I see it the same way, although I have an M1 MacBook Pro that runs the latest OS, I still keep my Early 2009 iMac running with a SSD. It’s on EL Capitan as it won’t run anything newer without modification. I don’t want to change it as it runs perfectly good older apps that still do the job.
Thanks, bobwigg. My maxed-out 2013 “trashcan” Mac Pro can handle up to Ventura, but I tried Mojave briefly and it promptly killed a functionality I rely on heavily. I shudder to think what even more “advanced” upgrades would do, so back to High Sierra.
Sorry, but where do you get that information? Apple is extremely clear that the iPhone XR/XS/XS Max and the iPhone SE (2nd generation and later) are supported.
No idea, but I could imagine it being both, if the “advanced media engine” is needed for both compression and decompression of the screen video.
I think that’s unfair. Apple creates new features in both hardware and software to push the envelope of what’s possible in hardware and then take advantage of those capabilities in software. Just because you’re not interested in new features doesn’t mean that millions of other users won’t be extremely happy to have them.
If you don’t want to upgrade, don’t—there’s no harm in sticking with old stuff (well, apart from compatibility with the modern world and potential security vulnerabilities). But please don’t complain that the world has moved on from a 6-year-old operating system that ran on Macs that are now 14 years old.
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I think the point is that older hardware could still function adequately, if up-to date versions of web browser and email apps continued to be supported with only security updates. Many of us do not need the new features of a current OS. I’m sure security patches could still be made to work with older OSs, but it won’t happen. It always comes down to $$$$.
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Fair enough. Thank you, Adam. And thank you for TidBits. I do agree with the reply by bobwigg761 below, however.
Exactly. Thank you!
Or maybe it’s just Human Resources? Not enough people to provide patches for anything older than three years, considering what else Apple employees work on?
My guess is the underlying assumption is that if you have $250B in the bank you should be able to hire another 100 engineers if indeed that were what it takes.
That said, I’m pretty certain this doesn’t boil down to anything else than a higher-level decision at Apple corporate along the lines of “we just don’t want to do it, period”. Arguing that it can’t be done, that it’s technically difficult, or too excessive in terms of burden doesn’t convince me, but I will also readily state that they are IMHO justified in making that decision. It’s their compnay and their investment. They get to choose what to invest in. If they think preserving legacy systems and increasing longevity is not worth their while, that’s their prerogative. I perhaps don’t agree with that decision, but I do not question their right to making it. I do object, however, to arguments attempting to frame this as a technical issue rather than a plain and simple business decision.
Another issue is that working on ancient systems will not improve a worker’s future employment and advancement prospects.
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I looked into this when I was saying goodbye to my old iMac. I will say that people have done it, but it takes a lot of technical knowledge, patience and probably not worth the cost. Better to pass the iMac on and buy a monitor.
Thanks, your right that is a lot more work than I want to do. I was hoping I could simply mirror a new Mac Mini on the iMac.
Let’s reframe the problem with OS upgrades. Most of us like new OS features, and we certainly enjoy new hardware when we can afford it.
The issue is not whether a corporation has the right to upgrade OS and hardware. The issue is lost functionality. When software on which one’s living depends—or in which one has invested large amounts of time entering/shaping/creating data—stops being able to run on newer OSs, we have a problem. And it’s a problem if security problems aren’t patched. That’s the way I read pOh5wiN4Ae’s post.
The problem isn’t Apple, specifically. We have a general dissatisfaction, even anger, at tech companies who leave us stuck without alternatives. For example, Adobe never finished Encore (their DVD software), and Apple didn’t make DVD Studio Pro a part of their move of Final Cut Pro to X (no DVD Studio X), which forces the industry to maintain old machines, the only hardware which can run Snow Leopard which is required to run DVDSP. I can run Snow Leopard in a virtual machine, but only on Intel hardware. As time goes by, more and more people have such stories to tell.
We don’t hate updates. Give us something that can do what we could do before, and stop whittling away at our capabilities. New features don’t make up for lost functionality; bosses need our work, and they have little patience with excuses.
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The other frustrating issue is that systems that are running older OS suddenly stop working with Apple services.
For example my partner’s 2015 Retina Macbook was running Mojave (and able to run several legacy apps). One morning it gave an error message about signing into iCloud - apparently a clash between iCloud settings and “internet accounts” settings.
After many hours trying to fix it I took the Mac to the local Genius Bar. Eventually they suggested updating the OS to Monterey. This fixed the iCloud problem but we have lost the ability to run some useful 32-bit apps.
This sort of issue has also arisen with simple features such as Reminders, where older Macs are unable to access the service if users “upgrade” to the latest format.
I am dreading the day when Homekit must be “upgraded” and no longer works with numerous accessories or older OS.
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Sorry, looks like my 6s was shipped a few years prior to 2018. My bad.
Just discovered that the iPadOS option to list for “Siri” or “Hey Siri” doesn’t appear on my 10.5-inch iPad Pro running iPadOS 17.1, so it seems that it’s not necessarily available on all supported devices.
That does seem odd. My slightly newer 11" iPad Pro does show the 3 options in the Listen For item in Siri and Search Preferences:
- Siri or Hey Siri
- Hey Siri only
- Off
Yes, I have the same iPad and spent some time looking for those options when it was first mentioned here and gave up. Probably should have mentioned it then.
Support for that iPad seems to have been an afterthought, since it wasn’t listed as supported in Apple’s documentation, but it clearly was able to upgrade. So it’s not too surprising that it doesn’t have all the features, though it’s too bad Apple didn’t document the lack.
I believe the first-generation Apple Watch SE also lacks this “Sir” or “Hey Siri” feature. Tonya has that watch and isn’t seeing the option.
Appreciate the article.
There are numerous reasons for moving forward and stopping support of older hardware, but I have increasing difficulty believing critical security issues cannot be fixed after 3 to 5 years.
But what do I know? Apple is clearly succeeding and what other metric counts when you have investors to keep happy? So why shouldn’t we use the same approach with other daily necessities like automobiles? Why should automakers have to respond to defects after 1 year? Why should they provide parts after 3 to 5 years?
Apple dictates the rapid depreciation cycle. They dictate the new full version each year cycle. They dictate the “3 current versions” support cycle (with intentionally slower response on the two previous versions that are supported).
It would impress me if older devices (assuming 4G or newer) could run a stripped down system that enabled the basics: phone, text, email, camera, documents, etc. These functions have been around a very long time. None of these features need to be so advanced that they require a “supercomputer”.
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