Is Apple deliberately slowing your iPhone?

Simon · Oct 30, 2013, 19:17:10

Is Apple deliberately slowing your iPhone? Expert claims software updates are engineered to make older models useless.

Catherine Rampell, a technology columnist for the New York Times, also accused Apple of trying to 'brainwash' its customers into buying the new iPhone 5S and 5C.

Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2480059/Is-Apple-deliberately-slowing-iPhone.html

Steve · Oct 30, 2013, 19:23:03

Although the closing argument is equally valid. Technology becomes obsolete and batteries don't last forever.

Gary · Oct 30, 2013, 19:48:18

You could really say the same thing about any company, no body wants you to keep handsets, TV's etc maybe its true maybe its not but batteries do die and hardware gets old and memory constraints don't help with new apps on iPhones using more of that 1GB they have compared with older handsets running half as much.

Simon · Oct 30, 2013, 20:41:06

What is true to say, is that Apple certainly don't give many easy upgrade options. With most other phones, you can at least replace the battery, and upgrade the memory.

Gary · Oct 30, 2013, 23:18:18

Quote from: Simon on Oct 30, 2013, 20:41:06
What is true to say, is that Apple certainly don't give many easy upgrade options. With most other phones, you can at least replace the battery, and upgrade the memory.

You can use dropbox, that works well. tbh when I had a phone I could change the battery on, keeping a spare charged and on me was not something I did anyway. As phones become smaller it becomes easier to have the batteries sealed inside. As for Storage while I will agree, on Android phones internal storage is not massive and apps can't run on memory cards so thats for photos and videos etc. I always buy bigger storage than I need therefore I hopefully don't run out. Justina got an iPhone 5C 16GB she uses dropbox to export photos and videos and she then has enough room on her phone she also uses iCloud for backup and app data storage. I guess thinking of storage off phone will soon be what most people do. The HTC one has a sealed battery and no memory card slot. Times are changing where we like it or not. $:-\$

zappaDPJ · Oct 31, 2013, 01:36:09

I read that article earlier today and dismissed it as garbage. Yes my iPhone 4 is a little slower than it was when I first purchased it and I've noticed that the battery life is not quite as good as it was prior to installing iOS7. The fact that the old hardware runs the new operating system at a very acceptable pace and the battery still lasts a couple of days before needing a recharge tells me Apple have done everything they can to optimise my hardware. I suspect that Ms Rampell is no expert at all in these matters but very adept at raising her profile on the world stage

Steve · Oct 31, 2013, 07:12:28

Memory cards surely are just too slow to be a memory extension on a modern phone or tablet,they're not the most reliable media either.

I agree Zap my 'new' 4S runs iOS7 very well and battery performance is acceptable, my Son has just recently got a Samsung S4 mini and normally charges it once a day unless he's going out on evening when he states that it will need an extra charge. I think it's a factor of these modern smartphones they do require a fair amount of power.

Glenn · Oct 31, 2013, 07:17:58

Nowadays they are mini computers first & the phone function is secondary.

Gary · Oct 31, 2013, 08:09:23

Quote from: Steve on Oct 31, 2013, 07:12:28
Memory cards surely are just too slow to be a memory extension on a modern phone or tablet,they're not the most reliable media either.

I wouldn't not say they are that slow, some sdxc cards write with speeds up to 90 MB/s and read speeds up to 95 MB/s. The problem is Apple does not tell us the read and write speeds of their storage. They don't even mention if trim is used, I know it was introduced in Android 4.3. I still think external storage can be fast enough for most people. I will say with Apple handsets you will get a good few years of updates, Like the Nexus from Google, but unlike many other manufactures who want you to buy a new handset after maybe one update on the Android ecosystem. Its all swings and roundabouts.

pctech · Nov 01, 2013, 11:43:03

New software will always place more of a strain on older hardware because features are enhanced or introduced which increase processor use thus slowing it down and increasing battery use and thus reducing how long a charge lasts.

I think the smartphone market is going through what the PC market went through in the 90s/00s, increased processor speeds, better graphics supported by dedicated graphics hardware.

In about 10-15 years we will reach the point where the devices do all we need and demand will slow as upgrade cycles get longer.

Having watched several Apple keynotes (and I might add being an iPod owner and buyer of music from iTunes) I don't think new iPhones offer that much new now which is why people are switching to Android because the devices are also cheaper.

Simon · Nov 01, 2013, 13:06:38

Quote from: pctech on Nov 01, 2013, 11:43:03In about 10-15 years we will reach the point where the devices do all we need and demand will slow as upgrade cycles get longer.

I think it could be argued that we've reached that point already. What else could they do? That's half the reason why I'm not too bothered about upgrading at the moment, as the newer devices don't really do anything that the older ones can't.

pctech · Nov 01, 2013, 13:24:22

Totally agree with you Simon

Only thing additional I do with mine is play games during my lunchbreak.

Calls and texts are still the main function as prefer a PC and larger screen for browsing.

Steve · Nov 01, 2013, 13:31:17

I agree Simon not sure what else to expect from a phone. I can take good quality pictures, record HD video communicate all this through the Internet. At home I can control my HiFi, TV Bluray player and even the lighting should I buy the kit which I won't. In the car it will navigate me and display various engine/trip parameters.

What's next we're probably awaiting to see what 4G will add if anything.

pctech · Nov 01, 2013, 13:43:32

Looks like 5G is already being discussed

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2055880/5g-will-have-to-do-more-than-send-speed-up-your-phone-ericsson-says.html

Simon · Nov 01, 2013, 14:26:49

Bloody hell! I can only barely get 3G here!

Gary · Nov 01, 2013, 14:43:07

Quote from: Simon on Nov 01, 2013, 14:26:49
Bloody hell! I can only barely get 3G here!

Same here although the 4G bolt on is only a fiver when or if it does arrive and you have a 4G handset and sim card. Which I have but not the bolt on as all O2 4G seems to be London and further North. If they are as rubbish as they are with 3G i wont hold my breath.

pctech · Nov 01, 2013, 19:56:22

Pretty much all the networks start their build out in The Smoke and around the M25 as the City types tend to be early adopters and it tests the transmission kit to its limits.

Glenn · Nov 01, 2013, 20:04:36

If you look at the big towns/cities and their interconnecting roads you will find that is were most investment goes first.

pctech · Nov 01, 2013, 21:24:14

Yes as it will get lots of use by businesses

Gary · Nov 02, 2013, 08:06:38

Quote from: pctech on Nov 01, 2013, 21:24:14
Yes as it will get lots of use by businesses

Makes sense, but we never even got 3G from O2. There is a mast in the Village for Vodafone but not O2. Thats far enough away to just give us 2G. O2 do have the worst 3G network in the UK though I am sure I read.

pctech · Nov 02, 2013, 17:58:50

On the forum I used to mod we had a guy who appeared to be a radio planner for O2 though he would never actually say that's who he worked for.

People used to say 'I've not got coverage or 3g in x, why is this?' to which his reply would be because the operator will not make enough money from the traffic to be able to recover the costs of running or upgrading the site.

If you live in a small village Gary that could be why, particularly if a lot of your neighbours are on Vodafone.