Any chance of reverting a OS upgrade on a Ipad 2?

[Elixer]

9.x has been a disaster on the Ipad 2, it basically made it useless.
Everything is just very, very slow now, doing all types of resets doesn't help, even a reset device back to factory defaults, which wiped everything.
It has over 8GB free, so that isn't the issue.
Anything you do now is just freaking slow.

Passcode entry, kicks in 4-5 secs after you press the code.
Trying to use it for a web page is infuriating slow, and once finally loaded, you got a good chance of safari crashing on you.

How the heck did this make it through quality control?

Anyway, does anyone know of a way to install the older, more faster & reliable OS on it? Warranty is long over as well.

BTW, I don't actually own this device, I am posting for someone who does, and was playing around with it, trying to do all the resets and such.
They are 85, and, the only reason they updated was because they heard on the news that 9.x offers more security, so that is why they did it. They even called Apple to walk them through it.

 

[Eug]

Have you done the speed tweaks? Reduce motion reduce transparency help noticeably.

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2015/09/tips-to-fix-slow-iphone-ipad-after-updating-to-ios-9.html

The other tweaks mentioned in that link also do help. I also make a point of not installing apps in the background (because that slows the iPad 2 to a crawl) and try to keep only one app in memory - Safari eats memory.

iOS 9.2 is supposed to offer a bit of a speed boost too, but unfortunately 9.x is just slow on the iPad 2. Then again so was 8.4.1. If they want a full featured iPad experience that's fast, it's time for an iPad Air 2.

Note: I'm currently typing this on an iPad 2 for empathy but my main machine is an iPad Air 2.

 

[Elixer]

Yeah, already tried what is mentioned in the link, and it really don't help that much.
I also tried to keep only one app in memory, like just the browser, but, it still is slow.

Maybe they should just get a android tablet instead...since I have no idea when 9.2 will be out, and it seems you can't revert to an older OS for some strange reason.

 

[Elixer]

I am wondering, does the itunes backup of the ipad also store the OS, or is it just the data?

 

[ControlD]

I am wondering, does the itunes backup of the ipad also store the OS, or is it just the data?

I don't believe it backs up the OS, but even if it did you wouldn't be able to downgrade. There is a very small window of time in which you can downgrade once a new version is released, but that's it. Or at least it used to work that way.

I ran into a very similar issue on my iPod Touch some time ago. The last released OS version made the device essentially useless. I tried numerous ways of downgrading the OS but finally I had to admit defeat.

 

[KeithP]

Maybe they should just get a android tablet instead...since I have no idea when 9.2 will be out, and it seems you can't revert to an older OS for some strange reason.

I can't imagine the Android tablet experience would be better for the person in question. That would seem like a textbook "Cutting off the nose to spite the face" moment.

You could try turning off Javascript in Safari. This should give you a big speed boost but will break some sites. I run Safari that way and use Chrome as a backup browser for when lack of javascript is a problem.

9.2 has been released so try that. I have an iPad 2 and I would say that iOS 9 is somewhat better than iOS 8 speed wise but not by a lot. Probably the best thing to do would be to upgrade to an iPad Air 2 and sell the iPad 2 to get a little money back.

-KeithP

 

[Eug]

If they're used to iOS, I wouldn't get them an Android tablet. I'd suggest a refurbished Air 2, or if they're short on cash, a refurbished Air... with the caveat that the Air is already out of date spec-wise.

I am wondering, does the itunes backup of the ipad also store the OS, or is it just the data?

Not the OS.

BTW, as mentioned, iOS 8.4.x was slow too. Not much faster than 9.1. But also as mentioned, 9.2 is out now. I'm going to upgrade my iPad 2 tonite just to see if it helps at all. Probably not much but every little bit helps, and hopefully it will quash some bugs.

At least 9.1.x is noticeably faster than 9.0 beta. Speed on the early 9.0 betas really, really sucked.

 

[Elixer]

I can't imagine the Android tablet experience would be better for the person in question. That would seem like a textbook "Cutting off the nose to spite the face" moment.

You could try turning off Javascript in Safari. This should give you a big speed boost but will break some sites. I run Safari that way and use Chrome as a backup browser for when lack of javascript is a problem.

9.2 has been released so try that. I have an iPad 2 and I would say that iOS 9 is somewhat better than iOS 8 speed wise but not by a lot. Probably the best thing to do would be to upgrade to an iPad Air 2 and sell the iPad 2 to get a little money back.

-KeithP

Is a android tablet that bad for everyday use? I don't own a tablet either, but, I have played with a few, and it didn't seem that bad.
All they need is web + pics + skype.

As for turning off JS in safari, it isn't just safari that is unstable and slow, it is basically everything connected to the UI, even with everything set according to the tweak guide.
Like, if you press a dialog entry box, it takes 4-5 secs to actually bring up the keyboard, then, you can start typing, and it lags on screen display of what you pressed by 2-3 secs, and sometimes more.

It is like it is CPU starved, but, I have no idea why, since only one thing is running.

I'll update to 9.2, and see if that turns out better the next time I am there.

 

[Eug]

9.2 doesn't feel faster on the iPad 2 at all. Ugh.

 

[rugby]

9.2 doesn't feel faster on the iPad 2 at all. Ugh.

That device came out over 4 years ago. Expecting it to run the latest iOS with any speed whatsoever isn't fair.

 

[Elixer]

That device came out over 4 years ago. Expecting it to run the latest iOS with any speed whatsoever isn't fair.

So, why are they letting people with older devices install it, if they KNOW the "Apple experience" will be bad?
Why don't they allow those same people to revert to a version of the OS that is faster, and didn't have all these issues?

So, THAT isn't fair.

9.2 doesn't feel faster on the iPad 2 at all. Ugh.

Ugh is right.

 

[JackBurton]

So, why are they letting people with older devices install it, if they KNOW the "Apple experience" will be bad?
Why don't they allow those same people to revert to a version of the OS that is faster, and didn't have all these issues?

So, THAT isn't fair.


Ugh is right.

You do understand that a ton of security vulnerabities are patched with each iOS update, right? It's not just added emojis.

It's been 4 years. It's time for an upgrade. I have an iPad 4 and I'm looking to upgrade next year.

 

[Elixer]

You do understand that a ton of security vulnerabities are patched with each iOS update, right? It's not just added emojis.

It isn't the security vulnerabilities patches at issue here.

It's been 4 years. It's time for an upgrade. I have an iPad 4 and I'm looking to upgrade next year.

Good for you, not everyone is able to afford a new device, especially in this case.

 

[JackBurton]

It isn't the security vulnerabilities patches at issue here.

If it is connected to the Internet, it is an issue here. This is one of the main reasons Apple makes new iOS versions available on older devices. If it slows down a 4 year old device, I don't know what to tell you. The latest iPad will be an iPad Air 3 next year and you're still on an iPad 2. It's time to upgrade. This device should be relegated to a music player at this point. A secure music player.

Now you know what to get this person for Christmas.

 

[ControlD]

It's too bad Apple can't find a way to push security patches to devices without requiring a complete operating system update. I have to think it is possible. Imagine if you had to reinstall OS X or Windows every time they were patched. I guess that would lead to that dreaded fragmentation issue though.

 

[Eug]

Apple did push security updates on OS X without OS updates.

Ugh is right.

On the flip side, 9.2 runs gorgeously on the iPad Air 2.

 

[ControlD]

Apple did push security updates on OS X without OS updates.

That was my point

I should have clarified pushing security updates on iOS devices.

 

[Eug]

For the iPad 2 the best bang for the buck for the time being is iOS 7.1.2. Certain versions of iOS 8 are significantly slower. And iOS 9 is even slower, despite Apple's claims.

The only problems with this as mentioned is the lack of security updates, and just as importantly (if not more), is the increasing lack of app compatibility. iOS 7 is pretty good for now since most apps support it, but some apps are requiring iOS 8 or higher now already.

The iPad 2 in our household has now been relegated to being used mainly only as a kitchen recipe machine for my wife, or else a YouTube / Netflix / Infuse machine for my 3 year-old. Oh and as a babycam screen.

My wife and I both have our own iPad Air 2 each. With the 2 GB RAM and triple-core A8X, it ought to last a very long time, just like the iPad 2 did with its 512 MB RAM (double its predecessor) and dual-core A5X (also double its predecessor).

 

[Zodiark1593]

You do understand that a ton of security vulnerabities are patched with each iOS update, right? It's not just added emojis.

It's been 4 years. It's time for an upgrade. I have an iPad 4 and I'm looking to upgrade next year.

The most secure device is an unusable one.

 

[rugby]

So, why are they letting people with older devices install it, if they KNOW the "Apple experience" will be bad?
Why don't they allow those same people to revert to a version of the OS that is faster, and didn't have all these issues?

So, THAT isn't fair.


Ugh is right.

I don't know what to tell you. People bitch if Apple cuts off support for an OS, people bitch if Apple allows people to install a recent OS on older stuff.

Pick what you want to bitch about, but the FACTS are that running a more modern OS will consume more resources within your hardware. If your hardware runs out of resources, that OS will not function well.

Nothing we can do about this.

 

[Eug]

I don't know what to tell you. People bitch if Apple cuts off support for an OS, people bitch if Apple allows people to install a recent OS on older stuff.

Pick what you want to bitch about, but the FACTS are that running a more modern OS will consume more resources within your hardware. If your hardware runs out of resources, that OS will not function well.

Nothing we can do about this.

You mean like the FACT that Windows 10 runs faster than Windows 7 on the same hardware?

Anyhoo, personally I don't mind that iOS 9 runs moderately slowly on the iPad 2. What irritates though is I can't re-install iOS 7 (or iOS 8) on it, even though the iPad 2 supported iOS 7 (and 8) in the past. You can do that sort of thing with Macs, and Apple even issues security updates for older Macs (up to a point), but their philosophy is quite different on iOS, which is what irritates people.

 

[rugby]

You mean like the FACT that Windows 10 runs faster than Windows 7 on the same hardware?

You're assuming Windows 7 was as optimized as Windows 10 was. And all the benchmarks show a negligible bump in performance on the same hardware. But I don't do Windows 10 yet so I'm going by what a bunch of websites say.

Anyways, go buy a new iPad (or a refurb) and call it a day.

 

[Eug]

You're assuming Windows 7 was as optimized as Windows 10 was. And all the benchmarks show a negligible bump in performance on the same hardware. But I don't do Windows 10 yet so I'm going by what a bunch of websites say.

I'm not assuming anything. The point is the much older Windows 7 is slower than Windows 10 in many things. In terms of gaming and that stuff, I don't care, but OS navigation among other things associated with basic usage is noticeably faster on Windows 10 on old hardware. I have two old Windows PCs now on Win 10, and 10 has breathed new life into them. One is a Pentium SU4100 (which is essentially an ultramobile slow Core 2 Duo chip) and the other is dual core Atom 330.

Anyways, go buy a new iPad (or a refurb) and call it a day.

As mentioned, I already have two iPad Air 2s. Nonetheless, it still pisses me off that I can't downgrade the OS on the iPad 2.

 

[Elixer]

I don't know what to tell you. People bitch if Apple cuts off support for an OS, people bitch if Apple allows people to install a recent OS on older stuff.

Pick what you want to bitch about, but the FACTS are that running a more modern OS will consume more resources within your hardware. If your hardware runs out of resources, that OS will not function well.

Nothing we can do about this.

And what is making it run out of resources, when before, it was far faster?
There IS something Apple can do about this, but, they don't want to let people have control over the device they own.

Apple is trying to sell new units here.
Like I said before, they could clearly see 9.x is a hog, and they know that the ipad 2 can't handle it, so, instead of not letting people upgrade, they let people upgrade, and when people try it out and find how horrible it is, Apple's answer is to just buy a new unit. Imagine that.

 

[Blanky]

Apple basically forces iOS updates if by nothing else other than an increasing number of apps will demand it and not work properly on older versions, and you could even be in the scenario where, for example, an app is mistakenly deleted but you cannot get it again because the new one requires a new iOS update.

It's also obvious that each iOS update slows down these things considerably. The iPad 2 is, as stated, completely @*#(ing unusable on iOS 9. I have tried it and it's just impossible to use unless you have the patience of a statue.

I don't know if Android does the same thing as I'm not familiar with them, but in my opinion apple devices are good for about two years then by year three they are becoming barely usable. After that, forget it, might as well use as a target.