Report: iOS 5 Will Be Incompatible with iPhone 3GS

[iRepairIndy]

I don't see what the big deal is with this.. No new updates is all. The phone still works.

[alexevo]

A. This is what Apple should have done with iOS4 with regards to the iPhone 3G.

B. This was going to happen eventually as software gets more resource hungry and older hardware becomes less able to handle it.

C. At least newbie jailbreakers can't accidentally update now.

[Ven0M0D]

the ipod 4 will be able to upgrade correct?

[brianjw]

I personally think Apple's process about this needs to change. With more competitors such as Android appearing, they NEED to. Apple should provide firmware updates for older devices as well. Just charge the older devices money to upgrade to that firmware. Sure, older devices might not be able to handle some of the new features, so let them update and provide the features that WILL work, leave out the ones that won't. Android provides continuous updates to pretty much all their old devices as far as I know and even still, they have the power to upgrade their firmware by other means even if it wasn't supplied to them via a OTA update.

That's just my opinion, but I don't think Apple can continue its same path much longer without losing business. And this by the way, is coming from a person who owns an iMac, iPhone 4, the previous iPhone 3GS, the iPod Touch 2G. So I am a fanboy, with some criticizations.

[Simon]

the ipod 4 will be able to upgrade correct?

Yes

[i.Annie]

Well that was quick. I thought the 3GS had at least another year's worth of updates before this happened.

Clearly Apple is aiming to eliminate any use of devices that came before iPhone 4, so that people will upgrade to the 4 or the next iPhone of this year.

[steve-z17]

Meh, just another rumor for now..

[moon#pie]

A good example of Apple screwing over its people AGAIN!!

Stryker1

And other cell companies are even worse about it. Some android phones never see it past 2.1, even though the HW can support newer.

I personally think Apple's process about this needs to change. With more competitors such as Android appearing, they NEED to. Apple should provide firmware updates for older devices as well. Just charge the older devices money to upgrade to that firmware. Sure, older devices might not be able to handle some of the new features, so let them update and provide the features that WILL work, leave out the ones that won't. Android provides continuous updates to pretty much all their old devices as far as I know and even still, they have the power to upgrade their firmware by other means even if it wasn't supplied to them via a OTA update.

That's just my opinion, but I don't think Apple can continue its same path much longer without losing business. And this by the way, is coming from a person who owns an iMac, iPhone 4, the previous iPhone 3GS, the iPod Touch 2G. So I am a fanboy, with some criticizations.

Most android phones are running 6-12 month old FW when newer is available. Android is far worse than apple in this aspect.

[Kupe]

...this could come as a devastating bit of news.

Devastating? Geez...that might be a bit of hyperbole.

"Bummer" maybe. "Disappointing" perhaps. But "devastating"? It's an iOS folks. We'll live.

Kupe

[unison999]

uhhhh not news.
Apple always stop support a device after about 2 years after its introduction, just to obsolete the older devices so people buy new ones.
I can guarantee that my next phone will not be an iPhone.

[Hardcoredrummer1996]

It makes no sense because ATT is still marketing the 3gs. Lately ive seen the 3gs commercial more that the iphone 4. But like mentioned above apple likes the green and really wouldnt care of 3gs owners getting mad. But i would rather have a jaibroken 3gs with 4.2.1 than a 3gs 5.x.x that will make my phone laggier like the ios4 did to the 3g.

Yeah, but thats a perfect example on how Apple is greedy and try to get money off of us by making us have garbage. I mean at least Android trys to make EVERY ANDROID PHONE EQUAL!
-__- im seriously starting to think I should switch to Android...

[Simon]

I mean at least Android trys to make EVERY ANDROID PHONE EQUAL!
-__- im seriously starting to think I should switch to Android...

Afaik devices that run android can vary greatly about which version of android is on them. And that is not even including honeycomb which is not available to many android tablets that are not that old at all (samsung galaxy tab for eg)

[Hardcoredrummer1996]

Better be compatible because then I'm probably switching to android...

[blkcadi]

This would really suck for 3Gs owners.

[Spamcan]

As a 3Gs owner I'm glad they're cutting off support at the proper time rather then forcing us to go through the agony 3G users had to last year with iOS 4.

[whereswaldo]

We can't say we didn't see this coming. I guess it will be incompatible with iPT3 also

[technolust109]

thats just bull **** how 3gs cant upgrade to ios5 D:

[Cowboy]

Yeah sucks for all the 3gs owners but it is a 2 year old phone and in this day and age its way old technology

[Cer0]

Not surprised at this myself. Kinda was expecting it. The A4 can handle more than older chips and maybe iOS5 will be having some big power hungry upgrades.

[santaf]

obviously this would happen every year they take off compatibility with the phone 2 years past it makes it so people have to buy iphones again wether it be the previous model or the new one they come out with.