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iOS 7 Apps Could Push iPhone 3GS Owners to Upgrade

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A recent survey of iPhone developers reveals iPhone 3GS owners may be out of luck when it comes to running the latest apps this fall.

When the iOS 7 release date arrives this fall iPhone and iPad developers will be ready with app updates and many app may require iOS 7 to run on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

As developers test iOS 7 beta 4 and wait for the iOS 7 beta 5 release to bring us closer to a finished product a survey of developers reveals that almost all developers are hard at work on an iOS 7 update to their app and over half will require iOS 7.

The iOS 7 update delivers a new look and feel to the iPhone and iPad software and includes many new features, which have some developers focusing on iOS 7 specific apps.

There is no iPhone 3GS iOS 7 update, which could leave owners behind when it comes to app updates.

There is no iPhone 3GS iOS 7 update, which could leave owners behind when it comes to app updates.

Craig Hockenberry, a software engineer at the iconfactory, surveyed over 500 IOS Developers to discover that most users shouldn’t need to wait for iOS 7 app support, and puts iPhone 3GS owners on notice that an upgrade may be in the cards. Hockenberry shares the results on furbo.

95% of the developers surveyed are updating apps for iOS 7, which is great news for users that want the latest and greatest apps. If this sample is indicative of the overall developer community it means we can expect a host of iOS 7 app updates to arrive in September, around the time the iOS 7 release is anticipated.

Unsurprisingly this number is close to the iOS 6 adoption rate which Apple brags is at 93% as of June 2013. Because Apple is able to roll out updates to all compatible devices in one day it’s easier to get users on iOS 7 than it is for Samsung to get all devices sold in the last three years on Android 4.2 or Android 4.3.

iOS 7 apps only no iPhone 3GSApp updates are in general very good news for users, but it’s not all good news for users that are still using an iPhone 3GS. Over half of the developers in this survey plan to only support iOS 7.

This means users that don’t or can’t upgrade to iOS 7 will not be able to use theses apps. Specifically this means iPhone 3GS owners will be out of luck when it comes to App updates and new apps once the iOS 7 release arrives. It could also be a push to get some IOS 6 jailbreak users to upgrade to iOS 7 swiftly, ahead of an iOS 7 jailbreak.

Apple is not offering the iOS 7 update for the iPhone 3GS in any capacity, something that we could see happen with the iPhone 4 next year as it approaches the lowest rung on the iPhone product line.

Users may not be left completely out in the cold, as some apps could offer an older iOS 6 version that is frozen in time. This would mean the new features come to iOS 7 devices, but would not lock out iPhone 3GS users.

Read: iPhone 3GS Review: Three Years later

Ultimately iPhone 3GS users should plan for a new iPhone soon, possibly as soon as September when the iPhone 5S release could arrive. This will likely push the iPhone 4S to free and the iPhone 5 to $99 on contract, offering semi-affordable upgrade routes.

While Apple will support the iPhone 3GS for a while, it is no longer going to get iOS updates.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. rBeck

    08/06/2013 at 7:54 am

    I’ve had the iOS 7 beta for a few weeks now and I’d like to explain some of the reasons I really hate it.

    I’ll agree that the skeuomorphic design used in previous iOS versions was cheesy in apps like Game Center and Notes. But the total abandonment of skeuomorphic design in iOS 7 is so drastic that it affects usability with a lack of clear distinction between active objects and ordinary text. Calendar is probably the best example of a useful handheld app that is now difficult to use because of poor interface design.

    I also think iOS 7 has botched Apples obvious lead to blur the line between desktop and handheld devices; which began with the release of iOS 4.3 for the phone and OS X v10.7 Lion for the desktop. Microsoft was way behind on this idea with their release of Windows 8 Live Tiles.

    Apple was approaching the cross platform usability from both directions with a more touch friendly OS X and extended application of touch devices like the Apple Magic Trackpad and the Apple Magic Mouse.

    In one giant leap backward, iOS 7 throws all of this out with a departure from usability and consistency across devices.

    • Joseph

      08/06/2013 at 9:19 am

      ios 7 isn’t finished yet, and you’ll get used to it, I’m not sure anyone likes change. I think apple needed this, ios was getting really boring

      • Ed

        08/07/2013 at 7:20 pm

        I agree with Joseph

  2. adam

    08/08/2013 at 6:39 am

    i agree with ed

    • Ed

      08/08/2013 at 8:08 am

      Oh why thank you for agreeing with me….. About what though?

  3. Jose

    08/21/2013 at 8:58 pm

    I don’t really care for apple anymore Im going to samsung or Sony.

  4. Exora Venessa

    08/28/2013 at 10:53 pm

    how to change apple id password???

  5. Maui

    09/04/2013 at 4:46 am

    I have an iphone 3gs. and too many people told me about the ios 7 is not gonna be able to mu phone.. Maybe i gonna say bye to apple… I feel angry!

    • Ed

      09/04/2013 at 6:13 am

      I think it’s a bad habit to want to update to every version Apple tells you to upgrade. The same goes for other companies. I hate, for instance, when Sony forces an update on users without explaining the reasons behind it. Forcing updates prevents users to have control over the devices.

      You should jailbreak your device. I’m sure many of the features you want are available from the cydia store.

  6. Cameron

    09/04/2013 at 8:26 pm

    This really pisses me off! I love how Apple sells their products for around $500 just to only support it for 3 years and your screwed after that unless you give them another $500.

    • Ed

      09/04/2013 at 9:46 pm

      I think this statement is a bit exaggerated. You can always buy the newest iPhone for about $199 with 2 year contract. The additional price is for the increased hard disk. In addition, the iPhone 3GS has been around since 2009. That means it has been really 4 years since its launch. Of course, Apple could be nice and release iOS 7, but then how is your iPhone 3GS gonna take advantage of its new capabilities if many apps already crash on it since earlier releases of iOS?

      I think users should avoid upgrading their iPhone to the latest version without first checking how well it works with the hardware first. If having the latest is so important, then your software must be accompanies with hardware that meets the certain requirements. Odds are the 3GS does not meet them. If what you really want is just some features or maybe a theme refresh, jailbreaking is always an option. They offer theme, apps, settings and more from there.

  7. C

    10/04/2013 at 1:50 pm

    I absolutely hate iOS 7. I had Verizon send me a phone that still had 6.1.4 on it once I found out I could not downgrade. A big sigh of relief once I switched the new phone on and saw iOS 6 on it. I now have my phone out from under siege of that abomination of iOS 7 update. If I am ever forced to change due to apps goi g the way of iOS 7 only, that’s the day I say goodbye to apple. I will never by another apple product with that cartoonish my little pony, slow, flat, pastel colored crappy UI. I don’t care about the new features. If I don’t enjoy looking at my phone, I won’t use it so why have it? Good bye apple!

    • Edgar_F

      10/04/2013 at 3:11 pm

      Wow an essay, really? Ok, I guess if you dislike the look then you don’t have to upgrade. I mean, if you don’t care for the improved multitasking bar, the new settings bar, iTunes Radio, airdrop and some small other additions then yeah I guess switch over. Was your iPhone jailbroken, by any chance?

  8. Grgo Pikić Zadro

    02/27/2014 at 11:33 am

    I have iphone 3gs and how i can get ios 7?on mi iphone ios is 6.1.6

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