Why with the release of the new version of the old iPhone slows down, and how to avoid it

Фото: Depositphotos

It is widely believed that with the release of new gadgets, mobile device manufacturers are artificially slowing down old ones in order to push users to buy new products. However, the experts interviewed by Brian Chen from NY Times, believe that this is a myth. Instead, they offer several tips that will help speed up “outdated” devices and explain why over time any gadget begins to “slow down.” Translation of the article leads The idealist.

This happens every year: Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), releases new iPhones, and then the mass of people whines about the fact that their old devices have become slower.

Just take a look at the latest data. From September to early November - when Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), released iPhone 8, and then iPhone X - search in Google by the keyword "iphone began to work slower" ("iPhone slow") Jumped by about 50%.

This myth is so widespread that many people believe that technology companies deliberately damage smartphones and computers so that people buy new ones every few years. Adherents of conspiracy theories call it planned obsolescence.

It is a myth. Although the slowdown of the devices is happening, the reason is much less vile: software updates.

"The companies that create operating systems have no incentive to create planned obsolescence," says Greg Rise, former program manager. Microsoftwho worked on Windows XP. “It’s all down to the software, which has a lot of unintentional errors of varying degrees.”

Here's what happens: when tech-giants like Apple, Microsoft and Google, introduce new hardware, they often release updates for their operating systems. For example, a few days before iPhone 8 September Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), released iOS 11 as a free software update for iPhoneincluding a four year old iPhone 5S.

The technical process of moving from an old operating system to a new one — the migration of your files, applications, and settings — is extremely complex. Therefore, when you install a completely new operating system on an older device, problems may occur that inhibit the camera and the loading of web pages.

“It’s like replacing plumbing in an old house,” says Scott Berkun, author and former manager Microsoftwho oversaw the engineers working on operating systems Windows and web browsers.

And since technology companies unintentionally slow down your devices, there are means to revitalize your three-year iPhone or seven year old computer with Windows. Below is a guide to speeding up your problematic gadgets based on the advice of information technology professionals and experts on operating systems.

Refresh the system

Technological companies simplify the transition to a new operating system: when you click the Update button, all your applications and data are transferred. Although this approach is convenient, it is not the best way to ensure smooth operation.

Best practice is to back up all of your data and clear the entire device before installing a new operating system. This “clean install” works more reliably because it is easier for the engineers who develop the operating systems to test just such a system, says Mr. Rise.

Let's say for example you have iPhone 6 with 100 installed applications, four email accounts and 2000 photos. Most likely, the quality control engineer tested installing a new operating system on a clean iPhone 6, and not on iPhone 6 with the same setting as yours.

Therefore, if you want to minimize the likelihood that something will go awry, choose not an easy option with a click on the "Update" button, but a clean installation. For smartphones, I recommend backing up data to a computer. For computers, you can back up your data in an online service or on a portable hard disk. After the installation of the operating system is complete, you can safely restore data and applications to the device from a backup.

Remove trash

Sometimes it is enough to make a little maintenance in order to speed up the operation of your device. In the long run, the operating system accumulates system files, settings, logs and other data; IT experts call it junk. It may slow down your device.

Фото: Depositphotos

For computers there are several applications for cleaning your system. Users Mac can download the free app Onyx, and users Windows - run the cleaning utility included in the system. For devices iPhone and Android You can open the settings app and select the reset settings. (Just make sure you back up your important data first.)

Remember your storage

This is what many people do not understand: simply because your iPhone or phone Samsung has 64 gigabytes of memory, it does not mean that you have to fill the entire space. A device is usually faster if more memory is available.

This is partly due to the fact that your device needs space to move data and download software updates. But it also relates to the way storage technology works inside smartphones and modern laptops.

Smartphones and new laptops rely on flash memory, which stores data in cells of semiconductor chips. When data is stored on a flash drive, it is scattered across the disk. Therefore, when you extract data to open an application or document, you extract it from several parts of the disk. If there is a lot of space, data becomes too much, and the device may work slowly.

“If you use everything entirely, the system will work poorly,” says Brian Denslow, technical specialist. TechCollective, an information technology consulting company in San Francisco. Mr. Denslow believes that a good rule of thumb is to buy a machine with more storage than you need. For example, instead of iPad on 64 gigabyte buy 256-gigabyte model.

I also recommend freeing up more space by uploading some of the photos to the cloud. You can upload all your albums to the service, for example, Google Photos, and periodically delete all images from the device itself. I did it recently in my iPhone 7which was almost full and seemed to be slowing down; cleaning up photos freed 50 gigabytes, and iPhone now feels as good as new.

Invest in your infrastructure

Your device may seem slower for reasons unrelated to it. Mr. Denslow, a technician, said that many applications rely on Internet connectivity, so poor Wi-FiRouter may become a bottleneck.

"To get a boost in speed, invest in a modern system Wi-Fi. I recommend products like Google WiFi and Eerowhich are the so-called mesh network systems that will help you to easily set up several stations Wi-Fiin order to receive a strong signal throughout the house. They are expensive, but upgrading your infrastructure will give more than buying a new phone. ”

"Instead of spending $1000 on a phone every year, spend $500 on a network," Mr. Denslow says. “It's not as sexy, but it provides more benefits over a longer period of time.”

Consider upgrading

In the end, there are many reasons why your device may work slowly. New operating systems have more powerful features that have been designed to work better on new devices. In addition, developers of third-party applications usually give priority to creating software for new phones, and sometimes even stop supporting old gadgets. If there are important tasks that your older device cannot do professionally, consider upgrading.

Mr. Rise, former program manager Microsoft, said he recently ran into problems after updating his iPhone 6S to iOS 11. Some features, such as the ability to search for an application, no longer worked. Resetting the device eliminated the problem, but he noticed that most likely he would buy a new iPhoneto keep up with the latest technology.

“Still, old devices are functionally limited,” he notes.

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