Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 12th Jun 2012 23:59 UTC
So, iOS 6 will make its way to devices all the way back to the 3GS... But many key features are not available at all on the 3GS, and even the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 are seeing features held back. "Some features, like the VIP List for email, the Offline Reading List, and Shared Photo Stream won't work on the iPhone 3GS. Even flagship iOS features like Flyover, turn-by-turn navigation, and FaceTime over cellular won't work on recent devices like the iPhone 4 or the iPad 2 - not to mention the iPhone 3GS." Pretty scummy and misleading.
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Member since:2005-11-13
The only notable major disappointment is the lack of support for the original iPad. I find that mystifying.
The iPad 1st gen has been discontinued, where as the iPhone 3gs is still being sold. So I guess it makes more business sense to keep supporting the 3gs, even though spec-wise, these two devices are about on par with each other.
Does anyone know if Siri is coming to iPad 2 or not?
Edited 2012-06-13 00:47 UTC
Member since:2005-06-29
I have to second this, despite my feelings about Apple. I think the fact that they brought as much as they could to devices that are three generations out of date, while Android phones made in the past six months might never see ICS or greater via official channels, probably means a lot to Apple's customers.
If I had decided to upgrade to the 3GS from my original iPhone, rather than jumping ship to BlackBerry back in the day (and later Android and WP7), I'd likely still have an iPhone and would be thrilled with this update. Instead I am stuck with an HTC Arrive that will never see another upgrade, though I do greatly enjoy the phone as-is. I also have a Motorola Admiral that will be forever saddled with 2.3 as far as official builds go, and that phone was released barely eight months ago! I can't even resell it; right after I bought it Motorola announced that it was EOL for OS updates. Nobody wants a device that is locked into the past.
Member since:2005-11-10
devices that are three generations out of date
There's an entire new PC range every year. That doesn't make a three year old PC "three generations out of date".
No complaint at you, but it's curious how accepting of the mobile-phone-way-of-doing-things people are becoming.
What Apple are doing is plain-and-straight hardware obsolescence through software. It’s wrong and nobody should be giving them credit for it.
Member since:2009-05-19
Especially when upgrades on other mobile platforms often don't come to even brand new devices.
Now you tell me, how is that an "upgrade"? If the most prominent features are held back. By my standards that is an update.
PS: Especially when "other mobile platforms" have all or nothing approach, since version I will have all the features of version I regardless of the device it runs on. Here version 6 is version 6 with that feature or without.
Edited 2012-06-13 10:53 UTC
Member since:2005-07-06
An upgrade doesn't mean "every feature" is available, it means one is receiving something much larger than an "update." iOS 6 brings many significant new features even to the 3GS. If only the features going to the 3GS were offered as the sum total of iOS 6, it will still be a really nice major release.
Considering that my 3GS was in use for longer than most people keep cell phones and it is still retired at this point, I just don't see how people can complain about this unless they just like complaining.
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/24/13 17:26 UTC
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/20/13 11:29 UTC
The day has finally come! Jolla has finally announced the launch device for its Sailfish operating system - and by god this is a looker. It's decidedly different from other phones out there, but it has good specifications and carries a relatively reasonably price tag - EUR 399, and it's up for pre-order today, shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/18/13 21:33 UTC
Why does Google get so much credit in the technology industry? Why, despite the company's many obvious failings, do many geeks and enthusiasts still hold a somewhat positive view on the all-knowing technology giant? A specific talk at Google I/O this week provides the answer.
Linked by David Adams on 05/16/13 4:23 UTC
OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/11/13 21:41 UTC
"Windows is indeed slower than other operating systems in many scenarios, and the gap is worsening." That's one way to start an insider explanation of why Windows' performance isn't up to snuff. Written by someone who actually contributes code to the Windows NT kernel, the comment on Hacker News, later deleted but reposted with permission on Marc Bevand's blog, paints a very dreary picture of the state of Windows development. The root issue? Think of how Linux is developed, and you'll know the answer.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/08/13 14:22 UTC
This is one of those news items that's fun to write, fun to read, fun to comment on, and where no one will be able to say anything unkind. It's all just one big ball of awesome fluffiness. TuneTracker, the BeOS radio automation software, has just released something very special: TuneTracker System 5, the first version designed entirely and specifically for Haiku. In fact, it actually includes Haiku in the software package. Better yet, TuneTracker also unveiled several system-in-a-box products - which have Haiku and TuneTracker pre-installed.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/02/13 15:28 UTC
Exactly twenty years ago, a document was published that played a huge role in establishing the web as we know it today. Twenty years later, and this simple and straightforward document is proof of an irrefutable fact: while closed technologies can change markets, open technologies can change the world.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/29/13 21:06 UTC
Oh multitasking. That staple of computing that got thrown out the window with many modern smartphones. We got some rudimentary thing in its place - but even as multitasking on phone and tablets improves, its user-visible side remains cumbersome. Windows 8 has a neat implementation, and now it's time Android follows in it footsteps.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/24/13 22:24 UTC
They're here! Whether that excites you or not remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S4, which will most likely become the best selling Android smartphone of the year by a huge margin, has been reviewed by all the major sites, and there's lots of interesting conclusions in there - although I think most of you will get the gist.More Features »
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Member since:
2005-07-06
How's it scummy? It seemed most likely Apple wouldn't even offer iOS 6 for the iPhone 3GS. So this was a pleasant surprise. This is pretty much the way Apple has handled every upgrade since at least iPhone OS 3.
(Especially when upgrades on other mobile platforms often don't come to even brand new devices.)
The only notable major disappointment is the lack of support for the original iPad. I find that mystifying.