Although Apple’s iOS has it all over Google’s Android when it comes to getting updates onto a significant numbers of older devices in a timely fashion, there’s one big caveat. Significantly older Apple hardware often ends up not getting some of the coolest new features.
And that’s definitely the case with iOS 6, which is due sometime this fall. (Apple’s vagueness as to a launch date likely is due to the fact that it will be tied to the release of the next iPhone, expected around October.) Some of the most appealing new capabilities won’t be available to a large number of users.
Ars Technica reports that one of the most-requested features coming to the mobile OS will only work on Apple’s newest hardware. Turn-by-turn navigation won’t be available for the iPhone 4 or 3GS, both of which will be able to upgrade to iOS 6. The same goes for the cool new 3D map view, called Flyover.
As Ars writer Chris Foresman points out, the devices these features will run on – the iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and the new iPad – all have Apple’s A5 processors. They also have more advanced graphics capabilities.
There are other features that won’t be working on older devices, most notoriously Siri, which will come to the new iPad but is still bypassing the iPhone 4 and the iPad 2. iPhone 3GS users have it even worse:
The iPhone 4 won’t be gaining Siri either, but the iPhone 3GS will miss out on that and many more of iOS 6’s prominent features. That includes using FaceTime over cellular connections—there’s no front-facing camera—but it also includes software-based features like Shared Photo Streams, VIP list and VIP and Flagged mailboxes in Mail, Offline Reading List.
Another major omission for iPhone 4/3GS users: No FaceTime over cellular. That feature will only work on the iPhone 4S or a new iPad with cellular broadband capabilities.
As 9to5Mac notes, Apple has published a graphic on the iOS 6 feature page that shows which devices will get the iOS 6 upgrade, followed by a fine-print list of which features will work on which hardware.
Features are subject to change. Not all features are available on all devices.
- Some features may not be available in all countries or all areas. Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later. Cellular data charges may apply.
- Siri will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad (3rd generation) and requires Internet access. Siri may not be available in all languages or all areas, and features may vary by area. Cellular data charges may apply.
- Shared Photo Streams requires iOS 6 on iPhone 4 or later or iPad 2 or later, or a Mac computer with OS X Mountain Lion. An up-to-date browser is required for accessing shared photo streams on the web.
- FaceTime over a cellular network requires iPhone 4S or iPad (3rd generation) with cellular data capability. Carrier data charges may apply. FaceTime is not available in all countries.
- VIP list and VIP and Flagged smart mailboxes will be available on iPhone 4 or later and iPad 2 or later.
- Offline Reading List will be available on iPhone 4 or later and iPad 2 or later.
- Made for iPhone hearing aids require iPhone 4S.
- Find My Friends and Find My iPhone enable you to locate iOS devices only when they are on and connected to a registered Wi-Fi network or have an active data plan. Not available in all areas.
I can understand not including Flyover on devices with lesser processors, but the decision to not allow turn-by-turn navigation on the iPhone 4 is puzzling. There are quite a few apps that do turn-by-turn navigation just fine on the iPhone 4, including MapQuest and Waze, which I’ve reviewed here (both are free). I suppose the feature may not work as smoothly as Apple might like in its implementation, but it’s also possible this is a way of pushing iPhone 4 users to upgrade to the next iPhone. After all, millions of two-year iPhone 4 contracts are expiring soon, if they haven’t already done so.
While Android certainly has major issues with fragmentation, iOS is not without its own fragmentation. These older devices become second class citizens as Apple upgrades its operating system.