iOS 6

[JackBurton]

Maybe in a similar way, limiting Facetime over cellular to the 4s will limit the load on the cell companies. If they had included it for the 4 owners as well, that would've been too much. An artificial limit, but a limit nonetheless.

It will be interesting to see how Facetime over cellular impacts data plans. You will most likely be eating up more data than you think if you use Facetime over cellular.

 

[VashHT]

Come on now. If you have an iPhone 4, you should be due for an upgrade anyway. My wife has an iPhone 4 and she can't wait for Apple to announce the new iPhone so she can upgrade. The iPhone 4 is a great phone, but after 2 years, it's about time to move on to bigger and better things. Hell, when the new iPhone is released, the 4S should be a pretty cheap upgrade for iPhone 4 owners.

Oh don't get me wrong I'm planning on upgrading, but it still feels like an artificial limit imposed on older devices. If their reason is money that's kind of lame considering how rich they are, but it's their business they can do whatever they want with it. It would be nice if they offered a full upgrade for older devices if you're willing to pay for it (if money is the problem).

 

[basslover1]

I know how you feel. I'll be riding the gravy train on my iPhone 4S but I know in a year, I'll probably be out on the next "super cool feature". This is a bad habit that other phone makers seemed to have picked up as well. "Want ICS? Buy a new phone or wait for eternity for your phone to get it."

True it takes longer for some manufacturers to release Android updates, but at least when they do they don't gimp it by removing features.

 

[TuxDave]

True it takes longer for some manufacturers to release Android updates, but at least when they do they don't gimp it by removing features.

They gimp it by not giving it to you at all.

Let's talk about a story of two phones and my two friends:
iPhone 3GS (2009) <-- this phone gots got iOS updates but not all the features. It did get free iMessaging and Photo Stream support.
Samsung Galaxy (2010) <-- this phone has no chance to get ICS

I don't want to turn this into an Android v Apple debate but my original point still stands. Android OEMs and Apple wants you to upgrade.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

Tell me a reason why the 4 can't support turn-by-turn navigation? Even the 3gs hardware can handle it. This is Apple showing its greed. Yes, you are going to get iOS6, but only in name.

So far, there is not a manufacturer willing to go beyond what the market dictates. If Microsoft is desperate enough to gain market share...offering updates to all devices just like they do with Windows, leave the decision to the customer to decide whether to upgrade or not...hmmm....mmm.

 

[ncstateguy87]

Apple needs a reason to force people to upgrade. If my old htc hero could do turn by turn directions, then I know any iphone 3gs and up can handle it.

 

[MotionMan]

My family is on the Non-"S" upgrade path (3G -> 4 -> "5"), so I will not see many of these features until the next iPhone is released.

The artificial limitation of features on not-so-old hardware is a pain, but Apple has been pretty successful in their strategies. It may just be a way to force people to upgrade, but, then again, the idea that some of this stuff will not run well (on even the iPhone 4) may have some validity.

I love Summer, but now I have a reason to look forward to it ending

MotionMan

 

[Eug]

The artificial limitation of features on not-so-old hardware is a pain, but Apple has been pretty successful in their strategies. It may just be a way to force people to upgrade, but, then again, the idea that some of this stuff will not run well (on even the iPhone 4) may have some validity.

There is no validity much of the time.

Siri is actually a rebadged 3rd party app, and that 3rd party app ran fine on the old 3G, precisely because all the heavy lifting was done on remote servers. With Siri it's just that it's integrated now, and the remote servers are way better.

 

[kubani1]

There is no validity much of the time.

Siri is actually a rebadged 3rd party app, and that 3rd party app ran fine on the old 3G, precisely because all the heavy lifting was done on remote servers. With Siri it's just that it's integrated now, and the remote servers are way better.

right, but the goal is to sell devices, period. what apple does is good for business as long as they can get away with it. don't kid yourself, every company out there sets out a business plan to maximize sales, how many updates they role out and what updates they role out basically depends on what that company feels they can get away with. If Samsung thought it could get away with not updating the GS2 or the Note to ICS, it would have left them behind for their next big device, but they know that the backlash would have been to great. Meanwhile, Apple knows that they can get away with this kind of service, they may lose a few fans, but by and large it will force people to upgrade and they will profit off this kind of tactic. This is good business and the kind of practice that make share holders happy.

 

[PrayForDeath]

My family is on the Non-"S" upgrade path (3G -> 4 -> "5"), so I will not see many of these features until the next iPhone is released.

These features won't come out until the next iphone is released anyway. iOS 6 is coming out this fall.

 

[Aikouka]

It's also worthwhile to consider that when the iPhone 5 (will they actually call it "the new iPhone"?) comes out, the 3GS will most likely be retired. The 4 will most likely become the new free-with-contract phone. A smaller feature subset for the "budget phone" seems fairly normal.

 

[MotionMan]

These features won't come out until the next iphone is released anyway. iOS 6 is coming out this fall.

Right, I misspoke a little:

We will be able to download and install iOS 6 on our existing iPhone 3GS and 4, so, I will not see many of these features until we buy the next iPhone.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

It's also worthwhile to consider that when the iPhone 5 (will they actually call it "the new iPhone"?) comes out, the 3GS will most likely be retired. The 4 will most likely become the new free-with-contract phone. A smaller feature subset for the "budget phone" seems fairly normal.

Other than the fact that is makes perfect sense and it might be something we would do if we were in charge, do you have any support for this?

The fact that iOS 6 will run on the 3GS actually rails against them dropping the 3GS from the product line, at least through mid-2013.

MotionMan

 

[basslover1]

They gimp it by not giving it to you at all.

Let's talk about a story of two phones and my two friends:
iPhone 3GS (2009) <-- this phone gots got iOS updates but not all the features. It did get free iMessaging and Photo Stream support.
Samsung Galaxy (2010) <-- this phone has no chance to get ICS

I don't want to turn this into an Android v Apple debate but my original point still stands. Android OEMs and Apple wants you to upgrade.

Well, that blame needs to be put squarely on the Manufacturers going device crazy or the Carriers wanting to differentiate their devices. When there are four different devices of the same line (or more) like there were for the GS1 in the States, and subsequent models released after that it makes it pretty difficult to keep all variations up to date.

I'm glad to see Samsung put their foot down with the GS3, the only differences that I can discern between the US carriers are the radios, which should (I really hope so) make updating them much easier.

I will admit timely updates is one thing that I'm jealous of the Applesphere for. When iOS5 was released last year, everyone could get it regardless of carrier.

Though, that's why I went with Nexus this time screw carrier intervention just give up my updates dammit.

 

[Aikouka]

Other than the fact that is makes perfect sense and it might be something we would do if we were in charge, do you have any support for this?

The fact that iOS 6 will run on the 3GS actually rails against them dropping the 3GS from the product line, at least through mid-2013.

I could admit that I pulled it out of my as... got a tip from an insider at Apple like all those reputable news sites do.

It just makes the most sense. Unless Apple is going to have some crazy, convoluted pricing scheme like this:

iPhone 3GS 8GB: $0
iPhone 4 8GB: $50
iPhone 4S 16GB: $100
iPhone 5 16GB: $200

 

[MotionMan]

Some iOS 6 cool features I just read about:

- Apps downloaded from the App Store will now display a “new” badge until you launch them the first time.

- Notification Center can now show you Amber Alerts and other emergency alerts for your area.

MotionMan

 

[fr]

I really wanted to try out the Guided Access feature, but it is not working in the current beta.

 

[GT1999]

It will be interesting to see how Facetime over cellular impacts data plans. You will most likely be eating up more data than you think if you use Facetime over cellular.

It really isn't as much as you'd think. Maybe 2-3MB per minute which is really quite incredible. I already use Factime over LTE with my jailbroken iPad 3 and that was my observation while checking my LTE used before and after a 10 minute Facetime conversation.

 

[ITHURTSWHENIP]

Tell me a reason why the 4 can't support turn-by-turn navigation? Even the 3gs hardware can handle it. This is Apple showing its greed. Yes, you are going to get iOS6, but only in name.

So far, there is not a manufacturer willing to go beyond what the market dictates. If Microsoft is desperate enough to gain market share...offering updates to all devices just like they do with Windows, leave the decision to the customer to decide whether to upgrade or not...hmmm....mmm.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57371624-264/why-apples-a5-is-so-big-and-iphone-4-wont-get-siri/

Siri will be a huge part of the turn by turn navigation experience and the Iphone 4 lacks the hardware for Siri. At best Apple could have given you turn by turn without Siri and 3D. But how would that have been better than Waze is right now? Apple themselves license some of the maps from Waze so its not like the maps will be that much better

 

[MotionMan]

I just read that you will be able to assign different signatures to each email account.

That is huge for me.

Awesome.

MotionMan

 

[Kev]

I see some clarification on apple's ios6 page in the sense that the 3gs won't get some features. Why can't they do the same for the iPad 1?

Because Apple's entire business model is based on planned obsolescence.

 

[Childs]

Because Apple's entire business model is based on planned obsolescence.

Yes, they are the only ones who do it. Everyone except Apple builds a product to last a lifetime so you never have to buy from them again.

 

[jalaram]

Because Apple's entire business model is based on planned obsolescence.

You misunderstand me. My point is that the 3gs is older than the iPad 1 (someone can confirm/correct me here). And I think that the iPad has a faster cpu.

If they dropped both, that would make a little more sense.

Maybe it's planned obsolescence, but I feel that Apple supports its older tech better than other companies do. I still haven't heard any confirmation that the WP7 devices will get the WP8 update. That alone makes me hesitant in recommending it. I don't need to bring up Android and how few users have ICS. I hopefully will get it on my Incredible S in a month or so.

 

[Super56K]

Yes, they are the only ones who do it. Everyone except Apple builds a product to last a lifetime so you never have to buy from them again.

Still waiting for my LL Bean smart phone.

 

[Red Storm]

Maybe it's planned obsolescence, but I feel that Apple supports its older tech better than other companies do. I still haven't heard any confirmation that the WP7 devices will get the WP8 update. That alone makes me hesitant in recommending it. I don't need to bring up Android and how few users have ICS. I hopefully will get it on my Incredible S in a month or so.

I don't consider my iPhone 4 well supported when it only gets the newest OS in name, but not key features. Android does things differently with Google often releasing specific app updates independently so that users can get them without having to wait for a whole new OS revision.