Apple's iOS App Store now offers 'last compatible' versions of apps for older devices

2»

Comments

  • Reply 21 of 33
    This doesn't work with iMovie on my 3GS. I had an earlier version on that worked. The new version still tells me I need a front facing camera.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 22 of 33
    Finally! Of course Fandroids will cry fragmentation!
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 23 of 33
    jungmark wrote: »
    Finally! Of course Fandroids will cry fragmentation!

    Actually this resolves what very little fragmentation iOS has.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 24 of 33
    [quote]Apple's iOS 7 will be available for download on Sept. 18, and will come be preloaded ...[/quote]

    Will come be... Uh huh. Proof reading your edits helps.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 25 of 33
    rcfarcfa Posts: 1,124member
    About time they did this, otherwise it would just have been a matter of time until someone filed a class action law suit on this matter.
    I was always annoyed Greenpeace didn't pick up on this, because the old policy sent lots of working devices to the landfill.
    The beauty is; there is the really cheap iPhone: the trickle down of used phones, and because Apple devices are a quality product, there's no punishment typing this on a several year old iPhone 4 that still works perfectly well.
    Now if only they updated some of the older iOS versions enough to work with iCloud instead of the now defunct mobileMe, you'd have millions of additional Apple users, and many an iPhone laying dormant in a drawer would find a use for kids, secondary travel phone or could be donated to low income people all over.

    Very good news, indeed; guess better late than never.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 26 of 33
    malaxmalax Posts: 1,598member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by drfrot View Post

     

    This is good news, but what about apps that are updated for iOS7, yet remain compatible with earlier devices? I'm thinking of e.g. an iPhone 4 user who chooses to remain on iOS6 (for obvious reasons)… but updates their apps when updates become available.

     

    It's likely that all those updated apps will be designed to look good, run best and feel right on iOS7, even though they are still compatible with iOS6.

     

    This change in the app store addresses older hardware nicely. But what about older software? Given the relatively large differences between iOS6 and 7, I just wonder what sort of experience those who choose not to update to iOS7 can expect…


     

    It depends on the developer.

     

    It is possible to support the app so it looks like a iOS6 app on iOS6 and an iOS7 app on iOS7.  It's also possible to add whiz bang new features to your app using the latest and greated iOS7 APIs, but make sure that the app still works great on older versions that don't have those APIs.  Some of this stuff is easy, some is difficult/complex.

     

    When the developer posts an app to the App Store he makes a choice about which iOS versions to support.  If you support olderversions, it is more work to do the compatibility test (and implement version-specific fixes where necessary).  On the other hand, you can just mark your app as requiring iOS7 and no one with an older version will see it.  This new, welcome change is a compromise.  You can be more aggressive in supporting only iOS7 without completely leaving your prior customers with older devices in the dust.  Now they will still be able to download the older iOS6 compatible version.

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 27 of 33
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by GregInPrague View Post

     

     

    Surely by now you can find a 3gs for 3,000kc (or an 8gb iPhone 4 for 5,000kc) no matter what part of the Czech Republic you're in.


    Sure, that was exactly what I did even for that price. It was in December 2012.

     

    But main point was that I could not understand how such big company could produce so lame App Store several years after its launch. Not talking about search capabilities.

    PS: Zdravim :-)

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 28 of 33
    nikilok wrote: »
    That's a very cool move.. Does any Android Store have something similar to this functionality ?
    There is some overhead cost I believe on the data center's to store different versions of the same app, in terms of storage space.
    Some of the advantages of there data center expansion I see :)
    Most devices still use 2 year old OS so app compatibility will either be most people's problems or reverse (so basically if you run android 1.0 you can run any software since its all outdated

    This seems like potential for iPod touch 4 and the still saleing iPad 2 that obviously don't need to be ripped but the iPhone 4 not.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 29 of 33
    gtrgtr Posts: 3,231member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by PhilBoogie View Post



    Sorry, tried one out yesterday in some discount store, guess it has made me stupid.

     

    Not necessarily.

     

    A friend and I got caught in a zombie apocalypse the other day and, when we ran into a building for protection, we used Surfaces to board up the windows.

     

    Zombies, it appears, are attracted to windows...

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 30 of 33
    gtr wrote: »
    philboogie wrote: »
    Sorry, tried one out yesterday in some discount store, guess it has made me stupid.

    Not necessarily.

    A friend and I got caught in a zombie apocalypse the other day and, when we ran into a building for protection, we used Surfaces to board up the windows.

    Which map app were you using¿

    [quoteZombies, it appears, are attracted to windows...
    [/quote]

    Brilliant!
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 31 of 33
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by TeaEarleGreyHot View Post

     

     

    "I love you so much, Mom, that I'm giving you a device that I find obsolete and frustrating".

     

    I'm sure Mom shares your sentiment:  Awesome--not!


    :-) Interesting point of view. But for her it is still something like toy from 22th century. ;-)

     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 32 of 33
    This is a great news! So in case I am stuck at iOS 4.2.1, but the application I want to install requires iOS 4.3 to work, I can now download the 4.2.1 version of that app. Therefore, if I am not wrong, people with original iPhone can now retain their older device even longer than before. You can also check this link for most useful free Apps for iPhone 3g
    http://radharenu.hubpages.com/hub/10-Most-Useful-Free-Apps-for-iPhone-3g
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 33 of 33
    This is a great news! So in case I am stuck at iOS 4.2.1, but the application I want to install requires iOS 4.3 to work, I can now download the 4.2.1 version of that app. Therefore, if I am not wrong, people with original iPhone can now retain their older device even longer than before. You can also check this link for most useful free Apps for iPhone 3g
    http://radharenu.hubpages.com/hub/10-Most-Useful-Free-Apps-for-iPhone-3g
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
Sign In or Register to comment.