Does iOS4 work on iPod Touch 1st Gen?

Question

Does iOS4 work on iPod Touch 1st Gen?

I have had an iPod Touch 1st Gen for a few years now, and have been updating it every time there is an update. My son has an iPod Touch 3rd Gen, and is now able to upgrade from 3.1.3 to 4.0. However, when I choose "Check for Update", a message pops up: "This version of the iPod software (3.1.3) is the current version." Why am I not able to upgrade from 3.1.3 to 4.0, while my son is able to? Does the new iOS not work on 1st Gen iPod touches? It is a 1st generation 8 gigabyte iPod Touch, while my son has a 3rd generation 32 gigabyte iPod Touch. Thank you for your help.

Windows Vista

Posted on Jul 22, 2010 2:48 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 22, 2010 2:53 PM in response to RocklandKennedy

I thought you could upgrade any device but with limited features. If I were you I wouldn't upgrade with an older device. You wouldn't get multitasking or background picture support but you could have issues with the new software. I would stick with 3.1.3. I was able to get my iPod running so I can deal with the issues but it's still not as optimized as it was with 3.1.3.

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Answer 2

Jul 22, 2010 2:55 PM in response to RocklandKennedy

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/ios4-software-update.html

"The iOS 4 Software Update works with the second- and third-generation iPod touch. Not all features are compatible with all devices."

Your first generation iPod Touch will not upgrade to 4.0 or later.

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Answer 3

Jul 23, 2010 2:03 AM in response to eaglesflight1258

will they ever release some kind of update that allows the 1st gen ipod touches to use ios4 apps like some of the games. the reason i ask is because i downloaded one, and then it went to sync it told me, basically, no dice you need ios4 buddy. i understand the no blue tooth and multitasking, but what about the other things like basic programing updates.

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Answer 4

Hypnoguy

Level 1

13 points

Jul 23, 2010 5:38 AM in response to dave.preli

Sounds to me like you might need to upgrade your iPod Touch.

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Answer 5

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Jul 23, 2010 10:17 AM in response to dave.preli

dave.preli wrote:
will they ever release some kind of update that allows the 1st gen ipod touches to use ios4 apps like some of the games.

Such an update really wouldn't be possible. There's no way to graft the new programming interfaces onto the older operating system. It would take the full iOS4, and the first-generation iPod touch hardware just isn't capable of running iOS4, at least no in any way Apple would consider adequate.

Sorry, but if you want to run iOS4-only apps, you'll need a newer iPod.

Regards.

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Answer 6

Jul 23, 2010 10:21 AM in response to varjak paw

What's disturbing are the app updates that will force users to use iOS 4 once updated. It might not happen on all apps, but you know it's going to happen and someone with a 1st gen Touch who updates an app (particularly one they paid for) will suddenly not be able to use it anymore.

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Answer 7

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Jul 23, 2010 10:23 AM in response to rockmyplimsoul

One can always refuse the update, so there's no "forcing" that should be happening. But if a user just blindly updates, yes, that could happen. But that's not unique to the iPod touch; it can be the case on any computer where an application is updated without the user checking for compatibility.

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