Whenever Apple releases a new mobile operating system, it also comes with the sad reality that it is also writing off an older device, although without the American tech giant directly saying it.
Based on history, new iOS updates are really known to run poorly on older Apple devices. When iOS 7 was launched, it practically eliminated the iPhone 4 out of the picture. And when the iOS 8 was released last year, it somehow cut the life short of the iPhone 4S, details Ars Technica.
But now Apple is taking major steps to avoid that problem this time around so as not to alienate those users who are still dearly holding on to their older, and mostly out-of-production, Apple devices.
Different approach on older devices
Accordingly, Apple is now taking a different approach to supporting older devices when it officially rolls out the iOS 9, which is being rumored to be launched in the upcoming World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) slated in June.
Previously, Apple has been putting the full version of the new operating system on older devices and then disables features that performed particularly poorly.
But for iOS 9, Apple is starting with a barebones version of the new mobile operating system and enabling features one at a time.
While owners of older Apple devices will miss out on some of the features of the latest mobile operating system, they would still be able to get the underlying improvements, API changes, and security updates that newer smartphones and tablets normally get with the updates.
However, there is also the likelihood that many other features of the new mobile operating system could come to the older devices via later updates.
Still, Apple could actually make some changes on the new mobile operating system to reduce application sizes, move to use iCloud Drive as the backend for more of its first-party applications, do more to block access to system files, and support trusted Wi-Fi networks to make connection easier under some circumstances.
The American tech giant would most likely talk more about the details of the new features or attributes of the iOS 9 come the WWDC event in June.
Support for older devices
While the supposed latest features and capabilities of the iOS 9 have already made the rounds in the internet through the so-called leaks, sources believe that the most interesting feature of the new mobile operating system from Apple is its support for older devices.
Some experts assumed that Apple would actually include support for some devices that are using its aging A5 system on chip (SoC) including the iPod Touch 5th Generation, the original iPad mini, the third-generation Apple TV, and even out-of-production devices including the iPhone 4S.