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The way Apple handles iOS upgrades is almost criminal.

What do you think about the way apple handles ios updates for older devices?

  • Apple is just trying to make money - a customer should do research before upgrading

    Votes: 113 13.6%

  • It's a little sneaky, but not a big deal

    Votes: 77 9.3%

  • It is plain wrong to offer an upgrade that will slow down a device

    Votes: 129 15.5%

  • Apple should allow users to select an ios that functions well on their device, even a downgrade

    Votes: 374 45.0%

  • other (or: this poll is horrible)

    Votes: 297 35.7%
  • Total voters
    831
Max(IT) said:
Quite sure you are speaking about iPhone 4S or iPad 2. I'd like to inform you those are old devices, slow also with iOS 7
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It doesn't matter what device it is. If a 4S slows down with iOS 7, Apple surely knows that, and can inform the customer that is 6 is the optimum operating system for that device.

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Armen said:
Sure, unless the developer forces your hand.

Skype and Yahoo Mail apps only work on iOS 7+ now. Sucks to be whoever is on iOS 6 and needs those apps but don't want to upgrade.
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I do agree with you. That will have to be the price to pay. I ran my iPad 3 on iOS 6 for 3 years. There were a few apps I had to pass on, but I'd rather good performance and miss out on a small handful of apps.
 
Armen said:
Sure, unless the developer forces your hand.

Skype and Yahoo Mail apps only work on iOS 7+ now. Sucks to be whoever is on iOS 6 and needs those apps but don't want to upgrade.
Click to expand...
Wasnt there something about last compatible version of at least some apps being available for earlier iOS versions?
 
C DM said:
Wasnt there something about last compatible version of at least some apps being available for earlier iOS versions?
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Yes. Unfortunately, the "older" version of Skype tells you to upgrade to the latest version and does not work. Yahoo mail doesn't even show up in the App Store search under iOS 6.
 
Italianblend said:
I disagree. When average joe gets a popup saying a new iOS is available, and on that list is something to the effect of "various bug fixes and improvements," and that is coming directly from Apple, that person should feel safe in upgrading.
Click to expand...

I agree totally. They really ought to alert users with older devices that performance could suffer a bit or something along those lines. It'd at least give the "average user" some knowledge that what they were going to do may compromise their user experience. Maybe that's too harsh but you get what I'm saying here.

And yes, what the hell doesn't Apple allow people to revert back for longer than they do? I don't see why at all?
 
C DM said:
Wasnt there something about last compatible version of at least some apps being available for earlier iOS versions?
Click to expand...

Yes, my iPad 3 is running 5.1.1 and if an app is available for it from the Dev it notifies you within the App Store.
 
Armen said:
On the flip side developers would much rather not have to support older devices and focus their efforts on new ones.

For example Yahoo Mail and Skype apps both require iOS 7+ in order to run. Neither company cares to support the older version of iOS and they are not obligated to. So if you want to keep your old phone with old iOS then you will slowly see apps disappear.
Click to expand...

That's not entirely true though. Apple keep the latest update for the OS you're using. For instance, Spotify on my third generation touch (iOS 5) is running the latest Spotify client that is possible from a device using iOS 5. Which means that my app is obviously a lot more different than the latest client running on iOS 7 & 8, but you still get the app that used to run on iOS 5.

Edit: I see now that you already knew it and stated the issues with Skype.
 
One good reason why they don't want downgrades is because of exposure to worse security in the previous version.
 
C DM said:
But the same concept sounds fine to them with OS X.
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Yeah but they are known for releasing security updates after the new OSs are out. With iOS representing the majority of Apple's revenue, I guess they are more protective of it lol.
 
Zwhaler said:
One good reason why they don't want downgrades is because of exposure to worse security in the previous version.
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That's our problem, not theirs. Just make us aware of it and it's our choice - performance versus security. Anyway, there are security flaws in every o/s. Sometimes the newer versions are worse.
 
I'm surprised Apple isn't slapped with a lawsuit for gimping people's devices with iOS 8.x downgrade and not allowing them to revert back to restore usability. Even worse is forcing an automatic downgrade without user authorization. Other OS upgrades bring performance improvements like with Windows 8.x, Android 4.3+, etc. As far as security, Apple can patch the vulnerability without forcing an upgrade like other OS'.
 
Italianblend said:
It doesn't matter what device it is. If a 4S slows down with iOS 7, Apple surely knows that, and can inform the customer that is 6 is the optimum operating system for that device.
Click to expand...

But why would Apple ever tell a customer something like that? The message that would send is this- "Here, we made this version of iOS available for your device, but you really shouldn't use it." That's completely unrealistic.

I think it's a good idea on paper for Apple to just allow people to downgrade iOS to whatever version they want. But in reality, that would make developers less likely to support features in newer versions of iOS, negating a reason that people would want to update in the first place. It would also cause developers to spend more time and resources on supporting older versions of iOS and less time on simply making better apps.

Not to mention- if you want freedom and choices, iOS is the wrong operating system to use.
 
The bottom line here is that making someone's previously perfectly functional device so slow and/or buggy that they need a new one is clearly out of order. However they deal with their 'updates' Apple need to 100% avoid this scenario.
 
Complaining that your 4S is slow on iOS 8 is like complaining your computer that shipped with XP is slow when you install Windows 8.
 
chrf097 said:
Complaining that your 4S is slow on iOS 8 is like complaining your computer that shipped with XP is slow when you install Windows 8.
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Yes, that is exactly the point. The 4S owner should be allowed to go back to ios 5. He/She took the risk of the upgrades and with each version, the phone got slower and slower. He/She should have the right to operate the device as it was sold to them.
 
mKTank said:
Well 'acceptable' is a matter of degree. If you're okay with being shafted repeatedly by shoddy unintentional/intentional lack of optimization, then go for it. Apple users do way too much apologizing for a company with more money in the bank than practically anyone else.

iPhone 5 gets really stuttery and iPad 3 is really suffering from iOS 7 and 8. Your opinion is cool and valid and all, but facts are facts.
Click to expand...

Well my iphone 5 ran really well on ios 7 and 8 so...not sure what to say except my facts are facts too?
 
Tubamajuba said:
But why would Apple ever tell a customer something like that? The message that would send is this- "Here, we made this version of iOS available for your device, but you really shouldn't use it." That's completely unrealistic.

I think it's a good idea on paper for Apple to just allow people to downgrade iOS to whatever version they want. But in reality, that would make developers less likely to support features in newer versions of iOS, negating a reason that people would want to update in the first place. It would also cause developers to spend more time and resources on supporting older versions of iOS and less time on simply making better apps.

Not to mention- if you want freedom and choices, iOS is the wrong operating system to use.
Click to expand...

I agree; I want a walled garden. I don't need freedom and choices for my cell phone, just need something that works for me.
 
This has to be a phenomenon because I have never seen any of my Apple devices slow down when I upgrade them.

The only thing that does bother me about Apple and iOS is how in the world you can't choose to see battery percentage on an iPod, but on iPhone and iPad you can. Is it because it's a cheaper device lol? So annoying.
 
I'm 100% with the OP on this. Apple's software support is lousy and the way they pretty much force users onto the latest and greatest is borderline criminal.

My one and only iPhone was an iPhone 4 and by the time iOS 7 came it out was pretty much unusable. The iPhone 4 will remain my one and only iPhone until Apple decide to put in effort to support legacy software.

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chrf097 said:
Complaining that your 4S is slow on iOS 8 is like complaining your computer that shipped with XP is slow when you install Windows 8.
Click to expand...

Poor example. Windows 8 runs perfectly fine on XP hardware since it is also designed to run on tablets with low specifications. Not to mention, Microsoft doesn't force XP users to upgrade like Apple does with iOS and OS X updates. Microsoft actually support their legacy software. Windows XP outlived 8 versions of OS X.
 
chrf097 said:
Complaining that your 4S is slow on iOS 8 is like complaining your computer that shipped with XP is slow when you install Windows 8.
Click to expand...

^ This gets +1000 rep

Try to install OSX Yosemite on a PowerMac G5.

Try to install Android L on the HTC Dream.

It is the same principle.
 
Italianblend said:
It's really not cool, and here's why:

You have a cool apple device that works fine. Oh look, there's a new ios update, cool! It popped up on my screen. That means that it's an improvement and a normal upgrade. I will get it. I can't wait to try it out.

Now, my ipod, ipad, iphone, etc, is slower that it was before. This new ios is slowing things down. And, I can't downgrade back? Now, I have to buy a brand new device so that it runs smoothly when my device was working perfectly a few minutes ago?

Well, personally, I feel as if it's borderline criminal to offer upgrades that cripple their own devices. If apple is the transparent company they claim to be, they should inform its customers as to the version of ios that runs the best on their device, and then allow them to use it.

It really should be done away with, and if I was a hotshot lawyer, I would be on the case. I would really like to see somebody put apple in its place on this issue.
Click to expand...

Key word here "Offered", Not "require"
 
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