This didn't just happen throughout Tim's watch. Steve was just as guilty for prematurely dropping software support for devices. This has been a long term issue of Apple's since they bounced back in '97/'98.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Planned obsolescence!
- Thread starter George Waseem
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
- Status
This didn't just happen throughout Tim's watch. Steve was just as guilty for prematurely dropping software support for devices. This has been a long term issue of Apple's since they bounced back in '97/'98.
People find the obsolete word = unusable from the experience with older iOS devices including the iPad 1, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPods 2,3
You do not have to upgrade to a new phone, you do not have to upgrade to a new OS either, you just want to because of the features.
With other phones you most likely get stuck with the os it came out with anyway.
Android phones rarely see MAJOR system updates (this is the reason 4.4 is not even at 50% userbase today and it is a 2 gen old os), so it would be like running the iphone 5s with it's original software today, fully functional and zippy as hell.
Both iOS developer and Android developer do NOT support all version, that is why before buying an app on stores you see if your device is compatible (both HW and OS).
I much prefere the Apple way of doing thigns, i can either upgrade and loose some speed but gain support / features or decide to stay behind and enjoy the phone for what i bought it.
I am actually using iOS 8 on my iPhone 6 and still have to find something i need that is not working, when ios 10 comes out i'll likely change phone, or have the option to upgrade os.
On the Android side the choice is mostly up to the manufacturer, if they decide they want your phone to support the new os or not, as said earlier, most manufacturer support the phone for smaller releases, leaving only the premium phones getting MAJOR releases and most other phones are sluggish from day one.
To each it's own i guess.
Last edited:
"I don't need people telling me planned obsolescence isn't happening. Get out." Good to know you just want a circle jerk.
Wait, wait. You think they actively built bugs into iOS 9? Because that's how that post comes across.
I thought this was about continuing to sell outdated hardware at high margins and pushing updates to devices that can't handle it.
I don't think Apple meant to build bugs into iOS 9, it's just that they build the system from the start every time they announce a new system update.
No they don't build the system from scratch every time they announce a new system update.
Then why do we find bugs at some places with iOS 9, while in the same places there wasn't any bugs with iOS 8 or even 7. If they didn't build main iOS upgrades from scratch then why are there any bugs??
Because when you touch complicated code you can break / fix some stuff... so it might be working on the older version but with the update you can brake some part that is used somewhere else, adding and updating api can brake stuff.
It would be illogical to start from scratch 9 times in 9 years.
Because changing one line of code can end up causing another bug to show up. It might have even been there the entire time, with the bug they fixed actually being the thing covering up the new found bug.
iOS 7 was built from scratch, if I remember correctly Jony Ive made sure to strip iOS and that's why when it was in beta there were many changes and bugs. 8 and now 9 are about refining the code that 7 brought with it, when 64-bit support was built in.
No, not even iOS 7 was built from scratch. A lot of the code might have been changed, sure, but a from scratch thing would have taken more than a year.
Since you asked:
1. Don't purchase Apple made products if you do not like their behavior. You have other options. Get an Android or a Windows phone. If I had a problem with a corporation, then I will boycott its products. Vote with your wallet.
2. Apple gives you a small window where you ca upgrade to the latest iOS. They will keep signing the old iOS for about a week. You can test the new iOS and if it slows down your device, then you can go back to the old iOS. There is a way to do it through iTunes. I have done it when 9.1 was introduced. I tried it, I did not like it and went back to 9.0.2 so I can jailbreak my phone.
3. If you have been an Apple user surely you should know by know not to update your phone beyond three full iOS cycles. You have seen the pattern haven't you? This happens all the time, does it not? The new iOS adds more features that the old hardware cannot handle so the old hardware slows down. If you are an educated consumer (not many of those left), then you should know not to update to the latest iOS. You cannot expect Apple to not add features to the new iOS simply to keep old hardware users happy. It is not going to happen.
4. There is no conspiracy going on here. Threads like these suggest there is one. But every time a lawsuit was filed on this issue the courts threw it out. They will do it again with the most recent one. You are welcome to join it since it is a class action Lawsuit.
I'd rather have planned obsolescence than no new features and no new capability. Every manufacturer plans obsolescence - otherwise you'd never sell another product to an existing owner.
Making profits is the American way and I'm happy Apple does.
As stated you don't have to update if you don't want upgraded capability.
If I were an app developer I wouldn't update or really care about people who keep old equipment around.
Making profits is the American way and I'm happy Apple does.
As stated you don't have to update if you don't want upgraded capability.
If I were an app developer I wouldn't update or really care about people who keep old equipment around.
"well apple can update the devices to the latest software but maintain a usable condition" - Software doesn't work like that. If you do not add any new features the user base cries out about how old and stale and boring the software is and if you do choose to add new features you cannot be limited by 3 year old hardware.
"We don't ask apple to support older devices regarding the applications as we all know that newer apps support a limited amount of devices" - So what exactly is someone that chooses to stay on iOS 6 supposed to do when the majority of apps get updates and requires iOS 7 or better? Oh I know, they will cry Planned obsolescence. "I cant use my app anymore they want me to buy a new phone!"
"Downgrading could keep everyone happy as everyone can choose the perfect system for the device."
This would only work if users used nothing but native apps. 3rd party apps are always being updated to accommodate new versions of iOS and many times will not longer be available on older versions of iOS. For example iOS 6 runs great on a iPhone 4S. Unfortunately, Skype and Yahoo Mail and other apps do not WORK on iOS 6. What are you supposed to do? not use those apps or upgrade?
Oh please, its possible to have new features and also not to completely ruin performance.
Glad you support an unsustainable and environmental damaging cycle though. But hey Apple is making huge profits, so who cares right??
Excellent!!! Then vote with your wallet and get an Android phone. There are many great ones on the market.
If these devices are on the shelves with iOS 9, that's terrible. Even if they aren't people buying them only to update and brick their devices functionality which is horrible for the company and the consumer. I personally am fortunate enough to opt into beta testing and know the typical window for downgrading. For the average consumer, that is not so much the case.
I've decided if I buy a new iOS device it will live on what it shipped with. Not updating until Apple gets their act together.
I've decided if I buy a new iOS device it will live on what it shipped with. Not updating until Apple gets their act together.
Last edited:
Planned obsolescence doesn't apply to computers as it does to cars for example. In order to keep a Honda Accord at a reasonable price point engineering choices have to be made. I'm sure Honda could design a $200k 20 year bullet proof accord, but who would buy it?
My iPad 2 on iOS 9.2 could theoretically last for many more years but would I want to use a 10 year old computer?
Apple wants us to upgrade which is why they have rendered all A5 chipset devices unusable with iOS 9.I wouldnt wish my iPad Mini on my worst enemy and I mean it
It's more that in its current incarnation, Apple still offers me the best user experience and still best meets my needs, quirks and flaws and shortcomings and all.
Currently, my Macs (a 2011 iMac and 2012 MBA) still run as well on the latest OSX version (El capitan), and I appreciate the myriad of new features each annual update brings with it.
I upgrade my iPhone every 2 years, so any slowdown from the 2nd subsequent update never really affects me. I do have an iPad mini 2, and it is admittedly starting to lag and all, but still does what it needs to do, and again, I appreciate the new features like quick-reply and slide-over.
One can wax lyrical about how Apple should take the moral high ground and strive towards offering us the best of both worlds, but life isn't perfect, and very often, we don't always get exactly what we want. There is no one other company that offers what Apple offers - an integrated solution that just works right out of the box. If I switch over to Microsoft and / or Android, I am not getting more of what I want. I am simply trading one set of problems for another. It just so happens that with Apple, my share of problems don't affect me as much as the problems I would experience with other platforms.
You have a selection of imperfect solutions in front of you. Pick your poison. I already have.
I'm not talking about inviduval experiences I am talking about on the whole. If people just sit down an accept what corporations do, we would all get stuffed over as *Newsflash* they don't care much about anything other than profit.
Apple is a rich rich rich company, and in my opinion have gotten to the stage where they should put more resources and energy into the support of hardware, for the benefit of users and the environment. Apple devices should be supported for as long as humanly possible under iOS upgrades (that are properly optimised such that they don't completely ruin performance on older devices) and then after that in the form of security updates to older versions of iOS, and downgrading should be an option. It might mean a small reduction in device upgraders due to extended (usable) lifespan of hardware, but in terms of helping the environment in reducing e-waste and reducing the environmental effects of creating new devices. Surely that matters more than more upgraders.
Apple is starting to go in the right direction, but still has a ways to go. I truly don't believe Apple builds in obsolesce in the way people say they do, I believe that iOS is just not optimised for older devices, which is one of the things they could be doing a lot better.
At the end of the day, improved device support is an advantage to many, and not a disadvantage to anyone if done properly.
And again, I'm sure people will reply to remind me of Android and all, saying that Apple is already doing better than them, but that doesn't mean that Apple can't improve even more.
My ipad 2 (A5 chi8pset) on IOS 9.2 is much more usable than on IOS 8. It's back to being a workhorse. That ipad will last me a few more years. The question is do I want to keep using it as a workhorse in a few years is the question?
Well i can say for sure my Ipad2 is not useable on 9.2 even after many reinstalls and all the display options via accessibility off..
5S crawls and is noticeably worse.
5S crawls and is noticeably worse.
- Status