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iPhone 3G and iOS4 Lack Chemistry

adeelarshad82 writes "Granted that iPhone 3G is about 3 years old but some of us who still have it are tempted to update it to iOS 4 for the folders, threaded e-mail and iBooks even if it means jail-breaking the phone. Unfortunately though, as it turns out, it's really not worth the hassle. Not only does the update slow the phone, in some cases by a fraction of a second and in others much more, but it's a nightmare to downgrade back to iOS 3."

25 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. Kinda figures. by segin · · Score: 2

    Goes without saying that Apple will deliver a sub-par experience on older devices in order to "persuade" users to upgrade to newer devices, thus making Apples more money. Everyone does it.

    1. Re:Kinda figures. by x*yy*x · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't own an iPhone ("old" HTC Touch HD), but who really expects to get updates for their phones endlessly? It's always been the case that you buy a phone on the merits it has then. If it gets any major updates at all thats a huge bonus. It's the same with every phone manufacturer and has always been.

    2. Re:Kinda figures. by MistrBlank · · Score: 4, Insightful

      tis true... my xv6700 only enjoyed 4 years of updates due to the hacker community, but aside from one carrier update, didn't really add new features, ever.

      iBooks didn't exist when I got my iPhone3 why should I expect it now?

      What I do have a problem with however is that I do own an iPad (1 & 2) that syncs with my iTunes library and i use some Universal and iPhone apps on it that REQUIRE updates to function on iOS4. Those apps aren't guaranteed to run on iOS3. Apple provides no means to maintain multiple versions of the same App, nor does it allow you to roll back to older more functional versions of some apps. If I sync an iPad with an updated App, it copies that version to my iTunes and will force an update to my iPhone the next time it updates, my only option is to remove the app from my iPhone or use a copy that doesn't work. iOS3 is no longer supported and I've BARELY had the phone for more than 2 years at this point. That to me is unacceptable.

    3. Re:Kinda figures. by murray_420 · · Score: 2

      I actually use Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) on my HTC Dream (G1). The rom I use is COS-DS for those who care.

    4. Re:Kinda figures. by BuckaBooBob · · Score: 2

      Lesson... Stop buying apple products...

      Stop rewarding companies with your hard earned $$ when they fail you in the long run..

      Too many people remain loyal to companies that screw them over... I have the patience of a gnat when it comes to a company that has wronged me in some way and don't seem interested in making things right.... More people should have that mindset so companies will realize customers are fragile and you need to treat them with respect rather than property that they can treat how ever they want cause they have you for the long run..

      --
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    5. Re:Kinda figures. by sribe · · Score: 2

      Goes without saying that Apple will deliver a sub-par experience on older devices in order to "persuade" users to upgrade to newer devices, thus making Apples more money. Everyone does it.

      Or maybe it just goes without saying that running the current OS on a device that has 1/4 the RAM of the current device is just plain not feasible. At least the 3GS has 1/2 the RAM of the 4.

      Oh, you expect Apple to make all the new features work without using more memory? Yeah, right, that would just be so easy to do--it's obvious the only reason they don't make it run in a fraction of the RAM is to force you to upgrade. Sure.

      Remember, the iPhones don't have a storage device appropriate for paging, so there is no virtual memory. Cutting down the RAM on one of these is not the same as reducing it on Linux or Mac OS X where you just get more paging. Cutting down the RAM means applications can't allocate RAM--just like the bad ancient days of PCs pre-VM.

  2. The other thing people dislike about Apple by erroneus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Apple has no qualms about making your computer obsolete so you have to buy new things. The promise of the PC was that you could keep upgrading on and on with inexpensive parts. That's not as true as I would like it to be, but it's not exactly a lie either.

    But with Apple, they care almost nothing about backward compatibility and backward portability. This makes all the G4 and G5 devices out there all but useless... before that, the 68XXX based machines. Now, with multiple iProducts out there, they are also abandoning the people who bought their iProducts less than 5 years ago expecting them to spend more money... or to spin it another way, creating more waste in landfills.

    Microsoft would LOVE to have the power Apple has to render OSes and hardware obsolete. The requirements for Vista were so high that no one wanted to buy whole new computers just to run it. The same is generally true of Win7 though to a lesser extent. But since Apple controls both the software and the hardware, you're pretty much at their mercy. Craigslist is filled with "great deals" for Macs with G4/G5 processors in them sold by people who already find them useless.

    I'm "aware of the problem" but at least now with Intel based Macs, the machines will always be able to run Linux pretty well... hell, even Windows 7 for that matter. I'm guessing Apple is already regretting their decision to go with Intel based architecture.

    1. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by afidel · · Score: 2

      All cellphone makers are like that, there are plenty of Android devices with plenty powerful hardware that will never see 2.2 let alone 2.3, and if you have an HTC device that wan't announced this quarter you're not getting Sense 3.0.

      --
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    2. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by evel+aka+matt · · Score: 2

      A ridiculous argument. Compare the current resale values of other personal computers with a similar MSRP from the same era with a G5 and you'll see that the Mac has far and away more residual value. And it's not only financial. Despite the fact that PCs dominate the desktops of my social circle, I don't know anybody using a PII or PIII-based machine for anything significant, yet I know of a fair amount of living, breathing, productive PowerPC-era Macs.

    3. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by greed · · Score: 2

      With the exception of the Performa [56][23]00 series, all Macs with an MMU can run Linux pretty well. (So that's 68020 with a 68851, 68030 or later, and all PowerPCs.)

      I used a 68k version of Debian on an old Quadra as a serial terminal for a bit. In text mode, it was plenty fast enough.

    4. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by powerlord · · Score: 2

      I think it has more to do with how mature hardware is in a given space, than any desire to arbitrarily Obsolete machines.

      I can't speak toward the 68XXX machines, but I was an apple user during the transition to Intel architecture. Intel started rolling out during Tiger's (OS 10.4) deployment period.

      Apple released Leopard (10.5) with support for both Intel and PPC.

      One of the major features of 10.6 (from what I remember) is Grand Central Dispatch, allowing programs to run on multi-core machines, without having to explicitly code for multiple cores. Apple started transitioning to Intel chipsets in 2006, OSX 10.6 was released in mid 2009, about 3 1/2 years later. While it is sad to see older hardware not able to run the latest and greatest versions of the OS we may want, the sad fact is that coding to two separate architectures, especially one that has not been sold for 3.5 years does not make sense.

      G4s and G5s will run OSX 10.5 just fine, and should work well for most people who write email, browse the web, and occasionally use it for other things.

      I'm "aware of the problem" but at least now with Intel based Macs, the machines will always be able to run Linux pretty well... hell, even Windows 7 for that matter. I'm guessing Apple is already regretting their decision to go with Intel based architecture.

      Pitty there isn't/wasn't a way to run Linux on all those PPC architecture computers ... oh wait http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/. Really, Apple could care less what OS you choose to run on your computer, as long as they were the ones to sell you the hardware.

      With the iPhone, the hardware has seen major upgrades in terms of functionality since the initial model has been released. This is still a very evolving market-space, and I expect hardware specs to keep evolving in the SmartPhone space for another generation or two before they start to stabilize on features enough to have a "common" hardware platform to work off of.

      Some of this complaint of obsolescence seems almost like complaining that I can't run Windows XP on my 386.

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    5. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by MistrBlank · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Except, the iPhone 3G however is only 2 years old for some of us. That's the length of a cell phone contract, some of us would like to get 4 years on our phones and not pay $2-300 every other year for our phones.

    6. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by mr1911 · · Score: 2

      So is your argument that Apple (or any other manufacturer for that matter) should not build new features into their products if the old features were not compatible? Have you thought that through? Would you like your car to not have an automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering, power windows, or anything beyond AM radio because those features were not compatible with the way things were before?

      With your logic there shouldn't even have been an iPhone 3G because it had features that the original iPhone did not.

      News flash - companies that do not evolve their products die. If you want the new stuff, man up and buy the new stuff. If you don't want the new stuff enough to buy it, don't whine about it.

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    7. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by the_humeister · · Score: 3, Insightful

      My HTC Aria is rooted and running Cyanogenmod 7 (Android 2.3.3). Honestly, if you don't root your phone and load custom ROM, I think you're missing out on quite a bit (not to mention the crapware that the carriers load onto the phone.)

    8. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by UnknowingFool · · Score: 2
      Your name is rather appropos because there are some key facts that you're getting wrong.

      But with Apple, they care almost nothing about backward compatibility and backward portability. This makes all the G4 and G5 devices out there all but useless... before that,

      That last OS that the G5 supported was Leopard (10.5) released October 26, 2007 and last updated August 5, 2009. The Power Mac G5 was discontinued August 7, 2006. The iMac G5 was discontinued March 20, 2006. The Mac mini G4 was discontinued Feb 2006. Most if not all G4/G5 were supported by Leopard after they were discontinued. From wikipedia:

      Leopard can run on older hardware as long as they have a G4 upgrade installed running at the 867 MHz or faster, have at least 9 GB free of hard drive space, 512 MB RAM and have a DVD drive. Leopard however will not run on the 900 MHz iBook G3 models even though they exceed the minimum 867 MHz requirement.

      Microsoft would LOVE to have the power Apple has to render OSes and hardware obsolete.

      In most cases G4 hardware that started on Panther (10.3) were eligible for two major OS upgrades. By comparison, how many PCs that started out with XP in 2003 were able to be upgraded to Windows 7 in 2009? Heck how many of them were really Vista compatible and not "Vista Ready". Very few.

      --
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    9. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by Samalie · · Score: 2

      Well, considering how Apple browbeat the carriers into NOT installing their own personal custom shitware on every iPhone, the precident was set. Google COULD have swung essentially the same hammer.

      Of course, in the Android world, I think I hate Motorola (I think?) more for their locked down all-but-impossible to root devices more than carrier shitware. And yes, I know they can still be rooted...but they made it a royal clusterfuck to do.

      I realize that the whole concept goes against the whole "open" concept that appeals to us geeks about Andriod, but still....shitware is still shitware. If Google browbeat the carriers (and locked down Android so they couldn't) to prevent the shitware, then they'd be the same walled garden in most ways that Apple is.

      Honestly, in my personal opinion...Android isn't winning because it is better than iOS. It isn't winning because of the "open-ness" either. It is winning because their phones are cheap as fuck and do a reasonable job of emulating the iPhone experience. $200 less than an iPhone = a fuck of alot of leftover money for beer.

      Yes, I know there are areas where Andriod is superior to the iPhone...but the iPhone is still the measuring stick Android is held to, and carrier shitware is an area where Andriod falls horribly short.

      --
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    10. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by pherthyl · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No. They're not computers. They're phones. Just because something has a CPU doesn't mean that it should be exactly the same as a computer. It's not like you're losing functionality here. You're just not gaining new features, which is exactly the same as on a computer. I don't expect my 2 year old desktop to play the latest games without a hardware upgrade. So quit your bitching.

    11. Re:The other thing people dislike about Apple by hondo77 · · Score: 2

      You're confusing how long a phone lasts with how long it gets its OS updated. Why should Apple keep updating the software on old phones? As long as your phone is working three years later, why get bent out of shape about it? Should a car company update your two year old car when they introduce new models?

      --
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  3. Older models are left to die by Eugenia+Loli · · Score: 3, Informative

    Apple needs to be a bit more carefully about older versions of the OS and models. Case in point:

    1. This: http://www.osnews.com/story/24428/The_Next_Brick_to_Decorate_Your_Wall_iOS_3_x_Devices
    After months this article got posted, the App Store STILL DOES NOT work properly. You still can't update an app from within the device by hitting "update". The button does nothing! You need iOS 4.x or above before you can update via iOS (so we now have to use iTunes, which I don't want to use since that iPod has no music in it, I just use it as a PDA).

    2. Apple REMOVED AirTunes support from iOS 4 when the second generation of AppleTV came out. What they did exactly was to stop supporting the original AppleTV (that was still sold at the time), from within iOS. So I can't use the 1st Gen AppleTV to send audio too from my iOS device anymore. This used to work just fine up to a few months ago. After the iOS 4.2 update, the support was removed.

    1. Re:Older models are left to die by MistrBlank · · Score: 2

      What are you on? You've NEVER been able to send airTunes from another iOS Device to the AppleTV ver1 unless you hacked one or both devices.

  4. Re:What is this? by WitnessForTheOffense · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah. Steve Jobs invented them. They're going to revolutionize how you organize files on your device. Nobody has ever done this before. Give Steve your money so he can complete that cyborg body he's working on so he can rule Appletopia's authoritarian walled garden forever!

  5. Apple has no more planned obsolescence than others by perpenso · · Score: 2

    Apple has no qualms about making your computer obsolete so you have to buy new things. The promise of the PC was that you could keep upgrading on and on with inexpensive parts. That's not as true as I would like it to be, but it's not exactly a lie either.

    Not a lie but somewhat misleading. Apple's computers are basically laptops, and hence no less upgradable than comparable PCs. Keep in mind that the iMac and mini are basically laptops embedded behind a monitor or without a monitor. All-in-one PCs designs like the iMac have similar limited upgrade options. Similar story for the ultra compact PCs comparable to the mini. Also keep in mind that Apple does offer computers in traditional tower configurations and their size, airflow, etc is such that you can fiddle with the components. Admittedly PCs towers are far more cost effective for most users. I think the real problem with Apple's product line is that they only produce a tower for the high end users, they don't offer a simplified tower for average users - basically what most PC towers are. So Macs are pretty much like their comparable PCs, Apple just ignores one particular niche of the market.

    But with Apple, they care almost nothing about backward compatibility and backward portability. This makes all the G4 and G5 devices out there all but useless... before that, the 68XXX based machines. Now, with multiple iProducts out there, they are also abandoning the people who bought their iProducts less than 5 years ago expecting them to spend more money

    Just like PCs. I had a Dell Latitude with a Pentium-M 1.6 GHz and 1GB RAM running WinXP. It was OK, but an upgrade to Vista would have seriously degraded the performance. Much like the iPhone 3G running iOS4.

    I'm guessing Apple is already regretting their decision to go with Intel based architecture.

    Bad guess. Going Intel basically doubled their market share.

  6. Maybe just this guy? by kehren77 · · Score: 2

    I have iOS 4 installed on my gen 2 iPod Touch and it runs just fine.

  7. Re:Slow day for Apple-bashing? by niw3 · · Score: 2

    What we expect is that Apple may turn off some features on older models and let the early adopters enjoy mostly SECURITY UPDATES. It shouldn't be that difficult. My 2 year old phone is without security updates for months. On the other hand, even really old Macs can 'run' OS X Leopard. Great job Apple!

  8. Re:Actually, it's [relatively] easily fixable by UnknowingFool · · Score: 2

    I found the main culprit was Location Services. It's surprising how many apps want to use it. I turned it off for everything except Maps and it made the phone much more usable.

    --
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