iOS 10 warns users when opening legacy apps not encoded in 64-bit
More than a year after Apple mandated that all new apps must be 64-bit compatible, iOS 10 will begin warning users that non-compliant legacy apps may affect the stability of their iPhone or iPad.
Starting with this week's first developer beta of iOS 10, opening an older application for the first time will present users with a warning message, indicating that the software has not been updated with proper 64-bit support.
"Using (this app) may affect overall system performance," the warning reads.
Support for 64-bit processors has been required for both new and updated apps since June of 2015. That means any app that displays the warning in iOS 10 has not been updated in over a year.
Developers with legacy apps who want to keep their creations working properly have until iOS 10 launches to the public this fall to update. Developers are advised to enable 64-bit in their project by using the default Xcode build setting of "standard architectures," allowing a single binary of both 32- and 64-bit code.
Apple was first to bring 64-bit portable computing to the mainstream with the launch of the iPhone 5s in 2013. Every iOS-based device currently sold by Apple now runs a 64-bit processor.
Despite the 64-bit requirements now in place, iOS 10 will still run on a trio of devices that do not feature 64-bit processors: The iPhone 5c released in 2013 sports a 32-bit A6 processor, and the iPhone 5 launched in 2012 uses the same CPU, while the fourth-generation iPad features a 32-bit A6X chip.
Starting with this week's first developer beta of iOS 10, opening an older application for the first time will present users with a warning message, indicating that the software has not been updated with proper 64-bit support.
"Using (this app) may affect overall system performance," the warning reads.
Support for 64-bit processors has been required for both new and updated apps since June of 2015. That means any app that displays the warning in iOS 10 has not been updated in over a year.
Developers with legacy apps who want to keep their creations working properly have until iOS 10 launches to the public this fall to update. Developers are advised to enable 64-bit in their project by using the default Xcode build setting of "standard architectures," allowing a single binary of both 32- and 64-bit code.
Apple was first to bring 64-bit portable computing to the mainstream with the launch of the iPhone 5s in 2013. Every iOS-based device currently sold by Apple now runs a 64-bit processor.
Despite the 64-bit requirements now in place, iOS 10 will still run on a trio of devices that do not feature 64-bit processors: The iPhone 5c released in 2013 sports a 32-bit A6 processor, and the iPhone 5 launched in 2012 uses the same CPU, while the fourth-generation iPad features a 32-bit A6X chip.
Comments
I've got well over $100 tied up in apps, many haven't been updated in several years. It would be nice to find out which may have a problem. iOS 10 may have to wait a while.
You seriously expected Apple would have this done for the iOS 10 beta?
The Stanza app hasn't been updated in several years, and in fact is no longer available, and is still one of the most used apps on my phone and iPad.
As long as iOS still runs the app, I'll be OK.
</sarcasm>
Seriously though, I just hope iOS 10 runs as smoothly on 32 bit devices as iOS 9. I really thought that 9 would be the last version to support 64-bit devices, but looking back it makes sense since they sold the 5c through this February. I know most people say then don't upgrade, but sometimes there's no choice - many apps stop supporting the older versions after a short time, even those that *require* you to update them before you can use them (DirecTV, NBC Sports, etc).
My biggest wish for iOS 10 though is to give us the choice to download a universal version of an app, so that I can transfer the purchased apps from my phone into iTunes again!