Do most of your friends do updates?

[KittyKatta]

With iOS5 bringing in so many great features then Im asking all my iPhone friends/family (rougly 50) if they updated and Im surprised at the results. 100% of them know about iOS5 but about 90% of them havent updated. And not only are they not updating the OS, when I look at their App Store updates then it seems they never do app updates either because they have dozens of updates waiting and tons of photos because they never sync to a computer for backups.

The reasoning is usually "i dont care" or "i dont want to lose data" (which is likely if you never do backups) but its a real shame because some of these updates are really made specifically for these type of users (OTA updates, iCloud backups, PC-Free etc).

I know it shouldnt bug me because its their devices, but its also tough to know your friends are making things more difficult than necessary so im wondering if im alone in this.

 

[Small White Car]

You've discovered the reason that Apple really wanted to create over-the-air updates that send a push notice reminding you to do it.

Sure, that won't help these people if they never update to 5, but eventually they'll buy new phones and then Apple can finally be rid of this class of customer. Sure, some people will still ignore updates, but it will be a much, much smaller group at that point.

 

[kas23]

The majority of people do not update their devices. I assume they just don't know how. I know people who have had their iPhone for over 3 years that still don't know how to sync it or download an app from the app store.

http://www.industrygamers.com/news/...-of-compatible-devices-as-ipad-sales-pick-up/

 

[applefan289]

My friends don't update either. I tell them to, but they say, "Yeah, I don't know, I guess I'm just lazy, don't know." It's almost like they have an iDevice, but don't see the value of updating.

I, on the other hand (like most MR members), update the moment I see a front page news story that an update has been released.

I guess you have to be more "in the know" about stuff like this to even think it's worth it.

You have to appreciate updating stuff and be into technology, or else you will just be fine with the current version of your device.

I find it very frustrating that I bring up that there's a free update out, but my friends don't really give me the time of day when I bring it up. They just say "oh, really?". And that's it. It's almost like they have no interest on the networking/technology side of things...but hey, that's why we're on MacRumors and they're not, right?

 

[Small White Car]

lol

Apparently a person who never updates their phone got mad and came in here to vote my last comment down.

I had no idea they felt so strongly about not updating.

 

[applefan289]

lol

Apparently a person who never updates their phone got mad and came in here to vote my last comment down.

I had no idea they felt so strongly about not updating.

I gave you a thumbs up to balance it out.

 

[cmeisenzahl]

With iOS5 bringing in so many great features then Im asking all my iPhone friends/family (rougly 50) if they updated and Im surprised at the results. 100% of them know about iOS5 but about 90% of them havent updated. And not only are they not updating the OS, when I look at their App Store updates then it seems they never do app updates either because they have dozens of updates waiting and tons of photos because they never sync to a computer for backups.
The reasoning is usually "i dont care" or "i dont want to lose data" (which is likely if you never do backups) but its a real shame because some of these updates are really made specifically for these type of users (OTA updates, iCloud backups, PC-Free etc).
I know it shouldnt bug me because its their devices, but its also tough to know your friends are making things more difficult than necessary so im wondering if im alone in this.

Most of my friend upgrade ASAP. ;-)

 

[PaulyD]

My parents do the moment they see one. A few of my friends don't but would say 70% of them do.

I have slowly noticed more and more people using iMessage when sending messages

 

[austinguy23]

iOS should be configured such that upon opening an out-of-date app, the user is prompted with an "Update Now (Yes/No)" prompt to encourage users to perform the update right then and there.

I don't think iOS updates even prompt you to update. A red badge just appears on the Settings icon, I believe. Users should get an in-your-face prompt that says an upgrade is available and to click "Yes" to upgrade.

 

[Sanveann]

I don't know about most of my friends, as I'm not a big texter, and that's the only way I know if someone has iOS5 or not ... but it bugs the heck out of me that my father-in-law (who I text a lot with, as he frequently watches the kids) is taking FOREVER to update to iOS 5. Quit wasting my text messages, dude! At least my mother-in-law and my husband have updated already.

 

[Greg.]

Perhaps they prefer the better battery life?

 

[thelookingglass]

With iOS5 bringing in so many great features then Im asking all my iPhone friends/family (rougly 50) if they updated and Im surprised at the results. 100% of them know about iOS5 but about 90% of them havent updated. And not only are they not updating the OS, when I look at their App Store updates then it seems they never do app updates either because they have dozens of updates waiting and tons of photos because they never sync to a computer for backups.

The reasoning is usually "i dont care" or "i dont want to lose data" (which is likely if you never do backups) but its a real shame because some of these updates are really made specifically for these type of users (OTA updates, iCloud backups, PC-Free etc).

I know it shouldnt bug me because its their devices, but its also tough to know your friends are making things more difficult than necessary so im wondering if im alone in this.

You're not alone at all. My friends and family are similar. Many of them are fairly tech savvy, so they've updated but those like my mother will never update unless I do it for them.

 

[nburwell]

The majority of my friends and family have upgraded to iOS 5. But most of them that did upgrade was only because I told them about the new features included with the upgrade. Otherwise, I'm sure they probably would not have upgraded at all (unless they connected their iPhone to their computer). I make a conscious effort to sync up my phone with my MBP once a week so that my playlists, photos, apps, are all update to date. But again, I'm sure the majority of my friends don't back up their devices as frequently.

 

[Beachball8]

Believe it or not, these people end up being happier because they dont have to think of all the crap that comes with iOS 5.

Conversely, they could be interested in stuff that you are not. For example, they could be into preventing global warming and you are not. In this case, since you pay less attention to the environment, you worry less about its fate etc. and end up happier.

My wife couldn't care less about our house. But I built it and renovated it myself. As a result I know every hairline crack in the walls and every spot of paint that is out of place. She is blissfuly unaware of these things and guess who's happier?

 

[0970373]

My family drives me crazy with stuff like this! Everyone has an iPhone, including me that makes 8. The 7 of them haven't updated and are probably waiting for me to come home for the holidays so I'll do it for them. lol.

 

[Tomorrow]

If they don't update the OS or their apps, that doesn't really bother me one way or another. I'm still using Snow Leopard because I don't want Lion.

What I really don't understand is the number of people - and there have been MANY - who for some reason lose/wipe/trade in their phone and they don't have a backup of their contacts. Even if you don't want your apps updated, I would think that few people look forward to losing all their contacts and having to re-enter them all (hopefully all!) by hand.

 

[ac921ol]

my girl seems to be on that doesnt update, and doesnt use folders either.

sadly enough she has an iphose 4s and i have the iphone4 :-(

 

[hexonxonx]

Wasn't there a story on here from about a year ago that stated that about 40% of iPhone owners never once backed up their phone or synced it or something like that?

I have know only five people in the past who had iPhones. Two updated frequently and two I have no clue about. The other had no idea there was a 5.0 coming out when I mentioned it to him almost two months ago.

 

[Will69]

I think many people here are falling into a "group think" and upgrade because "well that's what you're supposed to do".

Well hold on a sec. While for many, the reason to skip an upgrade is either apathy or laziness, for others, it's because the trust level for Apple isn't sufficient enough to go through the process. And I can't say I blame them.

I have only updated in a timely way when the reasons for doing it were significant.

"security fixes". "minor tweaks". bla bla bla. No thanks.

In two cases, I have received a phone call from a friend that warned me "Hey, don't upgrade to the new version that just came out, I know three people that have a problem".

Take, for example, iOS 5.0.1. Its reason for existance is to fix a battery issue that SOME users have. I guess I lucked out that I never had those issues. Many people are of the opinion that I should upgrade anyway.

Why?

There is a much higher probability that I'll suffer some problem from the upgrade than of achieving a result better than what I currently operate with.

 

[Jimbo47]

I think many people who simply have the phone so they can say "I have an iPhone which means I'm better than you" Or just for the popularity factor or whatever, dont update for that reason. They only have the iPhone to have an iPhone, and don't realize what they are missing out on by staying on older versions of iOS. Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone but I'm sure many are like this.

 

[KittyKatta]

The majority of people do not update their devices. I assume they just don't know how. I know people who have had their iPhone for over 3 years that still don't know how to sync it or download an app from the app store.

Yeah, I find that to be odd. I know so many people that go for the largest capacity iPhones yet when I look at their usage they barely have 2GB filled because all they download are a few popular free apps and have zero music or video. So essentially they just use the iPhone as a camera/facebook/text device.

Im not ridiculing them for not using the iPhone to its fullest, but its just odd to buy such high end technology and pay such high data-rate prices but refuse to do anything to make sure its up to date or take advantages of all the great features. Yeah, I know, I'm too nosey...

 

[quietstormSD]

Same issue here with my friends. They take ages to update. Hell I get Andy when there's an even minor update and I don't have it on my phone. I've been begging some friends to update to ios 5, particularly for iMessage. And it's like taking teeth out

 

[tmagman]

definitely takes some coaxing of the friends to do it sooner rather than later. Definte reason would be the fact they dont plug in their devices very often and dont see the updates, but I've also heard complaints about the restore process when upgrading systems (none of which I have experienced). It usually takes them about a month or two to finally catch up and get the new significant update. OTA updates will definitely help with this!

with intermediary releases (i.e. 4.0 -4.3, etc.) I dont harass them as much cause the changes aren't as significant, but with larger more significant updates like iOS 5 I'm definitely on their case.

 

[Blakjack]

Most of my friends with iPhones don't know anything about updates. I usually have to tell them it's here or it's coming. And when I do, they still don't bother to update. Some get jealous when they see the new tricks on my phone, then they update.