Need help with an iPhone problem

[Spaceace5150]

This isn't really Apple's problem. They can't have the latest OS on the older devices because they are physically incapable of running them in any acceptable way.

Your problem is that app developers have stopped supporting the older OS's. It's definitely a choice on there part. From the app developer perspective people with newer devices, or devices on the latest OS's, tend to buy more apps so that's where they put their focus. that same focus also let's them minimize the number of device/OS combinations they need to test on.

But it is Apple's problem if their two year old products are not usable...

 

[DeltaDiamond001]

But it is Apple's problem if their two year old products are not usable...

The iPhone 3G is far from two years old. It was released in June of 2008, which makes it more than four years old. The average lifespan for a phone is 2 years. It's not a bad business decision to push people in to upgrading their aging products to the latest and greatest.

 

[disneysteve]

The iPhone 3G is far from two years old.

In Spring 2010, a bit over 2 years ago, there were only two iPhone models to choose from: the 3G and the 3GS. I would suspect that many, like myself, chose the less costly of the two. So in the first half of 2010, before the iPhone 4 was introduced, Apple was still actively selling the 3G model. It wasn't outdated. It wasn't discontinued. It wasn't on clearance. It was on the main store display side by side with the 3GS. The salesperson I dealt with asked me some questions about my usage habits and actually recommended the 3G as he felt the 3GS offered only minimal improvements that wouldn't be meaningful to me.

I'm not particularly upset by the fact that I can't upgrade software or upgrade apps to the latest versions. What I am upset about is that the existing versions that I have installed on my phone and have been using on a regular basis are suddenly ceasing to work. Apparently, the companies can just basically flip a switch and turn them off. An app that worked perfectly fine yesterday is suddenly unusable today and there's nothing I can do about it (other than to buy a new phone). That's what I find frustrating.

 

[luke]

The phone might only be 2 years old to you, but the tech is over 4 years old.

As someone said, a life cycle of a phone is about two years really, hence the most common contracts are 24 month ones.

 

[Mike2023]

Apparently, the companies can just basically flip a switch and turn them off. An app that worked perfectly fine yesterday is suddenly unusable today and there's nothing I can do about it (other than to buy a new phone). That's what I find frustrating.

I think you have every right to be upset that this has happend. I just think your frustration should be towards the developer of said apps and not apple. All of apples apps work fine on your phone.

 

[disneysteve]

I think you have every right to be upset that this has happend. I just think your frustration should be towards the developer of said apps and not apple.

I agree. Since you posted earlier, I've gone in and written reviews of the two apps that have stopped working (ebay and Farkle Live) indicating the problem with the app no longer working.

As for it not being Apple's fault, does Apple have any say in how the developers operate or is it totally up to the individual companies to decide when to "turn off" an app?

 

[Mike2023]

I agree. Since you posted earlier, I've gone in and written reviews of the two apps that have stopped working (ebay and Farkle Live) indicating the problem with the app no longer working.

As for it not being Apple's fault, does Apple have any say in how the developers operate or is it totally up to the individual companies to decide when to "turn off" an app?

Apple does not "police" developers on the quality of there apps or does it require apps to suport older versions of the OS. They do however have a best practices that they encourage developers to follow. Its not apples responsibility to ensure everything that is developed for there device is good, nor should it be. The best thing about the IOS devices are the vast selections of apps that are available and that just wouldn't be possible if apple had to ensure that everything was exactly the way it should be.

The rating system does have its faults but I believe this is the best way to voice your opinion. Unfortunately, the users that have the problem your experiencing is a very small % of users and I don't believe that group of users have much influence in this matter.

I would also like to point out that both the apps you mentioned are free and truthfully, they have no responsibility to ensure there apps work on your device. It would be different if you paid for the app and entered an agreement with the developer.

Technology is ever changing and this type of problem is not something that will ever go away, and truthfully, I see it getting worse before it gets better.

 

[disneysteve]

I found this on a support forum:

If you have an iPhone 3G, now is the time to upgrade to a newer model.

Apple has removed support for generating builds to pre iOS 4.3 devices using 'armv6'. With the taller iPhone 5, most developers will update their apps to support it, but as a result they will have to drop support for anything less than iOS 4.3

There are some work arounds (it seems) but most developers will not have the time or patience to work around to support iPhone 3G - many don't even bother now!

So it would seem that Apple may actually have something to do with this problem.

I realize I'm fighting a losing battle and need to upgrade. I also realize that the 3G has been out for 4 years. I just didn't think I'd have to replace it after 2. I expect tech devices to get outdated and not able to run the latest, greatest stuff, but I expect them to still be usable for what they were when I got them. This is different as it sounds like the phone will quickly become unable to run most apps, even those that currently work well.

Someone earlier mentioned comparing it to a 1984 computer. If I pulled out my Commodore 64 right now and set it up, it would still run every program it ran in 1984. If I pulled out my Atari 2600, I could still play all of the games I have. But here is a tech device that now can't run programs that it could run last week.

 

[Mike2023]

I found this on a support forum:

So it would seem that Apple may actually have something to do with this problem.

I realize I'm fighting a losing battle and need to upgrade. I also realize that the 3G has been out for 4 years. I just didn't think I'd have to replace it after 2. I expect tech devices to get outdated and not able to run the latest, greatest stuff, but I expect them to still be usable for what they were when I got them. This is different as it sounds like the phone will quickly become unable to run most apps, even those that currently work well.

Someone earlier mentioned comparing it to a 1984 computer. If I pulled out my Commodore 64 right now and set it up, it would still run every program it ran in 1984. If I pulled out my Atari 2600, I could still play all of the games I have. But here is a tech device that now can't run programs that it could run last week.

I like the comparison you make. But you would be hard pressed to hook that Commodore 64 up to all televisions being sold today as some don't come with a coaxial input. Yes, there is a work around but I guarantee the manufacture of that product is not going to help you.

The developer is not required to update there apps to support the 5 so if they do there doing it to support the masses and not the 1% that are still using the 3G.

Nothing is future perfect.

Get a 5, you'll love it. And if you don't wait 2 years to get it you will get more then 2 years out of it.

 

[disneysteve]

Get a 5, you'll love it. And if you don't wait 2 years to get it you will get more then 2 years out of it.

Thanks Mike. I do plan to get a 5. I had briefly entertained the thought of getting a 4 since they are cheaper now (4S) or even free (4), but then I'd be putting myself right back in the same position where I'd likely have an obsolete device in 2 years, although I wouldn't mind that quite as much if I got the phone for free. I paid for my 3. In fact, it was the first cell phone I had ever paid for. Every one before that was free.

I'll probably wait until after the holidays as I do my very best to avoid stores and malls at all costs from now until January.

 

[Mike2023]

I'll probably wait until after the holidays as I do my very best to avoid stores and malls at all costs from now until January.

Aymen to that.

 

[kbiles]

Good luck