PSA: iOS8 & iPad

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by explanade Actually that's one of the criticisms of Android. There are a lot of devices out in the field which are running Android revisions over 2 years old. It's not just about features. Newest OSes often get security patches and newer drivers. But it's often up to the manufacturers, unless you have a Nexus device which was sold by Google, to offer the newest releases for their devices. Some manufacturers have been criticized for appearing to drop support on one-year old devices, to push newer devices with the newest Android.

That's true - you may not be able to update a device to the latest Android OS. But more important to me is that you will (almost) always be able to find apps that run on that older OS. You won't be locked out of existing apps.

It's easier for me to accept that my older device won't accept an OS upgrade, than it is that I can't load some simple app (like a kitchen timer, that makes no use of any new features of the OS) on my old device.

Pros and cons to each - in some ways it is 'pick your poison'.

-ERD50

[explanade]

Both platforms have about a million apps. Many of them haven't been updated in years.

I have an iPhone 5S and an iPad Mini Retina. I updated the latter to iOS8 and found one of the older games I have crashes on iOS 8 so I have held off on upgrading the iPhone. I emailed the developer to see if he would fix it but they've moved on to something else.

Meanwhile, pretty much every app has updated to iOS8 but they all work fine. For instance, I just used the eTrade app this afternoon and it had a screen saying with iOS 8, it supports logging in by TouchID. Well I have touch ID but haven't updated my iPhone to iOS8 yet so I can't use that feature. But otherwise, the app works fine.

It's doubtful too many app developers will lock out iOS 7 users.

[Katsmeow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack I was never interested in previous iPhones (too small), but I looked at the iPhone 6/Plus yesterday and me likey, esp the Plus. But until "they" offer an unlimited plan for $50/mo or about $90/mo for DW and I, I'll wait.

My 6 Plus just arrived today. It is almost shockingly big, but I already like it a lot. It is sort of more like a mini mini iPad which is great for my use. We gave up our unlimited plan awhile back and was worried a bit at the time. As it turns out unlimited data has been unnecessary since most of the time we are on Wifi. Even with 4 of us on the account (DH and 2 of our kids in college) we rarely exceed 4 GB of data usage and usually it is less.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by explanade Both platforms have about a million apps. Many of them haven't been updated in years. I have an iPhone 5S and an iPad Mini Retina. I updated the latter to iOS8 and found one of the older games I have crashes on iOS 8 so I have held off on upgrading the iPhone. I emailed the developer to see if he would fix it but they've moved on to something else. Meanwhile, pretty much every app has updated to iOS8 but they all work fine. For instance, I just used the eTrade app this afternoon and it had a screen saying with iOS 8, it supports logging in by TouchID. Well I have touch ID but haven't updated my iPhone to iOS8 yet so I can't use that feature. But otherwise, the app works fine. It's doubtful too many app developers will lock out iOS 7 users.

I don't care about a million apps, I care about the ones I use.

Checked my notes, my 3.5 year old Apple device could not be updated past a certain iOS version, and apps started passing me by. The iHeart radio one was the worst for me, that's what I mostly used the device for - internet radio.

Later, when I tried to add some simple apps, Apple sent me through this stupid process - download the app (and install it even, IIRC), and then it tells me 'incompatible with this device'. Why not warn me before I DL it, so I can keep looking for alternatives? I never found an internet radio app that would run on the old OS.

I understand if the app uses new features that are only in the new OS or new HW - but that wasn't the case with what I was looking for.

-ERD50

[Midpack]

While we're debating Android vs Apple, let's throw privacy into the mix. Google's revenues are built on ads, and knowing (sharing?) as much about users as possible. Apple's revenues are based on selling hardware, and the software needed to make their hardware desirable. Neither is without risk, but there's a marked difference in how Apple handles personal information vs Google and many others. Apple gets my $ for making more of an effort to guard users personal information.

And having an Android phone for several years now, Google is a little too insistent on forcing their apps down users throats IME. There are quite a few Google apps (Hangouts, Google Play Music, Google + come to mind) that just won't go away while demanding access to MY photos and other files they have no business accessing IMO. My next smartphone will probably be an iPhone. YMMV

[Chuckanut]

Both Android and Apple devices have their plusses and minuses. I have owned both. Android was very frustrating in that updates to the OS that I wanted were never made available. The updates had to go through Google, the phone manufacturer and the cell service provider. I had a a less than two year old usable phone that insisted on going into a rebooting loop at 2:00 AM, each time loudly shouting 'DROID' to make sure I woke up and stayed up. All three companies involved with the phone pointed fingers at the other two and the problem was 'fixed' only by leaving the phone off all night. Not so good

The one iPhone problem I had was fixed with a quick trip to the Apple store.

Since they stopped updating the OS only about one year after I bought the then state of the art phone, I could not use certain apps I wanted since they required the newer OS. I guess this app thing works both ways.

[explanade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack While we're debating Android vs Apple, let's throw privacy into the mix. Google's revenues are built on ads, and knowing (sharing?) as much about users as possible. Apple's revenues are based on selling hardware, and the software needed to make their hardware desirable. Neither is without risk, but there's a marked difference in how Apple handles personal information vs Google and many others. Apple gets my $ for making more of an effort to guard users personal information. And having an Android phone for several years now, Google is a little too insistent on forcing their apps down users throats IME. There are quite a few Google apps (Hangouts, Google Play Music, Google + come to mind) that just won't go away while demanding access to MY photos and other files they have no business accessing IMO. My next smartphone will probably be an iPhone. YMMV

That is true but beware if you use any Google apps or services, like GMail and Google Maps, even on iPhone.

I have GMail accounts and heavily use Google Maps, especially for navigation overseas.

So when planning trips, I search destinations on the desktop version and save locations as starred locations and create custom maps. I do that with my Google account logged in. Then the Google Maps app. on iPhone will show those same starred locations, making it very convenient.

But that results in tracking:

https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0

If you have any Google app. that you were signed into on your phone, it uses the GPS and logs your movements.

I also have a couple of GMail accounts that I've been using for years. But now I'm going to start using more of iCloud email accounts.

[Sarah in SC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsmeow My 6 Plus just arrived today. It is almost shockingly big, but I already like it a lot. It is sort of more like a mini mini iPad which is great for my use. We gave up our unlimited plan awhile back and was worried a bit at the time. As it turns out unlimited data has been unnecessary since most of the time we are on Wifi. Even with 4 of us on the account (DH and 2 of our kids in college) we rarely exceed 4 GB of data usage and usually it is less.

I've had the 6 for two days now and am finally getting used to the huge screen compared to the 4 I have been carrying. I can imagine the plus is even more of an adjustment! I love the predictive text and the touch security.
I am downgrading data as well. Wifi is everywhere!

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah in SC I've had the 6 for two days now and am finally getting used to the huge screen compared to the 4 I have been carrying. I can imagine the plus is even more of an adjustment! I love the predictive text and the touch security. I am downgrading data as well. Wifi is everywhere!

Does the bigger screen motivate you to use the iPad less and the new iPhone more?

[explanade]

I'd be wary about using too much public Wifi.

Convenient but there could be people with packet sniffers.

[steelyman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by explanade I'd be wary about using too much public Wifi. Convenient but there could be people with packet sniffers.

"Packet sniffers" is a term the tech-savvies know, but may need explaining.

I agree about public wi-fi.

[explanade]

People have equipment that could intercept the data being sent from your device.

If some web sites or services used by apps. send passwords without encrypting them, then they could be intercepted.

This kind of hacking is much easier on a public Wifi network than say through a cellular data connection.

Most web sites and apps use SSL encryption so it shouldn't be a problem but you never know.

[Sarah in SC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB Does the bigger screen motivate you to use the iPad less and the new iPhone more?

I rarely use the iPad, because that became what DH used once I got my Mac laptop. Honestly, I really use the phone for EVERYTHING. Flipboard for news is awesome!

[explanade]

Yeah the real test is someone who was not using the phone much for surfing, preferring iPad or devices with larger screens, whether they wean themselves off the larger devices.

[Midpack]

Update: Being trapped in limbo with an unauthorized downgrade to iOS 7.1.2 from iOS 8.0,

• web surfing, email and most apps working much better with 7.1.2,
• but unable to create an iTunes backup or sync,
• with no music or movies on my iPad (all intact on iTunes),
• and several purchased apps missing (all intact on iTunes),

I reluctantly upgraded my iPad 2 to iOS 8.0.2 yesterday.

My iPad 2 is still very slow, but at least everything works again, unlike 8.0 (seemingly random crashes and glitches). I'm probably still going to buy an iPad Air 2 (announced yesterday), but at least my iPad 2 works again under 8.0.2. Whew!

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack I'm probably still going to buy an iPad Air 2 (announced yesterday), but at least my iPad 2 works again under 8.0.2. Whew!

+1

I am running 8.0.2 as well, but the slowdown is still there. Some apps are not only slow, but jerky and that is a bit annoying as well.

Like you I am seriously thinking about buying an iPad Air 2 in order to better cope with the new iOS. That model sounds just right for my purposes. Of course, my iPad 2 was just right as well, until we got the "upgrade".

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R +1 I am running 8.0.2 as well, but the slowdown is still there. Some apps are not only slow, but jerky and that is a bit annoying as well. Like you I am seriously thinking about buying an iPad Air 2 in order to better cope with the new iOS. That model sounds just right for my purposes. Of course, my iPad 2 was just right as well, until we got the "upgrade".

A Simply Mac · Premier Apple Specialist for Sales & Service · Mac computers, iPad, iPhone & iPod store opened recently near me, seems like a nice place though much smaller than an Apple retail store. They sell Apple products exclusively, I assume they have a deal with Apple to open stores in cities too small for Apple to be interested.

They quoted me $180 on trading in my iPad 2! Frankly I can't imagine getting that much for my old one (though like new condition, complete with box/instructions), so I will believe it when/if the transaction takes place. We'll see...

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R Like you I am seriously thinking about buying an iPad Air 2 in order to better cope with the new iOS. That model sounds just right for my purposes. Of course, my iPad 2 was just right as well, until we got the "upgrade".

So Apple introduced a problematic upgrade that makes you want to buy a new device to get around the problems. You are being held hostage to Apple's bottom line.

I have an iPad 2 that I believe is older than yours. I read the bad press about iOS 8 and decided not to install it. I am going to wait until I have no other option. I do not like being manipulated.

[FIREd]

The first major update to iOS8 is coming out on Monday.

[explanade]

You don't have to upgrade unless there are some apps. which require the new OS.

That's not going to be the case for at least another year. All of them should support iOS 7 or even iOS 6.

And even if the apps. require a newer OS than the one you have, chances are you can find alternative apps. which don't have the requirement.

I upgraded from iPad 3 to iPad mini 2 earlier this year, so about 2 years.

I can skip these and see what they have next year. Even then mine should run iOS 9 okay. iOS 8 did break a game that I like but looks like the developer has stopped supporting it so I can't play it any more.

I did say an iOS 6 image so it may be possible to go back to it but not going to bother.