dysamoria said: [...] they've spent so much time letting performance problems and bugs build up.
I think I like the idea of delaying new features and focussing on tidying up and stabilizing the OS. I'm hoping it will help with the performance issues I'm experiencing with older devices.
We have a couple of 6+ here. When we first got them they were responsive and quick. After a few generations of OS updates, the lag between input command and response is so long that I often think I've failed to hit the button correctly.
I'm obviously aware that these devices are now in their fourth year of service and newer chips allow developers to write more demanding code with the expectation that the hardware will be able to keep up. The solution would seem to be staying on an older OS that was written for the device's less capable CPU, but that's where I find myself feeling like I'm getting conflicting messages.
Every conversation I've ever had with an Apple Genius or telephone support person begins with asking if I've updated to the latest software. Presumably the expectation is that newer versions will have fixed certain bugs and include the latest performance optimizations. Unfortunately they also have a really negative impact on responsiveness.
New devices aren't in the cards at the moment, so I'd like to improve the experience with these. I just don't know what I should be doing. Here's hoping a bullet-proofed iOS12 helps.
I think Apple should keep releasing a new iOS yearly, but they don’t have to try and stick everything in at once.
Why not distribute major features throughout the year? As in every 3 months an update comes out that adds something new? Quality should go up because there’s less pressure to get everything done at once. And people would have something to look forward to by getting regular improvements.
Or how about allowing apps to be updated independent of major OS updates? Why do we need a new OS to get feature updates in mail or calendar app?
Is the assumption of this rumour really that Apple cannot walk and chew gum at the same time? They need two years between feature releases to stabilize iOS?
After this many decades doing major software, one assumes the are capable of doing both.
Not when they've spent so much time letting performance problems and bugs build up. Apple have clearly been ignoring these issues and focusing only on bullet point features for new devices. The garbage has built up to a distressing level, when comparing to iOS 6 (and Mac OS 10.6.8).
As I've mentioned several times here on AI, there are serious functionality bugs present in iOS, introduced by iOS 7 and unfixed in iOS 11, plus new problems introduced each version. If you aren't bothered by these bugs, great for you. If you don't know what they are, I guess your usage is entirely different from mine because these bugs irritate me daily, and I discover new bugs almost daily... such as the recently-noticed complete inability to delete web site storage content. Go ahead and try it; if you're on iOS 10.3 or higher, it's impossible to clear your Safari content. I'm surprised no one has taken issue with this broken function in the media since it's a privacy hole.
It's high time Apple focus on stability, bug-killing, and speed/efficiency. iOS desperately needs it and Mac OS isn't far behind (the mouse pointer bugs introduced in El Capitan persist and have grown in Sierra, and High Sierra has been a huge pain for audio professionals and 3rd-party developers, mostly because APFS wasn't suitably tested and refined before release on Mac OS).
Though if Apple come through this time, I bet they'll cut iPhone 6s from compatibility. Because that's my luck. No, it's NOT acceptable to replace a 650+ dollar piece of hardware every three years.
I think India saved you: They can't afford the newer phones, so Apple has been pushing the older phones at lower price points to them. In fact, they're planning on building the A9 based SE there... And, the 2017 iPad is using the A9 as well. My bet is that not only your 6S but even my 6(+) will maintain compatibility.
"Though if Apple come through this time, I bet they'll cut iPhone 6s from compatibility."
If history is any indication, that's a given. and iPhone 7 series will be cut next year.
They'll probably stop selling the 6S (at least in the U.S.), but there's no chance they will remove it from compatibility. Even if they wanted to (which I doubt) the SE and 2017 iPad both use the same A9 processor.
My bet is that Apple will be stretching its compatible list -- particularly now that they dumped their last 32 bit processor (the iPhone 5) last September. Sure, they'll run slower. But that may be why Apple is focusing on performance over features.
dysamoria said: [...] they've spent so much time letting performance problems and bugs build up.
I think I like the idea of delaying new features and focussing on tidying up and stabilizing the OS. I'm hoping it will help with the performance issues I'm experiencing with older devices.
We have a couple of 6+ here. When we first got them they were responsive and quick. After a few generations of OS updates, the lag between input command and response is so long that I often think I've failed to hit the button correctly.
I'm obviously aware that these devices are now in their fourth year of service and newer chips allow developers to write more demanding code with the expectation that the hardware will be able to keep up. The solution would seem to be staying on an older OS that was written for the device's less capable CPU, but that's where I find myself feeling like I'm getting conflicting messages.
Every conversation I've ever had with an Apple Genius or telephone support person begins with asking if I've updated to the latest software. Presumably the expectation is that newer versions will have fixed certain bugs and include the latest performance optimizations. Unfortunately they also have a really negative impact on responsiveness.
New devices aren't in the cards at the moment, so I'd like to improve the experience with these. I just don't know what I should be doing. Here's hoping a bullet-proofed iOS12 helps.
The comparison here are the Android phones where most are not updated and are wide open to hacking.
Apple takes security seriously. And, they can't secure a phone if the OS is not current. Yes, they could maintain security updates on multiple versions of the OS, but that would be expensive -- and unnecessary in their eyes (and mine).
I'm all about Apple focusing on squashing bugs and improving performance at the expense of a couple new features; most encouraging news, especially for those of us with perfectly good older hardware.
Also support this move strongly. New iPad Pro here with charging bugs that only started with iOS 11. When mated to a purpose-built Logitech keyboard, charging quits. Even with the Lightning power cable plugged in Scores of reports of this bug on Logi and Apple support pages.
That said, I love the Files app that iOS 11 brought in. It’s made my iPad Pro 2x as useful and it’s settling in nicely as a Macbook/MBP replacement
This time, I reluctantly accept the trade-off of Files for ChargeFail. Because the bug was introduced with iOS 11, I’m hopeful it will be fixed rather than permanently disabling my otherwise perfectly good keyboard case
I still have yet to put iOS 11 on my 6s Plus due to the battery life concerns. I haven't seen any reports of this issue being substantially and concretely fixed with the incremental updates.
It isn’t fixed yet, although at least on my 6s Plus the issue now only occurs whilst using navigation related apps and the drain in those apps is not nearly as bad as it was.
Back with iOS 11.03 I lost 80% of my battery in 16 minutes whilst using it for walking directions in London.
Had to get around London the old fashioned way after that, total inexcusable balls up on Apples part.
Remember Apple works like a start-up. Secondly, I understand it. It’s about focus. The pick tasks and focus, if they do “both” then chances are the improvements won’t be front and center. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I would imagine the code probably should remain relatively unchanged if they want gl focus on improvements and bug fixes
No they don’t. It’s an old company and don’t operate like a startup whatsoever. If they would, they couldn’t deliver what they deliver these days. On a corporate level they are everything except a startup.
If you’re referring to agile project development, and small ’cell’ teams, yes that’s Apple. They don’t work with huge teams on these things even if they can, to keep focus and stay lean.
I think Apple should keep releasing a new iOS yearly, but they don’t have to try and stick everything in at once.
Why not distribute major features throughout the year? As in every 3 months an update comes out that adds something new? Quality should go up because there’s less pressure to get everything done at once. And people would have something to look forward to by getting regular improvements.
You realize you literally contradicted yourself in less than 3 sentences right?
Apple recruit people based on their CVs full of leaked secrets. People capable of leaving Apple have their CVs full of skills contributing to Apple current and future technology and secrets. A fair world.
Comments
We have a couple of 6+ here. When we first got them they were responsive and quick. After a few generations of OS updates, the lag between input command and response is so long that I often think I've failed to hit the button correctly.
I'm obviously aware that these devices are now in their fourth year of service and newer chips allow developers to write more demanding code with the expectation that the hardware will be able to keep up. The solution would seem to be staying on an older OS that was written for the device's less capable CPU, but that's where I find myself feeling like I'm getting conflicting messages.
Every conversation I've ever had with an Apple Genius or telephone support person begins with asking if I've updated to the latest software. Presumably the expectation is that newer versions will have fixed certain bugs and include the latest performance optimizations. Unfortunately they also have a really negative impact on responsiveness.
New devices aren't in the cards at the moment, so I'd like to improve the experience with these. I just don't know what I should be doing. Here's hoping a bullet-proofed iOS12 helps.
My bet is that Apple will be stretching its compatible list -- particularly now that they dumped their last 32 bit processor (the iPhone 5) last September. Sure, they'll run slower. But that may be why Apple is focusing on performance over features.
Apple takes security seriously. And, they can't secure a phone if the OS is not current. Yes, they could maintain security updates on multiple versions of the OS, but that would be expensive -- and unnecessary in their eyes (and mine).
That said, I love the Files app that iOS 11 brought in. It’s made my iPad Pro 2x as useful and it’s settling in nicely as a Macbook/MBP replacement
This time, I reluctantly accept the trade-off of Files for ChargeFail. Because the bug was introduced with iOS 11, I’m hopeful it will be fixed rather than permanently disabling my otherwise perfectly good keyboard case
Back with iOS 11.03 I lost 80% of my battery in 16 minutes whilst using it for walking directions in London.
Had to get around London the old fashioned way after that, total inexcusable balls up on Apples part.
If you’re referring to agile project development, and small ’cell’ teams, yes that’s Apple. They don’t work with huge teams on these things even if they can, to keep focus and stay lean.