[OP]
Contributor
I have an iPhone 7 plus. The Apple support app will not load because you have to have ios 16 or higher to do so. I have 15.7.9 so it won't load. I'm wondering if those of you that use android phones have built in obsolesce also? I really like this phone and don't see a need to change.
Contributor
I don't know of any Android phone manufacturers with support windows longer than 7 years (which is what Google declares for its current crop of Pixels). The Android OS itself typically is support for 4 years, and many Android phone manufacturers don't update the OS to new major versions after device release.
Overall, I doubt you can improve your support life experience by switching to Android.
(And, for the record, I don't own, like or recommend Apple phones. I have always had Android phones and have no intention of ever owning an Apple device. I am familiar with them only because I had to support them on a corporate network for years).
Contributor
When we moved in three years ago there was a fancy online thermostat. The only way to adjust the schedule was with wifi. Actual switches allowed us to turn off the ac/heat and not run the schedule. I bought a newer android phone because my old operating system was too old for the thermostat app.
Dumb design. Do not buy a Sensi thermostat. Only one phone can control it at a time. If you download the app onto another phone it disables the app on the first phone. To retake control you must be inside the house and reestablish the link. It can not be done remotely because you have to push buttons on the wall to start the process.
Bill D
Contributor
My boss recommended I stick with Apple because he though they have a longer support period. He apparently thought the Pixel was only supported for three years. He is a Pixel 4 or 5 so he only gets updates for three years. I would have possibly switched to the Pixel had I realized they have gone to a seven year support period. I stuck with Apple and got an iPhone 14.Originally Posted by Steve Demuth
Contributor
It just boggles my mind that anyone would think that having their thermostat online and/or on their cell phone is in any way a good thing. So, other than avoiding Sensi, how do you like the online thermostat? Is it an actual improvement in your quality of life over having one on the wall?
Contributor
Nobody schedules obsoletion as well as apple. I had 2 devices an ipad and a phone that became paper weights. I couldnt download software or update anything on them one day when I woke up. Not only that they are still paying off the lawsuit for a programmed downgrade of your devices.
Android will stop updating eventually I believe(not sure) but they wont stop your ability to download anything 1 day
Moderator
Manufacturers of Android devices have the same challenges as Apple does with iOS devices for continued OS upgrade support, both because of computing power and security advancements. It doesn't really matter which ecosystem you are in...the same issue is going to occur when you choose to hold onto a device for a long time. These things are computers. It's the nature of the beast. You can upgrade to something like the SE new or upgrade to a pre-owned, but much newer device, if support for applications and current security threats are important. You could also switch to a low-cost Android device if you are ok with learning something that's going to be a little different than you are used to.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Contributor
My Iphone 5 is long past upgrading, on the other hand it still works for many purposes (I use it now primarily as a music player and MIDI controller). An antique operating system seems appropriate for operating an antique phone. Similarly, my "unsupported" 13 year old MacBook is humming along, albeit somewhat slowly. It got a new battery last year and is good as new for most things -- it's been a long time since anyone introduced a novel "must have" feature into an OS. A couple of programs that require annual updates (eg TurboTax) won't run on it anymore, but I blame the bean counters at Intuit who milk their cash cows for all they're worth for that.
Contributor
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It is nice if were are in bed and I can check if we set the thermostat down or off for the nigh while staying under the blankets. I normally turn the furnace off at bed time in winter and will bump it up if my wife gets too cold.
It is nice if we are out when it is 110 and know we will be home in 15 minutes. Turn on the ac remotely. We leave it set for off or 85-88 if we are out in. summer.
It is much easier to program the thermostat schedule sitting at the dining room table rather then in a dimly lit hallway where the thermostat is located.
BillD D.
Contributor
I wouldn't be too quick to blame Intuit - Apple computers are notorious for their lack of compatibility with newer software. I follow a high-end music editing program and the Apple users are always asking if the software will run on their version of the Mac OS, often to their dismay.
Contributor
We can shake our fists at "planned obsolescence" all the we like, but security is a primary driver for OS and hardware upgrades. We might think we're smart for continuing to use older platforms because, "They still work fine!", but doing so opens up all kinds of security issues. Older operating systems and older phones are MUCH easier to hack. This may not seem like such a big deal until pictures of our daughters are stolen and uploaded to porn sites.
Contributor
I have the Honeywell smart thermostat, that I can access via an app on my phone from anywhere. It has been a big quality of life improvement for us, as I can make changes to temperature and operating mode remotely. My mother-in-law lives with us and has no idea how to operate the thermostat, so she will call me and say "I'm cold" or "It's hot in here" and I can look remotely and adjust it for her.
Now, if only I could control the fireplace remotely....
Member
I had to upgrade my 2017 LG V20 (Android) to my 2020 LG V60 (Android) just to maintain service. The V20 wasn't 5G compatible the V60 is. The V20 was a better phone, for me at least. My LG V60 is working fine and I hope to get another year or two out of it.
Apple people should stay with Apple, they will get very frustrated with the Android interface. As an Android user I could never put up with the limitations of an Apple phone!
I haven't bought a new phone in over 10 years. I always buy used top of the line phones 1 to 2 generations old and pay about 20% - 40% of a new phone. I also believe in using a real camera for taking pictures but a phone is fine for quick snapshots (i.e. product numbers and prices for comparison, etc.)
Last edited by Michael Schuch; 10-19-2023 at 4:24 PM.
Contributor
Every thread should have a dumb question and today I feel it is my turn to ask it!
Why does one need 5G speed on a cell phone? I have a LTE phone that just tested out by Ookla Speedtest as 92 Mbps down and 12.5 Mbps upload. This download speed is almost twice as fast as the 50Mbps connection I use at home with no problem.
Contributor
I have never heard of Apple deliberately stopping app downloads. Now, the app developers themselves will come out with new versions of their app that will no longer work with older Apple devices. I only use Apple because that was what my employer gave me as my first smartphone about a decade ago. I'm no Apple evangelist. Heck, I found an old iPad Mini 3 from 2014 at work the other day that had been off for several years. I charged it up and it powered on just fine. The basics like Safari worked just fine.
My employer will no longer supply me with a phone. My Apple phone was to be obsolete as of last month so I researched a new phone in July. (I got six years out of it.) I seriously looked at the Pixel, but I ended up with an iPhone 14. Verizon had some promotional trade-in credits so I decided not to see if those credits would be around for the iPhone 15.
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