upgrade from OSX 10.5 for new iPhone

Question

Level 1

4 points

upgrade from OSX 10.5 for new iPhone

Hello,

I am finding myself in a tricky situation...

My problem is both about an iPhone and an iMac, so here it is:

I own an iPhone 3gs, still running ios 4.3.3 but it is gently starting to die, which means that I'll soon have to buy a new one. The new ones are running ios8!

I am syncing that 3gs on my iMac on osx 10.5, which I have since 2008. It has absolutely NO problem, everything is working perfectly. In order to sync my soon-to-be new iphone on that iMac, I will need to have a newer version of iTunes. (I am still using the version of 2008)

My questions are :

What version of itunes is required for an ios 8 phone?

Will that version run on my osx 10.5 iMac?

If no, how can I upgrade to 10.6? Is 10.6 enough or I would need an even newer OS? Will that slow my computer down? Will my paid programs still work or I will have to re-instal it all?

Can I transfer the content (contacts, apps, etc..) form my 3gs to whatever newer model I will have? (I think 5s)

Thank you for your replies, I really appreciate it.

All the best,

SB.

Imac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Apr 29, 2015 11:28 AM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

Apr 29, 2015 11:30 AM in response to Sacha_Music

Start by checking if you can run Snow Leopard:

Requirements for OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575

(NB: PowerPC applications can still be run in Snow Leopard using Rosetta, but they will not work in later versions of OS X. For detailed information see this user tip: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6271 )

The OS 10.6 Snow Leopard install DVD is still available for $19.99 from the Apple Store:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

and in the UK:

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

Before installation you should back up all your data.

When you have installed it, run Software Update to download and install the latest updates for Snow Leopard to bring it up to 10.6.8, or download the combo update from here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399

Check via Software Update whether any further updates are required, particularly to iTunes (you will need the latest version in order to synch with mobile devices).

You should now see the App Store icon in iTunes, and you now need to set up your account:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4479

You can now upgrade to Mavericks OS 10.9 for free IF you have one of the following Macs, with not less than 2GB of RAM, and at least 8GB of available space on your hard drive:

iMac (Mid-2007 or later)

MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008), (13-inch, Early 2009 or later)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid-2009 or later), (15-inch, Mid/Late 2007 or later), (17-inch, Late 2007 or later)

MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later)

Mac Mini (Early 2009 or later)

Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later)

Xserve (Early 2009)

iCloud system requirements:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4759

If you cannot run Mavericks you can purchase the code to use to download Lion from the App Store (Lion requires an Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7 or Xeon processor and 2GB of RAM, running the latest version of Snow Leopard):

http://store.apple.com/us/product/D6106Z/A/os-x-lion

or Mountain Lion:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/D6377Z/A/os-x-mountain-lion

and then to Yosemity is you can run it.

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Answer 2

Sacha_Music Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 29, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Klaus1

Thank you for your complete reply,

It seems awfully complicated; could the following be an alternative?

Hypothetically, if I have a newer mac on which the latest version of itunes is installed.. Could I transfer my 3gs backups form my 10.5 imac to that newer mac and then sync my new phone with it, so I can keep my apps, contacts etc?

Or is there another way to retrieve my content without using itunes?.. Because I am not going to buy a new computer just to sync my phone!

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Answer 3

Sacha_Music Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 29, 2015 12:43 PM in response to Sacha_Music

Actually my wife has the latest version of itunes on her Windows 8 computer... could I transfer my backups to that computer to sync a new phone?

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Answer 4

dwb

Level 7

32,920 points

Apr 29, 2015 1:14 PM in response to Sacha_Music

Straight from Apple’s iPhone webpage:

System Requirements

Apple ID (required for some features)

Internet access8

Syncing with iTunes on a Mac or PC requires:

Mac: OS X v10.6.8 or later
PC: Windows 8; Windows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
iTunes 11.4 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)

Your iMac can run 10.6.8 - follow Klaus1’s links to order the upgrade from Apple’s Web site. The last time I ordered a 10.6 disc I had to run the App Store program to get a couple updates but it’s a no brainer. If you aren’t already regularly backing up your computer (why aren’t you?) please do so before you install 10.6 just in case. I’ve upgraded hundreds, if not thousands of Macs, and only had a couple fails. But I have had them.

As to your question about using your wife’s computer you’ll lose everything unless you have an Apple account and sync to the cloud.

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Answer 5

Sacha_Music Author

Level 1

4 points

May 2, 2015 10:41 AM in response to dwb

Wow! that's a good news!

I have a macbook pro running 10.6.8, it therefore means I can instal itunes 11.4 an then use that computer with an ios8 phone?

Now, could I transfer my iphone 3gs backups from my imac 10.5.x to my MBP 10.6.8? I am not using icloud... But I imagined that if I transferred the folders in which my apps infos are form the imac to the other MBP, it could work... Itunes on my MBP is using the same apple ID as on the imac.

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