ForeFlight is warning subscribers that it will discontinue support for old iPads and iPhones on Jan. 3, 2017. The company, which offers the most widely used mobile navigation and aviation data app, said in its notice that iPhone 4s and first generation iPad 1 devices will cease to function with the app on the first business day of the new year. “We strongly encourage you to make sure your primary device is at least an iPad Air, iPad mini 2, or iPhone 5,” the letter said.

ForeFlight recently launched version 8, which incorporates improved chart functions. The app is pretty hungry for storage so the list of iPad options favored by ForeFlight (Christmas is coming) default to the devices with at least 128GB drives. The app itself uses at least 15.5GB of storage and Canadian users need another 11GB. Tablets with cellular service can use the moving map functions while Wi-Fi-only devices need external GPS receivers, some of which add other capabilities via ADS-B.

I sent them an email and asked if my devices, an original Mini and an iPhone 5s, would still work, and their reply assured me that they would. I also asked when they'd likely have a green light for iOS 10, and their reply said that they're still working hard on it. I'm wanting to get a new Mini 4 and a new iPhone SE, but since they come with iOS 10, I'm putting that off until FF gives the OK. Then I'll keep my old Mini as a backup.

Cary

Cary,
You might want to double-check with ForeFlight to see if you should go ahead and upgrade to the new ForeFlight version on your older iPad, since the old device won't be supported going forward. You might be better off to keep the older version of FF on your older iPad with its older iOS version, so you don't get into features that your device / version of iOS won't support. But there may be compelling reasons (data format changes? other unknown-to-me changes?) why you would want to go ahead and upgrade to FF8 on the old one. I would check with FF support before making that call...

Good luck!

I hadn't planned to put iOS 10 on my old Mini, but that's a good question to ask, and I may do that once they've OK'd iOS 10. I haven't checked the Apple website to see if iOS 10 will even load onto my old Mini, although I've already received Apple's usual "time to update" messages. Either way, no updating nor buying new equipment until FF gives the OK--I'd rather not be a beta tester.

Cary

Yeah, I'm pretty sure iOS 10 won't support the original Mini, this my concern about upgrading the version of ForeFlight to something that may "require" iOS 10 to run. But since you're planning to check with FF support, they will be able to guide you. Good luck!

PS - somehow, I always seem to find a family member who really wants my older iPads, and thus I can "justify" buying a new one ever so often... My youngest daughter is making noises that she needs a newer model to run some of the stuff she has, so... Just waiting for the next round of product to be released...

I think it's a wise decision on their part. The first generation iPads are really sluggish at this point. Even my gen 2 iPad is a dog. Something that might be critical for flight operations should have a minimum performance expectation.

It makes you wonder: one could hope that operating systems are made more efficient with system resource usage as successive iterations are released and old devices would benefit, but NO.

Zzz wrote:I think it's a wise decision on their part. The first generation iPads are really sluggish at this point. Even my gen 2 iPad is a dog. Something that might be critical for flight operations should have a minimum performance expectation.

It makes you wonder: one could hope that operating systems are made more efficient with system resource usage as successive iterations are released and old devices would benefit, but NO.

As an Apple fan from way back (1988) I think I am ready to quit. They make beautiful hardware and then gradually throttle it back with new software until you are forced to buy the next model. Dishonest business practice IMHO.

daedaluscan wrote:As an Apple fan from way back (1988) I think I am ready to quit. They make beautiful hardware and then gradually throttle it back with new software until you are forced to buy the next model. Dishonest business practice IMHO.

I'm sympathetic to that viewpoint. After all, who doesn't want their $500-1000 device to last forever and work perfectly. Just keep in mind, that the only real competition for IOS is Android and there is no seven year old device in that ecosystem that runs the latest Android build either. In fact, the level of support is generally worse. Samsung, for example, is generally regarded as among the best or the best smart phone other than Apple. They released the Galaxy S at about the same time as the first ipad. The Galaxy S hasn't had an OS update in four years. Or, said another way, it was only supported for two years. The OS it runs, Gingerbread, is now six versions out of date and has been pretty worthless for a couple years already.

Like I said, I get your viewpoint. Just keep in mind that most people regard Apple support, life span and stability to be reasons that they prefer Apple products, rather than reasons to beef as compared to other vendors.

It's not gonna do much good to switch to a PC. The same escalation of faster hardware gets bogged down by more complex software requiring new faster hardware has been going on since the dawn of the personal computer.

I think I actually know that, and that is why I carry on buying Apple, mumbling quietly to myself. I suppose my frustration is with the entire industry, and what is considered ready to sell, and then how it is supported.

I am flying a 60 year old airplane that is still a fully functional tool.

With apologies for the drift, I should share that I just replaced the screen on my ipad.

I dropped it out of the plane and smashed the screen.

My initial reaction was "great I can buy a new mini", but my cheapness won out.

Bought a new screen on ebay for $21 and watched a few videos. It worked out easy and took less than an hour.

I have run the same Android hardware as my primary (and secondary) MFD for almost 5 years now at an initial purchase price of ~$200. (I recently bought a 3rd 16GB backup for $89). The base OS has gone through various updates with no issues, although I highly suggest using a stock Android and not the Samsung version (garbage). My newer iPad is already just about useless. My Android devices are used every day.

If you absolutely must have Foreflight, you don't have much of a choice. In my experience and for my usage, my Android solution has been far superior and much cheaper. To each his own.

Well that sucks. I've got an iPad mini, first gen, with 64 gb. I've got FF8 on it and it works fine. FF needs to be very clear and get the word out if iOS 10 will be required and not just recommended.

Just got this from FF. So I'll see how it goes.

FYI, I'm not a fan of iOS 10. I put it on my phone last week. While there are some new things that are cool, I dislike a lot too. Foremost not being able to swipe to unlock.

Dear Customer,

ForeFlight 8.1, now available on the App Store, is all-clear for use with Apple iOS 10.0.2.

We appreciate your patience during the testing process and hope you enjoy the new features in Apple’s biggest iOS release yet.

As always, we are on frequency at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.

– Team ForeFlight

Motosix wrote:

.
If you absolutely must have Foreflight, you don't have much of a choice

That's exactly the issue. The full package FLY-Q EFB by Seattle Avionics , Foreflight, and Wing-X all require iOS, and the Garmin Pilot Android versions in the past were not as fully capable as their iOS brethren. As was pointed out above, not only are CPUs being taxed, but available storage memory as well. First generation iPads and 16GB do not cut it anymore, and 32GB seems marginal. 64GB now seems the new normal and 128GB means you are the Man..or Woman.

I'd say those are the four primary players, and three require that you drink the Apple KoolAid. I have also been looking at the latest and greatest Android Samsung Tab S3 that is supposed to be coming out soon. It features removable SD cards that can provide gobs of storage, although some apps can only run programs stored on onboard memory. Given the four primary players, choosing Android for aviation applications means that I would have to bite into the Garmin apple. And then there is that other issue of what avionics work and share/ talk with what systems. Oh brother.

And so I sit....and read great threads like this one.... it's complicated

rw2 wrote:The Galaxy S hasn't had an OS update in four years. Or, said another way, it was only supported for two years. The OS it runs, Gingerbread, is now six versions out of date and has been pretty worthless for a couple years already.

Had that issue too on my little 7" Galaxy Tab 2. That is, until Cyanogenmod. it reached end of life dev on Jellybean (4.2) I think. Modded it and It actually ran way faster on Kit Kat (4.4). A touch slower on Marshmallow (6.0).

I just sent another email to FF to ask for clarity--I'll report back when I hear from them.

Cary

Hmmm...I just went to update and this is what it said. Are they not going to give some devices he option to put it on?




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Denali wrote:...and the Garmin Pilot Android versions in the past were not as fully capable as their iOS brethren.

Garmin Pilot on Android does more than I need (or really want) it to and is continually updated. It may not be as capable as the iOS version, but the things it is missing are not anything I need or really even want. It doesn't tax the older chipsets and I have yet to have it crash. For me, it is a great deal.

Add a GDL39 (or even just a homemade Pi) into the mix and an airliner flying above me providing the ADSB-out and I have everything I want inflight and on the ground.

Grassstrippilot wrote:Hmmm...I just went to update and this is what it said. Are they not going to give some devices he option to put it on?

It is absolutely true that they will not give the option to devices that cannot run it. But we can't say if that's your problem without knowing what device(s) you have.