Apple Offering “Last Compatible Version” Of iOS Apps

A new feature has been spotted that has been rolled out by Apple that provides a little love for the older germination hardware and iOS applications now that Apple iOS 7 will be launching tomorrow, together with the new Apple iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C smartphones launching on Friday September 20th.

The new Apple iOS feature offers the “Last Compatible Version” to older Apple hardware running older versions of Apples iOS mobile operating system.

Image Via Reddit

The feature appears when a person attempts to download an app with a new version that’s not compatible with the flavor of iOS that they’re running. A pop-up will appear to explain that the requested app requires a newer version of iOS, but that the user can download the last compatible version that was made available.

This new feature should make it pretty simple for folks trucking along with old iOS hardware to continue to use their favorite apps, even if they require a newer version of Apple’s software than the device is capable of running. It’s certainly a nice little surprise for those users, especially on the eve of iOS 7’s arrival. 

It’s a smart move, as older iPhones are resold around the world and often stay in use years after Apple stopped selling the device. This allows those owners to have access to apps that run efficiently on those devices, which helps with the overall user experience and Apple’s ecosystem.

If you’re rocking an older piece of iOS hardware, such as aniPhone 3G or first-generation iPod touch, you can try it out yourself by hitting up the App Store.