How is it not being supported? Do you expect them to throw in a free processor upgrade every two years?
I am not crazy, and no I don't expect that. But for company that prides itself on superior products I would like to think they would develop a product that won't be considered old and outdated in a one year period of time. Apple hasn't always been in the new model out every year game until around the birth of the iPod.
From my point of view, and that is all this is, doesn't seem like they should be releasing a product every year. Make one good solid product that will survive a two year period, then release the latest and great version with the newer technology. Unless there is some ground breaking new technology the first Gen device would still be powerful enough to run the software updates for up to a four year period. I mean, just because you add a new screen , slightly tweaked CPU, and a updated camera doesn't make it some ground breaking device. It's like taking a Harley and changing the pipes, and adding some after market chrome... It's just a face lift in the end.
They already had retina display at the time of the iPad two, and they already had better cameras. So why wasn't the iPad two the current three? I would have to think they did it just so they could continue on this one year cycle because they knew they had nothing truly ground breaking to offer in that time frame. So rather then break the one year cycle or have an iPad 3 released with just a software update, they held out and rationed the hardware.
Now don't get me wrong I am not Apple bashing, tons of other companies do this these days. I just think its sad that at the consumer level we have people who think this is an acceptable business practice. I see tons of people on here and other places basically saying , shut up or buy a new iPad. Here is my problem, the iPad one wasn't able to run some apps only a year after it's release because it couldn't handle some of the games designed for the iPad twos CPU. Fast forward a year after that and now the iPad two cannot run apps designed for the retina display. At the current price of these devices they are most certainly not a one year trend item. If I wanted a device that would have issues supporting software only a year later, there are much cheaper solutions out there for that. I think I paid $400 for my Ps3 5 years ago and it still plays they latest games. My tv I bought three years ago still able to display the latest HD movies and TV shows. My fridge I bought 6 years ago still makes ice cubes and keeps all the latest and greatest food cold lol.
But my iPad is already outdated and will need to be replaced within a two year period of time from purchase date to still be able to function as designed. Which by design and iPad is a portable devices capable of running software from a app store. Once apps no longer support your device in this said market place, that makes your devices out dated and obsolete in a sense. I bought a different type of apple last week.. Fuji apples to be exact. And I'll be damned if they still didn't stay cold in my fridge like the fridge is designed to do.
Point being in the end, Apple can do this because it's target consumer doesn't seem to care if the object they bought is pretty much obsolete or out dated the moment they walk out the door. Because next year the die hards will have the next generation no matter what. I'll still be happy with my little old man of an iPad two next year. And possibly the year that follows. Unless they release one with an ivy bridge
