple products is the significantly longer useful working life of the machines.

iPad 1 barely outlived contemporary Android tablets thanks to 1 major iOS upgrade, but not much more. To support it longer would truly dent the usefulness of A-tabs.

The first generation iPad received two major OS updates.

 

[0000757]

Welcome to the world of technology.

VERSUS

VERSUS

The iPad has a faster processor, but Faster processors don't mean anything. My Your Memory also DIRECTLY relates to your performance.

Also, Apple isn't the only one who does this. Motorola introduced the Droid 3 only 11 months after the Droid 2 and dropped all but minor carrier support.

Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S II 4G & Galaxy S II HD were announced in August. The Samsung Galaxy S III was announced in May. The Some features will be lacking from the GSII HD.

Motorola announced the Atrix 4G in February 2011 (Even later for other regions; the latest was May for the UK). The Atrix 2 followed in just 8 months (5 for UK). The Atrix 4G has been dropped.

Kinda irrelevant. It was still the flagship tablet device just over a year ago.

Tablets are laptop competitors and, if anything, should be supported for longer than smartphones. I bet the business customers that have adopted iPads are pissed right now.

Wrong and Wrong

Businesses are almost NEVER completely up-to-date. My "employer" (I'm not a full employee, just a summer job) Still uses the plastic MacBooks from 2008. They still use First Gen iPod touches. I asked the head of the tech department and they said they'll get new iPads when their current iPads start to fail. They just NOW upgraded to Windows 7. If it works, businesses will use it. They won't upgrade every 2 years just for some new features.

The iPad was released in 2010. The iPad 2 was released in 2011. The iPad was the flagship model until 2011. The iPad was not sold along NEW with the iPad 2. The iPad 2 is still sold along-side the retina iPad.

 

[shurcooL]

I don't understand why people complain about this issue... Are you buying the iPad because of what it is currently, or because of what it could be in a couple of years after iOS updates? I buy the iPad because of what it currently is, and any additional updates on top of that are considered gifts from Apple. The only thing they are more or less required to do is update the current iOS for bug fixes. Everyone is wanting all these upgrades for free, but that's not how life works. This kind of business has been going on for many years and it really shouldn't catch people off guard.

Yes, people buy iPad with plans to use it for more than a day.

My concern with not getting iOS 6 is not that it doesn't get new features, I'm just concerned it might be rendered unusable because of the dependency on iCloud. Right now all iCloud devices work well together when they're all up to date. But imagine you have your Mac with the latest OS X and iCloud, but your iPad is running an old outdated iOS 5 with old iCloud support. Maybe it will mess up your iCloud data? I hope not, but this worries me.

It might be because I've never owned an iOS device that no longer supported the latest iOS version, so the experience is unfamiliar and scary to me. Especially in today's highly connected and interdependent world of iCloud.

----------

If you buy an ipad less 14 days (maybe 30?) before announcing new one you can exchange. If you buy it after announcing new one, well, you're an idiot.

Why would you buy a new iPad in march when you should know, "Hmmmm Apple generally releases things a year-ish apart? Should I wait? Should I have enough sense to google "iPad 2" for rumors??"

Have you ever walked into an Apple Store, take a look at the average person there. The average and majority of people, especially ones buying iPads, are not the tech-savvy advanced computer users or Apple enthusiasts that you may find on this forum.

IIRC, they were saying something like every 2nd iPad was being sold as the person's first Apple device.

Those people buy iPads throughout the year, and not just during the first day when it comes out. So yes, there were people buying the original iPad days, weeks and months before iPad 2 was available, and not everyone of them could exchange for iPad 2.

----------

Also, Apple isn't the only one who does this. Motorola introduced the Droid 3 only 11 months after the Droid 2 and dropped all but minor carrier support.

Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy S II 4G & Galaxy S II HD were announced in August. The Samsung Galaxy S III was announced in May. The Some features will be lacking from the GSII HD.

Motorola announced the Atrix 4G in February 2011 (Even later for other regions; the latest was May for the UK). The Atrix 2 followed in just 8 months (5 for UK). The Atrix 4G has been dropped.

I know things are even worse when it comes to long-term support for Android, but why would you want to compare to someone who's doing even worse? Right now Apple is the best, they offer the longest support for their iOS devices. Do you want them to offer less support than Android?

Anyway, it is what it is so there's not much point in talking more about it. I'm sure Apple made the hard decision to cut off iPad 1 based on technical reasons, so it's just sad and I hope in the future their devices last longer. I feel bad for the iPad 1 owners, that's all (I don't own an iPad 1 myself, but my mom does).

 

[johndallas999]

iPad was released April 2010.

Ok, that's got to be one of the more ignorant comments i've seen, of course it was released then but it was sold as current technology up until March of 2011 as the OP mentioned. I agree with the OP that it's rediculous to not include support for it when they're supporting the 3GS which is a 3 year old device.

 

[chiefpavvy]

Ok, that's got to be one of the more ignorant comments i've seen, of course it was released then but it was sold as current technology up until March of 2011 as the OP mentioned. I agree with the OP that it's rediculous to not include support for it when they're supporting the 3GS which is a 3 year old device.

To each their own. Welcome to the world of technology. I'm amazed the 3GS is getting IOS6 in any form (no matter how neutered) but the fact is, even with equal specs, it takes a lot more "UMPH" to generate the same experience on the larger screen of the iPad versus the small screen of the 3GS.

Remember when Apple unleashed iOS4 and the iPhone 3G came to a halt running it? I'm sure IOS6 on the original iPad would befit a similar experience and Apple wanted no part of it.

At the end of the day, you have a decision to make. Continue to enjoy your original iPad, which is not rendered unusable by the release of iOS6, or upgrade and move along. That's the way tech works.

 

[oBMTo]

Absolutely.

I can't make a purchase today wondering what it will do for me in 2 years. I buy it for what it can do for me today.

Also, it's from Apple.

 

[Beezzy]

True, but why would ios 6 take up much more in RAM to run, I mean theres nothing obvious going on that I could think of that would require much more ram, its not like its having to run widgets or the like, as far as I'm concerned this is apple locking out ipad 1 users and giving them an artificial reason to upgrade.

But running that display on 256 mb of RAM was a horrible idea. The screen itself isn't Using the RAM but the applications themselves are because of the screen size. And with 5.0, people hated the speed of their iPad 1. Imagine the user experience if it had 6. It's just gonna be updated. It started on iOS 3 and taken to 5.1. Now that unheard of I'm Android. But times are changing and not very iOS device will be updated forever. It just happens.

 

[matttye]

Wrong and Wrong

Businesses are almost NEVER completely up-to-date. My "employer" (I'm not a full employee, just a summer job) Still uses the plastic MacBooks from 2008. They still use First Gen iPod touches. I asked the head of the tech department and they said they'll get new iPads when their current iPads start to fail. They just NOW upgraded to Windows 7. If it works, businesses will use it. They won't upgrade every 2 years just for some new features.

The iPad was released in 2010. The iPad 2 was released in 2011. The iPad was the flagship model until 2011. The iPad was not sold along NEW with the iPad 2. The iPad 2 is still sold along-side the retina iPad.

iPads are completely different to PCs. Don't even try to compare them. With iPads, you don't have to worry about drivers and whether it will be compatible with existing hardware when you update the software like you do with Windows and other desktop OSes. There's also no cost to worry about as the updates are free.

Not to mention that individual employees can update the software easily enough; there's no need to contract companies or your IT department if you have one to get them to update everything.

So yeah, COMPLETELY different and there really is no reason for businesses not to stay up to date. The fact that businesses don't stay up to date in terms of hardware is a reason why Apple SHOULD continue to support iPads for longer.

 

[0000757]

iPads are completely different to PCs. Don't even try to compare them. With iPads, you don't have to worry about drivers and whether it will be compatible with existing hardware when you update the software like you do with Windows and other desktop OSes. There's also no cost to worry about as the updates are free.

Not to mention that individual employees can update the software easily enough; there's no need to contract companies or your IT department if you have one to get them to update everything.

So yeah, COMPLETELY different and there really is no reason for businesses not to stay up to date. The fact that businesses don't stay up to date in terms of hardware is a reason why Apple SHOULD continue to support iPads for longer.

No, that's not how businesses work. They have budgets. Budgets can't afford to buy a new iPad every single year. My employer has 25 iPads. Getting 25 new iPads would cost $12,475. My school has about 50-60 iPads. Replacing those could cost anywhere from $24,950 to $29,940 dollars.

Businesses and Schools can not always afford to upgrade constantly, nor do they need to. Businesses aren't picky consumers that need to have everything new. Notice not only did I mention computers, but also iPod touches and iPads. If something works for a school and business, they're going to use it. All the iPads at my work are still on iOS 4 because there's no need for them to upgrade. The only really beneficial factor to upgrading from the original iPad to the iPad 2/3 or iPod touch 4th Gen if you're a business that has an app, and unless it's an app from the app store then you're most likely going to have the full API access suite, since you can lock out the device using guided access. Hell, even Apple themselves have yet to upgrade their iPad displays by their products to the retina model. You would think that if a business would need these constant upgrades, then Apple would, but no, because constant upgrade is not needed. My mom was sitting on the same computer for 8 YEARS before she finally got a new one? Why, because IT WORKED. It did what she needed it to do. My friend still uses a 2nd gen iPod touch, because it STILL WORKS. It DOES WHAT HE NEEDS. If a business needs the new features, then of course they'll upgrade, but there aren't really any new features that would benefit a business.

 

[matttye]

No, that's not how businesses work. They have budgets. Budgets can't afford to buy a new iPad every single year. My employer has 25 iPads. Getting 25 new iPads would cost $12,475. My school has about 50-60 iPads. Replacing those could cost anywhere from $24,950 to $29,940 dollars.

Businesses and Schools can not always afford to upgrade constantly, nor do they need to. Businesses aren't picky consumers that need to have everything new. Notice not only did I mention computers, but also iPod touches and iPads. If something works for a school and business, they're going to use it. All the iPads at my work are still on iOS 4 because there's no need for them to upgrade. The only really beneficial factor to upgrading from the original iPad to the iPad 2/3 or iPod touch 4th Gen if you're a business that has an app, and unless it's an app from the app store then you're most likely going to have the full API access suite, since you can lock out the device using guided access. Hell, even Apple themselves have yet to upgrade their iPad displays by their products to the retina model. You would think that if a business would need these constant upgrades, then Apple would, but no, because constant upgrade is not needed. My mom was sitting on the same computer for 8 YEARS before she finally got a new one? Why, because IT WORKED. It did what she needed it to do. My friend still uses a 2nd gen iPod touch, because it STILL WORKS. It DOES WHAT HE NEEDS. If a business needs the new features, then of course they'll upgrade, but there aren't really any new features that would benefit a business.

Please read what I said and rethink your reply.

 

[0000757]

Please read what I said and rethink your reply.

Why should I rethink it? It's my response. You said there's no reason that businesses shouldn't upgrade. I wrote my response.

 

[matttye]

Why should I rethink it? It's my response. You said there's no reason that businesses shouldn't upgrade. I wrote my response.

My entire post was related to upgrading software, not hardware, and your very first sentence started talking about hardware budgets, so you misunderstood me.

I was saying there's no reason for businesses not to stay up to date with SOFTWARE on the iPad, as there's no monetary or compatibility concerns, and employees can update the iPads themselves as it's so easy to do.

I said that the fact that businesses don't constantly purchase new hardware is a big reason for Apple to support existing hardware for longer.

 

[0000757]

there really is no reason for businesses not to stay up to date

.

 

[matttye]

.

Yeah, with SOFTWARE. My entire post was about software, so if I then type "there's no reason for businesses not to stay up to date," I'm not going to be talking about hardware, am I?

 

[DeaconGraves]

I was saying there's no reason for businesses not to stay up to date with SOFTWARE on the iPad, as there's no monetary or compatibility concerns, and employees can update the iPads themselves as it's so easy to do.

Actually, there are compatibility concerns.

Just look around this forum and there are already lists popping up of applications that just aren't working with the iOS 6 preview. Admittedly, we're still in beta, but that doesn't mean that once we're out of beta all apps are suddenly going to start working properly. If a business-critical app, for whatever reason, does not start working properly with iOS 6 on launch day, you can't have employees updating their software.

There's also the possibility that companies are using proprietary software installed ad hoc onto employee iPads (not going through the normal App Store process). Those apps might actually be more likely to break in a new iOS version because there might not be a full-time development team working on it constantly.

So yes, there are absolutely reasons why businesses wouldn't upgrade.

 

[matttye]

Actually, there are compatibility concerns.

Just look around this forum and there are already lists popping up of applications that just aren't working with the iOS 6 preview. Admittedly, we're still in beta, but that doesn't mean that once we're out of beta all apps are suddenly going to start working properly. If a business-critical app, for whatever reason, does not start working properly with iOS 6 on launch day, you can't have employees updating their software.

There's also the possibility that companies are using proprietary software installed ad hoc onto employee iPads (not going through the normal App Store process). Those apps might actually be more likely to break in a new iOS version because there might not be a full-time development team working on it constantly.

So yes, there are absolutely reasons why businesses wouldn't upgrade.

Fair enough, so that is one reason why a business might not want to upgrade. However, compatibility issues appear to me to be quite rare on iOS. Far and wide, applications just work on the new OS. It's not a massive decision that requires detailed consideration of the network, whether the new systems will be compatible with the existing networks and hardware, whether it is worth the cost (as there is none), etc.

 

[chiefpavvy]

Fair enough, so that is one reason why a business might not want to upgrade. However, compatibility issues appear to me to be quite rare on iOS. Far and wide, applications just work on the new OS. It's not a massive decision that requires detailed consideration of the network, whether the new systems will be compatible with the existing networks and hardware, whether it is worth the cost (as there is none), etc.

Now clearly, you have zero idea how IT runs in a corporate environment. There's a reason so many machines are still running Windows XP, and it isn't merely that all of these companies are cheap skates.

A new iOS isn't just about app compatibility; There are a plethora of security issues, for example, and ramifications which must be monitored and such. It really is quite different than a casual user.

 

[matttye]

Now clearly, you have zero idea how IT runs in a corporate environment. There's a reason so many machines are still running Windows XP, and it isn't merely that all of these companies are cheap skates.

A new iOS isn't just about app compatibility; There are a plethora of security issues, for example, and ramifications which must be monitored and such. It really is quite different than a casual user.

I have a good understanding of how IT runs in a corporate environment given that I am the IT support staff at my office. Anywho, the way Apple controls iOS with an iron fist and doesn't allow rogue apps into the app store surely has to give some reassurances to businesses. Each update will contain bug fixes, some of which are serious.

With iOS there's clearly no firewalls, antiviruses, etc you need to worry about.

Whilst there will be considerations to make, it's not going to be as big a decision as updating something like Windows. A lot of the cautiousness is handled by Apple themselves.