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Harvard Study Shows Apple Slows Down Old iPhones to Sell New Models

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11–20 of 34 posts

Re: Harvard Study Shows Apple Slows Down Old iPhones to Sell New Models

#11
There's more to the "study" than plotting google search traffic and iPhone release dates, right? While it's a compelling graph, do they take metrics from devices?

Personally, when someone releases a new version or model of something I have - car, computer, phone, etc - I notice all the flaws and problems with what I have. I assume it's me attempting to rationalize "you know, maybe I should look at that new one.."

Re: Harvard Study Shows Apple Slows Down Old iPhones to Sell New Models

#13
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's true, but what we really need to know is what are the typical performance benchmarks that are required when launching a new software update? And does Apple change its internal performance requirements for older phones when new phones are released. If internal documents from Apple showed that Dev's were allowed to release code that performed badly, but only at certain times of the release cycle, that news would…

Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me. Comparing to Samsung is just a joke - how often do android users even get the choice to update, not to mention how Samsung releases may or may not match up with Google (Android) ones.

My 4 year old Samsung received an update to 7.0 last month, and a security patch the week after. I agree android patching is poor compared to apple, but a lot of fault lies with the phone companies refusing to pass updates onto the end user rather then the company making the phone.

Re: Harvard Study Shows Apple Slows Down Old iPhones to Sell New Models

#14
post #10

I am skeptical that apple would be that shortsighted. If there was a smoking gun here, it would likely kill their smartphone business. I will share an anecdote that I hear at every release cycle for each new idevice: Stepson: Hey, my phone is glitching and slow. I think I need a new phone. Me: Really? let me take a look. . Hmm I dont see anything wrong, other than you are connected to the wifi network that is about 3…

It says right in the article that the most likely cause is the way Apple only makes sure new OSes work well on the newest devices. I've found this to be anecdotally true myself.

Re: Harvard Study Shows Apple Slows Down Old iPhones to Sell New Models

#17
The study's methods are flawed, but I've had multiple experiences with iPhone users in bars asking me if I can do something about their recently updated iPhone being so sluggish (which they demonstrate to me, it's real), they all bitch about the inability to undo the update and how this is going to force them to replace what was a perfectly good phone.

It's too bad this study is useless since it just harms the very real upgrade treadmill case against apple.

Re: Harvard Study Shows Apple Slows Down Old iPhones to Sell New Models

#18
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a conspiracy theory to me. Comparing to Samsung is just a joke - how often do android users even get the choice to update, not to mention how Samsung releases may or may not match up with Google (Android) ones.

My 4 year old Samsung received an update to 7.0 last month, and a security patch the week after. I agree android patching is poor compared to apple, but a lot of fault lies with the phone companies refusing to pass updates onto the end user rather then the company making the phone.

You got an android update 13 months after it was released and a month before the next major update will be released by google? You're making my point for me.

Apple users don't have that problem, and they use the same phone companies.

If Samsung agrees to let the networks dictate when updates will be released, that is their fault.

Re: Harvard Study Shows Apple Slows Down Old iPhones to Sell New Models

#20
post #14
post #10

I am skeptical that apple would be that shortsighted. If there was a smoking gun here, it would likely kill their smartphone business. I will share an anecdote that I hear at every release cycle for each new idevice: Stepson: Hey, my phone is glitching and slow. I think I need a new phone. Me: Really? let me take a look. . Hmm I dont see anything wrong, other than you are connected to the wifi network that is about 3…

It says right in the article that the most likely cause is the way Apple only makes sure new OSes work well on the newest devices. I've found this to be anecdotally true myself.

Anecdotally I've found the opposite, within acceptable terms.

I have an original iPad mini running ios9 that honestly was better on 8 - but there is no maliciousness there: it's extremely old hardware that happens to have been supported for updates longer than it "should have" because it was in a new form factor (iPad 2 internals squished into a mini size)

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