[kyriakos]

the problem is that your apps no longer work because most of them are based on online services which changed their interfaces and communication protocols by now but won't install on an older version of iOS. This is the case with iPhone 3GS too.

[jcromartie]

True, apps backed by web services will die off. But that's been a risk at any time, even on the latest device. Those services don't exist for you. They can (and do) pull the plug at any time.

I think the way forward for old devices like the iPad 1 is through a stable OS, jailbreaks and web apps.

[mpyne]

So iPad 1 users should have to jailbreak their iPad to get to fully utilize it longer than 2 years? I agree completely that they could at least give it a stable OS (and apps!) but "jailbreak" should never be on a list of generic end-user steps to use your hardware.

[kyriakos]

i believe this is what makes the difference with android though. there's always a strong community that usually comes up with roms a long after the OEM quit. Even on obscure chinese-made CPUs you can find today ROMs running the latest versions of android.

[threedaymonk]

That's true to some extent, but old Android devices fall by the wayside too. I took my old HTC Hero up to Android 2.3 with third-party ROMs, but it can't run anything newer: it doesn't have enough flash space, and it's limited by its CPU and RAM in any case.

[s_henry_paulson]

I agree with your first sentence, but Apple is supporting IOS6 on the 3GS.

[lloeki]

Then s/3GS/3G/ and since it didn't get iOS5 you get a better picture of what will the iPad 1 will look like in one year.