Original iPad & iOS 6

[poloponies]

Sorry, let me elaborate.

As apps get updated, the minimum requirements (i.e. iOS4 etc) can change too.
With some apps, they will no longer support IOS5.
As the iPad1 is the only iPad to not support iOS6, We will see an increasing number of apps that will soon be incompatible with Ipad1.

My iPod touch 1st gen is next to useless now as apps that once worked will no longer launch. It will work as a music player of course, but apps that once worked do so no longer.
This will happen on the iPad 1 too..

First of all, you are under no obligation to update any apps that you own. You can continue to use the working version indefinitely (my wife has an iPad 1 with an ungodly number of apps that have yet to be updated).

Second, you have no idea of how apps will be updated in the future.

Regardless, there will be no scenario under which an iPad 1 will stop working with any currently installed app in a few months.

 

[windowpain]

Regardless, there will be no scenario under which an iPad 1 will stop working with any currently installed app in a few months.

Of course. I wasn't trying to imply the the apps would spontaneously stop working. I thought it clear that I meant that they wouldn't work once updated, hence my quote of Tinmania below.

Originally Posted by Tinmania
I think Apple should deal with this situation, but I don't have a solution. Perhaps keep a "last version that worked on x.x" available to download for older devices? I don't know.

 

[tbobmccoy]

First of all, you are under no obligation to update any apps that you own. You can continue to use the working version indefinitely (my wife has an iPad 1 with an ungodly number of apps that have yet to be updated).

Second, you have no idea of how apps will be updated in the future.

Regardless, there will be no scenario under which an iPad 1 will stop working with any currently installed app in a few months.

Very true. I'd suggest keeping the backup iOS apps in case the updates hurt your older OS.

 

[Tinmania]

First of all, you are under no obligation to update any apps that you own. You can continue to use the working version indefinitely (my wife has an iPad 1 with an ungodly number of apps that have yet to be updated).

That is great for her.

What if, for whatever the reason, that iPad needs to do a full restore sometime down the road? If you didn't know to save the IPA's for apps that no longer work on 5.x you cannot install the newer version.

That is exactly the situation for my 1st generation iPhone: Many of the apps that were working just fine cannot be reinstalled as I do not have the older IPA's.

Let's not criticize me or anyone else for not backing up what we didn't even know was needed. Nowhere does Apple explain this should be done, nor how (yes, I know how to, but my original iPhone is not at the top of my mind).

All I was saying is that if Apple wanted to they could prevent this from happening (say, by allowing us to download the "last version that worked on x.x"). I realize this is not a high priority for Apple and will likely never happen.

That said if I still had my iPad 1 you bet I would be backing up IPAs regularly starting this fall.




Michael

 

[jmpnop]

The only two options here are: 1) have Apple shoehorn iOS 6 onto the first iPad and deal with increased slowdowns and lag or 2) leave the first iPad at iOS 5 and have some apps not be compatible with the device.

Using the first gen iPad and iOS 5, it is pretty slow already. While certainly still usable, it's no longer has the fluid look and feel of the OS it originally shipped with (iOS 3).

iPhone 3GS has inferior specs and still got iOS 6. There is just no reason for the original iPad to not get iOS 6.

 

[Rodster]

You argued that, if a gaping security hole is discovered in an iOS-based device that is no longer supported by the current version of iOS, Apple will respond by releasing a patched version of the older version of iOS to address that security hole.

I responded by pointing out that Apple has explicitly not done that very thing in the past.

Your point would have been successfully established if Apple had, indeed, released a patched version of iOS 3.x to address the security hole for the orphaned devices; they didn't.

The fact that the particular gaping secuirty hole in question happened to be discovered during the transition from iOS 3 to iOS4 (and therefore doesn't directly affect devices such as iPads which all successfully migrated to iOS 4) is merely a coincidence; it is not indicative that iPads would be treated any differently than all other iOS-based devices in the future.

My response was solely about the iPad only as I currently don't own any other iDevices. The original iPad can run iOS 5 which patched the vulnerability you indicated. So what am I missing?

 

[iEvolution]

Yeah I don't understand why it isn't going to be released on the iPad 1. Perhaps the processor is underpowered to run iOS 6, contributing to the fact it has to support the larger screen?

Perhaps the lack of memory is another contributing factor.

 

[blackhand1001]

I expect the lack of iPad1 support for IOS6 has to do with the lack of a camera as the iPhone 3gs has a camera and is supported for IOS6... See iMovie and iPhoto for IOS...

What kind of argument is that. Seriously, what does a camera have to do with an OS working.

 

[Night Spring]

My response was solely about the iPad only as I currently don't own any other iDevices. The original iPad can run iOS 5 which patched the vulnerability you indicated. So what am I missing?

Well, let's say a new security vulnerability that affects all ios versions is discovered a month after the release of ios 6. Apple releases iOS 6.01 to fix this vulnerability, but doesn't patch iOS 5. Everyone who is still using original iPad now has no official way to protect against this vulnerability.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Lets be honest, there is no technical reason why the original iPad won't work with iOS6.

However it isn't supported.

The reason the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch (4th Gen) are supported is that they are still in production.

I'm not sure I agree with their decision.

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Well, let's say a new security vulnerability that affects all ios versions is discovered a month after the release of ios 6. Apple releases iOS 6.01 to fix this vulnerability, but doesn't patch iOS 5. Everyone who is still using original iPad now has no official way to protect against this vulnerability.

The iPhone 3G and iPhone didn't have that vulnerability patched!

 

[Night Spring]

The iPhone 3G and iPhone didn't have that vulnerability patched!

I know. But the poster I was responding to was saying that this didn't concern us because it was patched for all iPads. I was just trying to point out the error in that poster's thinking, because if it happens again, then there's a high likelihood the vulnerabity won't be fixed on the originla iPad.

 

[Phil22]

Does this mean that safari (the app which I use the most on my iPad by far) will never receive any updates again?


I was hoping to see the omnibox on the desktop safari come to the iOS version.

 

[chrisdee]

I would voice it to Apple directly.

Good point and I completly agree.
I just like to have a little rant now and then.

 

[doboy]

Does this mean that safari (the app which I use the most on my iPad by far) will never receive any updates again?


I was hoping to see the omnibox on the desktop safari come to the iOS version.

No, it doesn't mean that. Whether Apple will update the iPad 1 for security is still unknown. I guess we'll find out eventually.

 

[rkahl]

I'm gonna take my 2009 VW back to the dealer and demand that I get all the new features of the latest 2013 VW free.

 

[BigRed1]

I'm gonna take my 2009 VW back to the dealer and demand that I get all the new features of the latest 2013 VW free.

Or maybe they'll just make you buy the new one instead of replacing the recalled airbags.

 

[Hls811]

Here's the issue I have with it, and I'll preface this by saying that I'm well aware that at some point all hardware/software is going to become unsupported or incompatible with previously purchased devices.. BUT, here's where I think they need to think things through. I have 3 iPad 1's - two of which have AppleCare plans that expire in November of 2012. If iOS6 drops in September as expected, then I'll have 2 devices covered by AppleCare which are ineligible to run the latest OS. That doesn't seem right to me.. Whether they do it by a certain # of revisions or a date I don't think that any product currently under warranty should be unable to run the latest OS.

 

[btbrossard]

iPhone 3GS has inferior specs and still got iOS 6. There is just no reason for the original iPad to not get iOS 6.

Running iOS 6 on the iPad may require more horsepower than running it on the 3GS.

Or they just want you to buy a new iPad...

All I know is that iOS 5 on the original iPad is a pretty miserable user experience due to how slow some things are (like the lag on the keyboard).

 

[TheWheelMan]

Yeah I don't understand why it isn't going to be released on the iPad 1. Perhaps the processor is underpowered to run iOS 6, contributing to the fact it has to support the larger screen?

Perhaps the lack of memory is another contributing factor.

Some are already bitching that iOS 5 runs poorly on their iPad 1, so would really expect them to port iOS 6 to the device?

 

[Winni]

The links for ios 6 are leaked and no original iPad appearance http://9to5mac.com/2012/06/10/safar...6k-links-surface-original-ipad-not-supported/

Could this mean that the iPad is getting a huge bump in features maybe desktop like on ios 6 that the original iPad can't handle ? Because look how the 3GS still is supported.

No, it's much simpler than that. It is called "planned obsolescence" and it's a significant part of Apple's business model. They want you to spend money on their new product and then repeat that cycle again two years after you have bought the newer product.

----------

First of all, you are under no obligation to update any apps that you own. You can continue to use the working version indefinitely (my wife has an iPad 1 with an ungodly number of apps that have yet to be updated).

Second, you have no idea of how apps will be updated in the future.

Regardless, there will be no scenario under which an iPad 1 will stop working with any currently installed app in a few months.

Not in the next few months, but your apps and your hardware will quickly become incompatible with whatever else is on the market.

The "you can use your existing software indefinitely" statement that we hear every time a vendor executes the planned obsolescence strategy is a total non-argument, to put it politely.

----------

I'm gonna take my 2009 VW back to the dealer and demand that I get all the new features of the latest 2013 VW free.

This metaphor is not applicable in this scenario. You should take the time to learn about the difference between software and hardware, read up what "planned obsolescence" is and how companies implement arbitrary, artificial restrictions in software to become incompatible with older hardware so that their customers are eventually forced to upgrade their hardware.

Apple has become greedy. There is no other explanation for the drop of support for a device that is just two years old. End of discussion.

----------

Some are already bitching that iOS 5 runs poorly on their iPad 1, so would really expect them to port iOS 6 to the device?

Absolutely. I would expect them to optimize and fine-tune their software. You know, the thing that Apple always CLAIMS to do, but apparently either is not very good at or in reality just doesn't do so that their customers have to buy newer versions of their products.

You know, "it's just not a good experience" is a statement without substance. They could post a detailed technical explanation that describes WHY the iPad 1 is too weak for that new OS version. Other companies do that. And other companies also make sure that a product has an actual life span of at least five years. The iPad 1 just go EOLed after only two years.

 

[macking104]

Don't forget, if you buy an Android tablet you may not get any updates. It is up to the manufacturer (Samsung, Acer, Archos...) to decide if they are going to modify the OS to work with any of their models-- maybe all, maybe only some... and it could be months after the updated OS is released.

 

[MattWeed9]

Don't forget, if you buy an Android tablet you may not get any updates. It is up to the manufacturer (Samsung, Acer, Archos...) to decide if they are going to modify the OS to work with any of their models-- maybe all, maybe only some... and it could be months after the updated OS is released.

I thought this was a thread about the iPad 1 and iOS 6? This thread should just be closed. There are a few people making valid points and the rest of this is just sad.


To the guy who made the VW reference... It would be more like buying a BMW only a year ago and finding out that only a year after they stopped making the spark plugs for your model. Then a year later that they quit making all parts for it and all you could get is stuff from the junk yard. It wold kind of leave you feeling a little cheated.

Either way I am not real sure I will be buying anymore iPads if this is going to be the trend, or any tablet for that matter because Apple isn't the only one. I could think of a lot better uses for that money them being forced to upgrade to a new device. And sure you can argue all you want that you don't have to update your apps, but that is a lame excuse.

 

[iEvolution]

I think they should release iOS 6 for the 1st generation iPad as a "at your own risk" upgrade and allow downgrading if the performance is too unacceptable.

I know Apple likes to flush old products out by limiting features to certain generation devices but I really do think in this case there is a hardware limitation with the screen size/CPU and the pathetic 256MB ram the device has.

Now some will argue that the iPod Touch and the 3GS is supported to run iOS 6 in limited fashion but we're talking on a screen that is a 1/3rd of the size (a larger screen requires more memory and more work from the processor to perform smoothly, correct me if I'm wrong) of the iPad 1 and the fact it is 9x slower in GPU operation than that of the iPad 2 (In accordance to the announcement to the iPad 2) I think it really is possible that there are hardware limitations unique to the original iPad.

I just don't think its too far out there to think that iOS 6 runs poor on the original iPad when you consider the fact that iOS 5 caused a performance decline for many people.

Apple isn't a company known for streamlining their products as they are upgraded, look how bloated iTunes has become and it only gets worse as time goes on.

I feel for those 1st gen users that are getting shafted but 1st generation products in general get outdated at a much faster rate than later generations as improvements develop.

 

[rkahl]

Of course it's planned obsolescence on Apple's part, but I really do think they know what they are doing. I'm sorry your iPad is outdated. End of discussion

 

[sausagehacker]

The biggest problem is that Apple is willing to throw thousands of users (who had faith to buy the first iPad) under the bus. Technically speaking, there is no reason NOT to support it. Sure, the new OS may run too slowly. But then why is the 3GS being supported? Since 4.0, Apple has solved for this problem by cutting back features on older devices. Remember the lack of multitasking and wallpaper on the 3G? Obviously Apple could easily support the OS on the iPad 1 if they wanted to- it's better spec'd than the iPhone 4.

Oh, and let's clarify a "release." The iPad did NOT get a full year of OS 3, it had a modified and outdated version of 3.2 for a long time while every other device was already on 4.x. It realistically had iOS 4 and 5.

If you honestly think that Apple is trying to move away from 2 year old technology for non-economic reasons, you're deluded. They would have dropped the 3GS (which is more prominent in the technology atmosphere than the iPad 1) if this was the case. Scumbag move, Apple.