Just to let you know I have noted that Apple has taken down a number of posts discussing iOS [seven] in relation to cutting off the iPod Touch 4 gen. This includes my analysis from yesterday. Apple are citing " pre-release software" as the reason for the take down:
"Recently you posted in Apple Support Communities a question regarding a beta software that is available to Software Developers. Please be aware that Apple Support Communities forums are for released product support and Developers get support via the Apple Developer Connection.
Your post, "iPod Touch 4th Generation & iOS[seven]," was removed as it deals with pre-release software.
We are eager to see more of the great apps you and other Developers continue to produce."
Seems automated so be careful using the iOS[seven] term. I am reposting my comment here but cutting out terms that may have triggered the take down (they were not inappropriate but dealt with the new software).
My observation was that:
"Please give me a paragraph or two to explain my thoughts on iOS * not coming to the 4th generation iPod Touch.
I understand the technical limitations that hinder the 4th gen, i.e. the iPhone 4 has a slower CPU clock but 512MB Ram, whereas the iPod Touch 4th gen has only 256MB Ram (but a faster CPU clock speed).
I should point out that I am an Apple fan, owning everything from a Mac Pro to the iMac, Air, MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad and various iPods.
From Wikipedia: "The remaining iPod Touch fourth generation models were discontinued on May 30, 2013, in favour of a scaled back 16GB iPod Touch fifth generation". I recall the quiet launch of the iPod Touch 5th generation 16GB edition and the confusion in some tech circles over the reasoning behind it. Following WWDC the reason is clear, iOS * and Apple doesn't want to be caught selling an unsupported iOS device.
Apple typically cuts off old hardware after several years of OS support, for example my iPod Touch 2nd generation was terminated at iOS 4.2.1. The 2nd gen was released on 9th September 2008 and discontinued on 9th September 2009 when the 3rd generation was launched with iOS3.1. iOS 4.2.1 was released on 22 November 2010. This is still over one year from the discontinuation of the iPod Touch 2nd generation. Further iOS4.2.5, which cut off the 2nd gen was released on 7th February 2011, that is a good life for the 2nd gen. The iPod 3rd generation had a similar life, it was released on 9th September 2009 with iOS3.1 and was discontinued on 1st September 2010 when the 4th gen launched with iOS4.x. However the 3rd gen continued to be supported until iOS5.1.1, which was released in May 2012, iOS6.0 was released during September 2012 and this cut off support for the 3rd gen. Therefore the 2nd gen was supported by the latest iOS for 17 months beyond discontinuation and the 3rd gen was supported for 24 months beyond discontinuation!
Now the 4th generation iPod Touch launched with iOS4.x on 1st September 2010 and was discontinued on 30 May 2013. iOS * will be launched around September, therefore the 4th gen will only be supported for approx 4 months after discontinuation and I doubt we will get many further iOS6.x updates.
Does anyone see the issue here?
I got my 64GB 4th gen in 2010 and its been running like a dog for a while but I have had 2-3years of use once iOS * comes out, not bad, I'm not complaining. BUT, and this is a big BUT, some poor kid probably got one for his/her birthday in May 2013 and its already dead. Apps will become incompatible quickly once iOS stops supporting it. I know as I let iTunes update all my apps without realising back in my 2nd gen days and all my apps, paid and otherwise would no longer run on my 2nd gen. I now back up all iterations of my apps, but that was a costly lesson. Anyway I digress, is this cutting off of the 4th gen fair when the product was only discontinued two weeks ago?!?
I leave it to you to decide.
In my opinion the 4th gen should have ended last fall/autumn when the 5th gen was launched. Bad show Apple, bad show...."
I had a sarcastic reply (which I did think was funny but not entirely relevant):
"Oh dear, such drama. You do realize it is piece of software code, not world peace, right?"
To which I answered "Yep".
I am not sure if there were any other comments pre-takedown.
