Both Apple and the developers have a vested interest in supporting as few versions of an OS and an app as possible. They also have a vested interest in keeping their product fresh - it's a competitive world.
So, what happens if a developer brings out a new version every year, with new features that were enabled by the latest version of the OS? Do they keep selling every version, and leave it to the customer to decide which version is right for them? Does the App Store automatically deliver the correct version (or hide incompatible products), based on the version of the OS the customer is running? If incompatible versions are hidden, the potential customer doesn't know what benefits they may gain by upgrading the OS. What if the customer reads the description for the latest version, with all sorts of exciting new features, but is given the older version that's compatible with their OS? "I want a refund!" Does the developer keep patching bugs and security holes in those older versions for as long as they're offered for sale, or do they slap a big "sold as-is" banner on it?
I've seen a few App Store developers that do keep their older versions on sale, at lower prices. It's pretty confusing, if you ask me, and I can't help but wonder how many purchasers of the bargain, older version end up paying again to get the newest version, with all the improvements.
I would suspect Apple at least would support OS at least 5 years old. A 5 years old is not that long ago.
If Apple only supports some thing no more than three years old Apple is leaching on people.
Well surely OS cannot change that much in that small time frame. Microsoft would never do this. And Microsoft is known like Android to support OS 5 to 10 years old. Even Linux support many different Linux distro and version.
There still lots of software made for windows 7 that came out in 2009. It seems to be move by Apple to make OS and hardware old fast.
And we wonder why Mac computers are not as probably on campus like before and Microsoft surface is taking off.
No it just Apple business motel when comes to OS and hardware to make some thing old very fast.
Like Apple thunderbolt and USB-C that is useless outside of apple ecosystem because most device like monitor, mouse and external hard-drive so on, that are not made by apple do not support thunderbolt and USB-C.
Unless you buy Apple device or device mad for Apple. And in 5 years from now there will be some thing else out and Apple will not make and support thunderbolt and USB-C.
Apple is killing of Mac computers even iOS devices that are no more than 4 years old.
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The number comes from looking at the market as a whole, not just "people you know". It turns out that there are billions of people on the planet, and you know but the tiniest of tiny fractions. In my case, I don't know anyone running anything earlier than 10.9, but I'm not going to claim that nobody at all runs anything earlier, because "people I know" does not reflect the entire market.
--Eric
That probably because of the general rule is laptop and notebook computers normally less 6 years. Well some people get lucky and computer less 6 to 10 years. So it not common a laptop and notebook that less 6 to 10 years. But the general rule is laptop and notebook computers normally less 6 years.
And most computer that are still working 8 to 10 years out are normally too slow to do most things these days. Unless you are just using it as eMachine like light internet use, e-mail and basic typing program.
Not sure the life span of device like iPad, iPhone, smart phones and tablets but it has no moving parts and unless you rough with it and drop it down yes even one feet or less than one feet well probably last longer.
. and all of the other HD versions drown this out as completely non-playable because its changes so much. too much 3D.