New version of iOS app imminent!(?)

[Cameronpaterson]

Apologies if I'm late to the party on this one, but I only noticed the reference to iOS app 5.5 in the notification area this morning. Obviously it hasn't been released yet so it must be en route....Version 5.5: sounds significant!

[lessthanyouthink]

I'd say you're right on both counts

[paulsalter]

not sure whats in it that requires iOS 4.3 or later

the only possible changes I can see is that this has better Java in the browser

as per the instructions in the notification, I have taken a copy of the current version just incase

[Sharkus]

v5.5 is indeed coming soon. The backup info is there primarily to ensure those on devices that don't support iOS 4.3 can have a copy of the app. If for whatever reason they delete the Kobo app, they won't be able to get it back unless they have a backup of it, as the store only shows the very latest version of the app. We thought it prudent of offer information on how to backup / restore the app prior to v.5.5 being released.

There are actually some features in the current app (v5.4.1) and previous versions that have been disabled on certain devices. As for why these things are disabled, two main reasons;
1) performance. The older devices that run the pre iOS 4.3 may not be able to run the new features with adequate performance, therefore leading to a poor user experience, so those features are disabled.

2) Some programatic functions that are used for new features may only be available in newer iOS versions, and therefore the new iOS version is required.


There is also a case that at some point you do have to stop supporting older versions of hardware and software, one reason being is that the development process becomes lengthier the more hardware and software configurations you have, for example, the following would need to be tested on;
iPod Touch 2G
iPod Touch 3G
iPod Touch 4G
iPhone 3G
iPhone 3GS
iPhone 4
iPhone 4S
iPad
iPad 2
The New iPad / iPad 3 / iPad (whatever you want to call it!)

One could say that some of the lower iPod / iPhone devices are similar specifications so it lessens the number of devices, but it's still a fair few, plus throw in different iOS versions, even if it's only 4.2.1, 4.3.5, 5.0, 5.1 that's still a fair chunk of work for dev and QA to deal with, and we don't have infinite resources to do this testing.

Another factor is that there isn't an easy way to simply say "Let's not support anything below the hardware spec of an iPhone 3G", oh, drop arm6 support you say, well, would be nice if you could do that, but alas Apple doesn't allow it. Try submitting an app that had arm6 support and now only has arm7. You cannot do it, you get an error which basically translates to "It would be a bad user experience to remove support for devices you had previously supported".

One way round this is to up the minimum iOS version required, and that is where iOS 4.3 comes into play, lower spec devices cannot run it, so there is the way to limit support.

[estelle58]

So I won't be able to have it on my iPhone 3GS?

[Sharkus]

Originally Posted by estelle58

So I won't be able to have it on my iPhone 3GS?

If you are running iOS 4.3 or later then yes, you can run v5.5 on your 3GS.
If you have not upgraded your iOS to 4.3 or later then you will not be able to run v5.5.

Some iOS devices running pre iOS 4.3 versions CANNOT be upgraded to later iOS versions, but the 3GS is currently NOT such a device as it CAN be upgraded to iOS 5, including the latest iOS 5.1 (which is what I am running on my 3GS and it certainly does run v5.5)

[lessthanyouthink]

To sum up: the only devices that can run Kobo v5.4.1 that won't be able to run Kobo v5.5 are the iPhone 3G and the second generation iPod Touch. All other devices can be upgraded to iOS 5.1

[estelle58]

Thank you Sharkus

[Sharkus]

Originally Posted by lessthanyouthink

To sum up: the only devices that can run Kobo v5.4.1 that won't be able to run Kobo v5.5 are the iPhone 3G and the second generation iPod Touch. All other devices can be upgraded to iOS 5.1

Perchance was I being too wordy?

[Sharkus]

Originally Posted by estelle58

Thank you Sharkus

No problem whatsoever.