PSA: Your Older 32-Bit Apps Won't Launch After Installing iOS 11

[baconcow]

Ahh ok. Yeah people seem to have the wrong mindset when talks of "upgrading" are tossed around.

With iPhone upgrades I know people that have an iPhone 4 (still), refuse to upgrade, but want to complain about the data speeds and operability of the phone. When in reality, the iPhone 4 & 4s don't and never will support LTE. Which means not only are they no longer getting security updates, but their connection technology hasn't evolved with the newer cell tower technologies. Foolish to use antiquated technology as a daily driver.

Same with iOS and app upgrades. The majority of complaints I see are about games that are no longer supported, not applications that get things done. Applications which, I'm highly sure, have equal if not better performing alternatives. So they don't want to upgrade and hence are then putting heir personal data security at risk. And then those same people want to complain when crap hits the fan, which will inevitably happen.

Both of these situations, IMHO, are impacting your personal safety and security in one way or another. Does anyone remember the shenanigans that ensued on these forums when the 2G spectrum was official dismantled? People were outraged. "How dare cell companies provide us better and faster service without asking us!" was something along the lines of the arguments (paraphrasing of course).

You know, I recently saw a movie this weekend called "Backcountry" that was released in 2016. About a couple that gets lost in the Canadian(?) wilderness and have to fight for survival against a very rude black bear. What held my attention wasn't the movie per say, but the fact that the woman was in the middle of the wilderness trying to use her Blackberry Curve to call for help. I couldn't help but think "If you'd have not been stubborn and upgraded to the new iPhone and iOS when you should have, you probably could've made that call. Now you're running for your everlasting life trying to not be bear food while screaming where nobody can hear you".

Based on this thread, I feel like that black bear is going to snack on a whole lot of people in this next year or two.

I am definitely pro iOS 11. We'll be updating the iPhone (if it hasn't already). Not worried about losing some older games. My biggest loss would have been XCOM: Enemy Within, FFT: War of the Lions, and Le Havre. Two of them were updated and XCOM is upcoming. The benefits to iOS 11 seem to far outweigh the loss of some older apps. Being my first iPad, I quite enjoy the interface of iOS 11. The expanded toolbar, far improved keyboard, and better multitasking are some of the things I am enjoying.

 

[Paddle1]

LOL, if you're going to stay on an iOS version, why 9 of all versions? 6 is the one people stick with if anything. TBH I wish I could go back to 6 with all security updates. My iPhone was so smooth and easy to use back then.

I think they may have been referring to Mac OS 9.

 

[fairuz]

I think they may have been referring to Mac OS 9.

Ah. That makes sense. But also, wow.

 

[newellj]

I think they may have been referring to Mac OS 9.

FWIW, the iPod Touch Gen 5 maxed out at iOS 9 (and is only semi-usable on 9). I'd upgrade to the Gen 6 version but it seems to have much worse battery life.

 

[mi7chy]

No other modern OS' like Android, Linux, Windows, etc. have issues running both 32 and 64-bit software.

 

[Paddle1]

FWIW, the iPod Touch Gen 5 maxed out at iOS 9 (and is only semi-usable on 9). I'd upgrade to the Gen 6 version but it seems to have much worse battery life.

It's a much nicer experience to use 6th gen (on iOS 10 anyway). Yeah the battery isn't as good but they do hold less charge over time so it might not be noticeable. It also depends what you're using it for. At this point though maybe using something else like an SE or waiting for a 7th gen might be better, of course, no idea if or when that'll happen.

 

[sracer]

No other modern OS' like Android, Linux, Windows, etc. have issues running both 32 and 64-bit software.

But the system developers for those platforms don't have the ability to create a magical user experience.

 

[PhillyGuy72]

Kids, keep in mind Adobe will be sunsetting Flash in 2020!

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/07/25/adobe-flash-end-of-life/

You've been warned! Plan now for the obsolescence!



I guess I don't see this as Apple's fault. App developers knew that Apple was transitioning to 64-bit apps when the iPhone 5s launched in September of 2013, four years ago. All apps and app updates have been required to use 64-bit architecture since June of 2015, more than two years ago. And customers were also warned starting in October 2016, nearly a year ago. Over the summer, I even wrote to one app developer and inquired if they were going to update their app, which they finally did a few weeks ago after a barrage of bad reviews on the App Store.

The way I see it, if the developers chose not to update their apps after having this much forewarning, it's really their fault, not Apple's.

Thank god
Because I am so sick of seeing this nonsense every 8, 9 days! (feels that way at least)

 

[EnderBeta]

XCOM ew, civilization revolution 1 and 2 are not working. Interesting that they are not even on the App Store anymore.

This will make me more hesitant to buy software for theniPad in the future.

 

[pubwvj]

Lack of backward compatibility is why our family and my business won't be upgrading any of our devices to iOS11. Apple really needs to start offering serious backwards compatibility. They have the ability. They need to do it. Lack of compatibility, the ability to run the software we have that we need, means we don't buy new Apple hardware and don't upgrade to new Apple OSs.

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

Besides, people has been whining and moaning for Apple to de-bloat iTunes. They did it now and people got upset?

There is a right way and a wrong way to remove that bloat. Apple chose the wrong way (as in doing things with no notice or warning and making it hard to roll back once you are in the quicksand trap)

Devs of abandonware should be avoided.

That's easy to say now, with 20/20 hindsight. But who could have known that major companies like EA, Disney and Activision would be purveyors of abandonwear? You would need a crystal ball to know who was going to abandon you in the future.

I mean complaining this to Apple is like complaining to wal-mart when a certain bread company is no longer making the flavor you like.

No it's not. Apple is the one making this arbitrary decision. Your analogy is flawed. In your analogy wal-mart has decided not to make the flavor available to you, even though they could.

As technology advances we don’t have any guarantees of the future of any app.

Precisely why I am no longer buying apps anymore. Only hurts the developers. Which will only cause even more abandonware in the future, accelerating a downward spiral.

You have to do what's best for the advancement of usability and technology, and people will slowly but surely conform.

Conform? Like Apple's dystopian 1984 style commerical? Apple has become the very thing they raged about back then.

The way I see it, if the developers chose not to update their apps after having this much forewarning, it's really their fault, not Apple's

Why can't it be both? The way I see it, it is not an either or situation.

So while you’ll see your purchases, you won’t be able to download them if they’re not updated. Won’t matter your iOS version.

Where are you getting this info from?

No other modern OS' like Android, Linux, Windows, etc. have issues running both 32 and 64-bit software.

And what's the difference with all those platforms? No hardware monopoly. That seems to be what is driving this.

 

[charlituna]

No this is apple turning off apps. They don't need to do this, let users make their own minds up - it's our devices, our choice.

apple warned developers 2 years ago. so if something hasn't been updated it was the developer that 'turned it off' on Apple

 

[baconcow]

Partially correct. You can still do this now due to them not eradicating 32bit YET. Eventually the rollout will be to drop (akin to a dev removing an app from the AppStore) 32bit apps in the AppStore database.

So while you’ll see your purchases, you won’t be able to download them if they’re not updated. Won’t matter your iOS version.

Well, oddly enough. I noticed that 64-bit Caylus (board game) no longer shows up in my purchase list. The iTunes page says that it is no longer available in my country (Canada). So, I guess it is definitely real to lose an app even from your purchase list. This is the first time I have ever noticed this. And, it's a 64-bit app!

 

[Kabeyun]

Microsoft had a long-time stronghold on nearly every Fortune 100 company

You mean stranglehold.
Nice post and agree entirely.

 

[ackmondual]

I think the crux of the issue is that there are many "abandoned" 32-bit apps that work very well and do not have good alternatives. I have grudgingly switched to inferior, but 64-bit alternatives for productivity and editing apps, and in the case of games or themed activity apps, had to let go or keep them in old devices.

I suppose the developers could be faulted, but even prominent companies like Disney and EA simply abandon old apps and it's really sad to see all those data created by me or my kids becoming inaccessible after the OS update. There are like, 8 Disney Princess-related activity apps I need some sort of exit strategy for.

On the point of "updating app doesn't make any money", there had been instances of releasing a separate app that users need to pay again, with the older version not working in a new version of iOS. Developer may take some criticism, but at least the willing customers will pay again if the app is good enough. But the thing is that much of the apps stuck in 32-bit land are basically in the "abandoned" category. The makers are no longer in the development world (bought out, bankrupt, lost interest, etc.) and even the big OS-level warning won't bring them back. There's no remedy but to put them in older, supported OS in order to use them.

Disclaimer: I'm one of such abandoned developer. Made several iOS apps a few years ago, but my interest had shifted and haven't gone back... not coming back, at least not in the near future. Sorry for everyone who used my apps.

So you haven't even bothered to renew the $99/year developer fee, as opposed to pursuing other iOS related projects?

 

[newellj]

It's a much nicer experience to use 6th gen (on iOS 10 anyway). Yeah the battery isn't as good but they do hold less charge over time so it might not be noticeable. It also depends what you're using it for. At this point though maybe using something else like an SE or waiting for a 7th gen might be better, of course, no idea if or when that'll happen.

I'm sure you're right about a better user experience. I mostly use my iPod Touch for just a few tasks, and don't switch much. What's painfully slow is loading an app. Once it's loaded, it runs fine, so I'm staying with my Gen 5 for a while longer.
[doublepost=1505862981][/doublepost]

Well, oddly enough. I noticed that 64-bit Caylus (board game) no longer shows up in my purchase list. The iTunes page says that it is no longer available in my country (Canada). So, I guess it is definitely real to lose an app even from your purchase list. This is the first time I have ever noticed this. And, it's a 64-bit app!

This is why I do local downloads.

 

[tennisproha]

I can understand why Apple wants to do this, but there are some abandoned apps that are very good and very useful. I've contacted the developers but have yet to get a response back. The alternative is for Apple to update these apps to 64-bit automatically, which I don't see why apple can't do; but then again that will also update the trash apps that apple is trying to purge.

These are some useful apps that will no longer work:
Tactson Tune Master
Dream:ON
To Bed
Smoothies from Whole Living
Cooking by Portable Knowledge

 

[garylapointe]

I need an easier way to find and actually delete all of these apps. I think I should’ve the swipe left just delete them from the list OR better yet just click delete all.

 

[Plutonius]

I need an easier way to find and actually delete all of these apps. I think I should’ve the swipe left just delete them from the list OR better yet just click delete all.

Load IOS 11 on your device and Apple will delete them for you.

 

[fairuz]

And what's the difference with all those platforms? No hardware monopoly. That seems to be what is driving this.

To be fair, OS X / macOS have always supported 32-bit apps as well. Though Apple intends to discontinue support in the version after High Sierra.

There are pros and cons to the dictatorship. Software and communities with lots of backwards compatibility tend to get stuck in the past and/or become overly complicated. See: Python 2 refusing to die, sites using Adobe Flash as a replacement for proper web layout, Windows being crappy. But I think Apple overdoes it.
[doublepost=1505866958][/doublepost]

Lack of backward compatibility is why our family and my business won't be upgrading any of our devices to iOS11. Apple really needs to start offering serious backwards compatibility. They have the ability. They need to do it. Lack of compatibility, the ability to run the software we have that we need, means we don't buy new Apple hardware and don't upgrade to new Apple OSs.

Then I suggest you switch to Android because Apple won't provide security updates to iOS 10 for very long.

 

[wesley96]

So you haven't even bothered to renew the $99/year developer fee, as opposed to pursuing other iOS related projects?

I have, but I've been caught up in other projects not related to software development. So the apps were available on the non-iOS 11 App Store all this time, just not updated.

 

[psionicsin]

Where are you getting this info from?

Please see my other posts on page 13 & 14.
[doublepost=1505870187][/doublepost]

Conform? Like Apple's dystopian 1984 style commerical? Apple has become the very thing they raged about back then.

I don’t at all get how you relate the sun setting of 32bit applications to a distopian future. Very dramatic indeed. By your same logic, Microsoft is a mother that smothers her child socially, of which now has adjustment issues and still lives at home with mom in his 40’s because he could never do anything without her.

32bit is ending. Real facts have been posted. This train ain’t stopping.

 

[Abazigal]

Stop saying mission critical. Are you implying that it ok for Apple to break games cause they are not important. Bioshock, marvel vs Capcom 2, these aren't no name games by indie devs. If these games can break because of an OS update, why should a user invest in iOS software?

Perspective.

Yes, some apps stopped working, but how many developers actually got off their asses and updated their apps accordingly the moment they realised that their apps would stop working if they didn’t?

And it took Apple to light a fire under their backsides to get them moving.

There will be winners, there will be losers. Some will lose more than others but by and large, I find the pros will far outweigh the cons.

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

Please see my other posts on page 13 & 14.
[doublepost=1505870187][/doublepost]

I did read all your post previously. And again now. Don't see any confirmation, no quote from Apple, nothing other than idol speculation on your part.

I don’t at all get how you relate the sun setting of 32bit applications to a distopian future. Very dramatic indeed. By your same logic, Microsoft is a mother that smothers her child socially, of which now has adjustment issues and still lives at home with mom in his 40’s because he could never do anything without her.

32bit is ending. Real facts have been posted. This train ain’t stopping.

You youself use the word "conform" and you don't get the relation to Apple's ad? Wow. Either watch it again (as many times as needed) or look up the definition of the word conform and think about this awhile longer.

 

[psionicsin]

I did read all your post previously. And again now. Don't see any confirmation, no quote from Apple, nothing other than idol speculation on your part.

You obviously didn’t read them 100%, but I’ll repeat this. I’ve been back and forth to Cupertino working with Apple directly with my company on a joint effort for enterprise level applications. I know the roadmap and rollout due to my position in my company. So idol speculation? I think not. Expect Apple to come on here and confirm for me? Unrealistic. But you’ll find out I guess.

You youself use the word "conform" and you don't get the relation to Apple's ad? Wow. Either watch it again (as many times as needed) or look up the definition of the word conform and think about this awhile longer.

Oh ok...so you took one word from my whole post and stretched it into a “reach for the stars” type of reply...got it.

So let me remix this...please tell me how Apple is suppressing, oppressing or otherwise causing overall harm and undue hardship to its customers? And please inform me of how they’re becoming the “very thing they raged about”? Because it seems like idol speculation.