Steve Jobs Confirms Lack of Future Support for Original iPhone

[regandarcy]

I'm the biggest Apple fan boy around. And I always roll my eyes when others get pissed off and complain about Apple.....but this time, I gotta side with the people who are pissed off.

I know computers have a built in obsolescence, but this sucks. Forcing people to upgrade hardware so soon to be able to get the latest iphone software or use it's features.

Totally blows.

Oh well.

 

[firewood]

I sure as hell hope you're kidding... Any processor other than the application processor will not affect performance of the device at all (except for performance of, for example, the baseband, which you can't see at all).

You're forgetting about drivers, and not only performance, but the compatibility of the drivers (and the matching embedded controller software) with each OS.

The sound driver is a really obvious difference between the 1st gen and the 3G. It greatly affects total performance at some settings.

 

[schalliol]

This seems completely reasonable to me. We're talking version 4 of the OS, after all. I would guess most early adopters who bought an iPhone 2G new will be happy to upgrade to the 3GS or next iPhone if they really want the added features of 4. Some certainly will not, but it's not as hard to get into an iPhone these days as it was way back then.

 

[kingtj]

re: replacing electronics

Umm... yes, actually.

I usually *do* replace my electronics and computers on about a 2 - 3 year cycle! I'm not saying everyone should, but if you're an "enthusiast" about such things, why wouldn't you?

I find that if I resell my used electronics or computer products after they're no more than 3 years old, I can get quite a bit of resale value out of them to put towards buying the new version. So in effect, I'm only paying about 1/3rd. of the product's initial cost to have a fresh new one (with full factory warranty) after I've used and enjoyed it for a couple years or more.

Obviously, there are exceptions. (I consider TV sets to generally be one, as most people just don't expect them to change drastically enough to make sense to upgrade them that often. You tend to buy one of an adequate size with a picture quality you're happy with - and those attributes don't change.)

But I can tell you right now ... I would find a 5+ year old laptop VERY frustrating to use today. Considering I can justify the purchase of one a business tax write-off anyway? There's no WAY I'd poke along on something like that. After 5 years, I'm pretty sure your original battery holds NO charge anymore too. Or did you spend $150 or more (typical for laptop batteries) to replace that already? If so, wow ... even more argument you should have just sold the thing earlier and upgraded instead.

I think we can assume that people who own an iPad right now will no longer get support or updates after two or three years. Speculation; perhaps iPad v2 will get 512MB RAM, and iPhone OS 5 or 6 will require 512MB RAM at a minimum.

How many people are willing to replace electronics every one to three years? I must be the odd man out in this consumerist environment - I have a three year old iPhone, three year old TV, five year old laptop, five year old DSLR... a ten year old car, 1950's house, etc. Oh well, to each their own - certainly enough such people to keep Apple's stock climbing.

In the meantime, I'm waiting at least until iPad v2 to contemplate purchasing one.

 

[aristobrat]

I know computers have a built in obsolescence, but this sucks. Forcing people to upgrade hardware so soon to be able to get the latest iphone software or use it's features.

So soon?

AFAIK, no other smartphone [Windows Mobile, Palm, BlackBerry, etc] has ever received two major, free OS updates over two years like the original iPhone has.

The way Apple's handled the iPhone in regards to updates is pretty much an industry first.

 

[uvex]

environmental impact

Nobody has even mentioned the environmental impact of this. Think of the millions of phones that will eventually be thrown away if this cycle continues. In 3 or 4 years some if not most of those 1g and 3g iphones will be sitting in a trash dump somewhere. Repeat this process every 3-4 of years (3gs, HD) as the fanboys rush out and purchase the newest and greatest iphones and toss aside their "outdated" hardware and it gets messy.

 

[Rodneyt78]

Exactly...

but some people don't understand that and will continue to bitch and complain.

Exactly. Before the iPhone was introduced I used windows mobile and you were lucky if you qualified for one major software update. The iPhone allows up to 3 major upgrades before they end support which is really good.

 

[Caliber26]

Nobody has even mentioned the environmental impact of this. Think of the millions of phones that will eventually be thrown away if this cycle continues. In 3 or 4 years some if not most of those 1g and 3g iphones will be sitting in a trash dump somewhere. Repeat this process every 3-4 of years (3gs, HD) as the fanboys rush out and purchase the newest and greatest iphones and toss aside their "outdated" hardware and it gets messy.

Yeah, it'll be interesting (and weird) to see the day when iPhones go the way of the Motorola Razr. What was once an elite object of lust and desire, will be just another free phone hanging on the rack of your local Wal-Mart or 7-11. But I can also see a lot of these first-generation iPhones being passed down to a lot of newcomers and to the less tech-demanding folk, such as teens and grandparents. The not-so-tech-savvy can still make great use of its calling/texting capabilities, web-browsing, media playing and emailing features; not counting the many apps one can still run on these phones. I can see this being something that best suits my mother, where as multi-tasking is a big issue to me. I don't necessarily envision landfills inundated with iPhones just yet.

 

[kiranmk2]

The problem is that I think Apple got a bit lazy with the 3G. It was the same phone as the original save for the 3G and GPS (something the newer ipod touches still don't have). They didn't really have to push other features forward after a year as the 3G and GPS sold the iPhone 3G upgrade. If they had just offered an 8 GB 3GS as the "cheap" option this year they could have ditched the iPhone 3G aswell and possibly made a more streamlined OS 4 and when asked why the original iPhone got 3 years of support compared to the 3G's 2, come out with the fact that the original cost more/wasn't subsidised so they supported it for longer.

The fact is the 3GS should become the baseline model, but the fact is the 3G is still on sale. Maybe this was because they had a massive surplus of 3G stock last year, but I tihnk they should make this year's iPhone standard across the board - it has to be cheaper to maintain a single manufacturing line and simply add in a different flash memory chip that to keep ordering in the old 3GS hardware for a "cheap" 16 GB 3GS option.

 

[bamerican]

I sort of expected this, but am not looking forward to having to pay more to AT&T for 3G and having to subscribe to a text plan (since I'll be losing my included texting plan from the original iPhone data plan). Guess I'll be upgrading when the newest refresh happens...

 

[womble2k2]

So what do people with 1st gen iPhones and iPod Touches think would be worse, keeping OS 3.x or forcing OS 4.0 on their device, making it sluggish as it doesn't have the hardware and processing power to run it properly.

I've not used my PC for 5 years, so should I go out and buy Windows 7 for it, to see if it becomes useful again? (second thoughts, I've got better things to spend my money on).

I've got a 2nd gen iPod Touch, and will still probably upgrade as the folders, improved email and iBooks would be worthwhile for me. Although I would like multi-tasking, I do accept that it doesn't support it. I'm quite likely to get an iPhone within the coming year anyway!

Phil

 

[Lukas89]

I'm the biggest Apple fan boy around. And I always roll my eyes when others get pissed off and complain about Apple.....but this time, I gotta side with the people who are pissed off.

I know computers have a built in obsolescence, but this sucks. Forcing people to upgrade hardware so soon to be able to get the latest iphone software or use it's features.

Totally blows.

Oh well.

It gets even worse.. now i havent read the whole thread and i dont know if some1 before me made that point..but consider this:

Obviously (and as steve said) all the apps have to be updated to support multitasking. And im quite sure almost every dev will do this.
Also everyone who got his firmware update a little late knows what happens if the app you're trying to download is already updated to the newer firmware: thats right it wont work, in fact, it wont even download.
So guess whats going to happen the moment OS4 is released..?
thats right, the original iphone - since it wont get and os4 support at all - wont be able to download or upgrade almost ANY apps at all!
Im sure everyone will confirm that this will lower the value of the device quite a bit!

I'd consider myself quite an -Fan but about that? Seriously? I still like my good old aluminum-iphone more than the plastic-ones..and i think they should be more loyal to their "iphone-roots" and early-adopters... but seriously Apple?

I can defend almost anything Apple does becuz im convinced its the right thing but at this point they disappoint me..

 

[shervieux]

In one way I do not see a problem with this. technology moved on. It is not like he is saying he is dropping the 3G that I just bought last year. Next year I could see him doing that as 3G will be 3 years old, and then my contract will be up. 3 years with OS upgrades that last through your contract period seems reasonable to me. Now if he was dropping support while I was till under my contract, then i would be ticked.

Will I buy an iphone again? depends. By the time my contract is up next summer, I will have an ipad. with the advanced functionality of the ipad (apps, larger screen, etc), why would I need an iphone, for say other than a camera and to fit in my pocket.

But this is now, and by the time the future comes; I may be justified to buy another iphone. right now the 3gs does not have anything over the 3g for me.

it gets the job done for what I need. Sometimes you just don't need the latest and greatest - you just need what gets the job done for you.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I'd be upset about getting the early-adopter dry shove.

...but I'm too busy playing with my day 1, 1st gen iPad.

:\

 

[panamajack]

I understand the motivations and the benefits .... but will this prevent bug fixes for pre- 4.0 apps, or will Apple block these types of updates to the Appstore ?

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

"It just works" until we update, then you are SOL!

I'm anticipating the new iPhones anyways but I use pre-paid anyways so not like I'll get more use out of it than my 2g I can already get unlimited call/text anyways for $60/month but I'm hoping for an unlimited full package at <$70/month then to me would be worth signing a contract.

 

[wywern209]

would this mean that next yr, the ipod touch 2g and the iphone 3g will lose support? for iphone OS5... seems likely.

 

[mrochester]

Apple's 'environmental' credentials are next to meaningless since their very business is to entice people to buy their latest and greatest product, and toss away the old one. If they genuinely cared about the environment they would put the effort in to make their products last much longer, and put their money where they mouth is by backing and supporting them for longer. As it stands, however, they're only bothered about the environment when it doesn't effect their bottom line, which is a tad hypocritical to say the least.

 

[Will do good]

How can this news been rated positive, should be all negative ratings, how can drop support be a positive thing? Do people really change phone every 6 months like some one mentioned here?

We plan to use the original iphone for 6 years and maybe more if it does not break, is that not possible? My parents' PC is nearly 7 year old and still benefit from a OS (win 7) upgrade and no compatibility issue. While understandable, I don't see why people consider dropping new software support for a 2 year old device is what things should be.

I believe that when Apple is not supporting the older systems, you still can use them. You just can't get the latest features and benefits that's all. Your iPhone and iPod Touch will still work.

You can't expect Apple to sit still and support something forever. This is the reason MS products are a bloat ware, because they have to work with every old system.

For those who don't want to or can't afford to upgrade every 2-3 years. Perhaps Apple isn't the right company for you...

 

[Silvereel]

I don't necessarily envision landfills inundated with iPhones just yet.

I would hope that people would take advantage of Apple's recycling plan.

 

[germ war]

What I want to know is whether or not anyone ran down the battery on their first-generation iPhone. There sure were a lot of complaints about it being non-replaceable when it first came out.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

I would hope that people would take advantage of Apple's recycling plan.

What exactly is their recycling policy? Just ship it off to some 3rd party recycling vendor who then just turns around and sells it or part it out?

 

[ct2k7]

I would hope that people would take advantage of Apple's recycling plan.

Is there anything for that in the UK that would entice me to upgrade?

Currently, they will recycle an old computer for free, but it doesn't really push users towards upgrading.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Hey, the original iPhone is flipping ANCIENT. Why SHOULD Apple support it anymore? Screw the PPC users. Screw the first generation iPod Touch and iPhone users. They should buy MORE hardware instead from Steve.

Don't ask about battery replacement for the iPad if you scratch yours either. They won't take it in the battery "replacement" program. Just buy a new one....

 

[Silvereel]

Is there anything for that in the UK that would entice me to upgrade?

Currently, they will recycle an old computer for free, but it doesn't really push users towards upgrading.

I'm not sure about the UK, but here in the US Apple offers a 10% discount on iPods (anyone sure if this includes iPhones as well?) if you recycle your previous one.