Here are a couple more changes that were announced to the new version of iOS at WWDC. First of all, it will finally permit uninstalling most built-in default apps if you don’t personally want them around. This includes the iBooks e-reader program as well as News. Notably, it does not include Safari. The complete list includes:
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Compass
- Contacts
- FaceTime
- Find My Friends
- Home
- iBooks
- iCloud Drive
- iTunes Store
- Maps
- Music
- News
- Notes
- Podcasts
- Reminders
- Stocks
- Tips
- Videos
- Voice Memos
- Watch app
- Weather
These apps will all be available in the iOS App Store so they can be downloaded again if necessary. Apparently there’s still no way to set third-party apps as default link-type handlers in iOS, so their removal could cause potential problems. In any event, getting rid of icon clutter is about the only reason you’d want to uninstall them; they only take up about 150 megabytes of space altogether.
The other bit of news has to do with which Apple hardware will no longer be supported come iOS 10: the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad mini, and fifth-generation iPod Touch are all getting the boot. The only hardware supported for iOS 10 will include:
- iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, and SE.
- iPad 4, iPad Air, and iPad Air 2.
- Both iPad Pros.
- iPad Mini 2 and newer.
- Sixth-generation iPod Touch.
This means that the writing is on the wall—come iOS 11, my iPad Mini 2 will be obsolete as well. Not that this will be as much a problem as it is with my first-generation iPad, as there are a lot more programs out there with most-recent versions that will be installable well into the future. Still, I’ll have to enjoy it while it lasts.
My iPod Touch 5 works perfectly well for me and only seems to be obsolete because of Apple’s greed. One more reason why my next device will be Android; just like my phone already is after I left the iPhone behind. My tablet is Android, too.
By now, it’s apparent that Apple has lost the mobile OS war; just like they lost the desktop OS war. All of these losses have nothing to do with their hardware or software, it’s their marketing and their corporate attitude.
I’m a bit surprised that this is only starting to bother you now. After all, Apple’s been doing that ever since a few years after they released the first iPhone and iPod Touch.