For all of us running MacOS X 10.6.8 the last version of iTunes is 11.4. Can iOS 9 still sync with iTunes 11.4? I don't need the radio or iTunes match parts, just calendar syncing and backups.
Michael
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), iTunes 11.4
Same thing happened to me, I have hundreds of movies MP-4, 15000 songs on my MacBook Pro Snow Leopard, and now I can't synch with my iPhone, iPad not over WIFI, not over Bluetooth, not over cable, they cut all connections between my computer and my mobile devices.
Very evil thing to do, they are forcing people to buy new computers, even when old ones work just fine.
"New version iTunes" is garbage, there is nothing new about that, just to stop people synching with mobile devices.
I haven't taken the chance in updating my iPhone 6 yet as I also use OS X 10.6.8 and iTunes 11.4. Unfortunately, it does sound like Apple is leaving us Snow Leopard users out in the cold for this iOS upgrade if we want to still sync with our Mac with iTunes 11.4.
The biggest problem is iTunes 11.4 will allow you to download the iOS 9 update for your iPhone, but there doesn't appear to be any notice stating you the new requirement for a newer iTunes. Granted, I didn't run through the actual install....just downloaded the update file. I did skim the release notes and legal notice and didn't see anything pertaining to iTunes compatibility.
iOS 9 will still install on iPhones back to 4s. Is it so terrible to keep compatibility with the previous iTunes for those of us who can't upgrade past 10.6.8 (for whatever reason - personal preference or technical reason etc.) or afford a new Mac?
Once your operating system stops receiving normal system updates it is a warning sign, the end is neigh. iTunes tends to be the one piece of software iTunes extends back as far as they deem fit, and usually well beyond the 5 year time span when hardware is considered vintage and unsupported. If any part of your technology system is older than about 4 years you really, really need to pay close attention to what you are doing and not simply update because a window pops up.
Keeping up compatibility for older systems with, to be honest, a few small percentage of users, costs money to pay programmers. If those using old systems are not buying new hardware you aren't making Apple money, so for a for-profit corporation is it worth supporting users who aren't making them money? Sorry to be harsh but the facts of life... Hey, I use an even older computer than you guys so been-there-done-that.
I agree that anyone needs to pay close attention to any update that pops up, whether it be from Apple or any other developer. Even if it is on a newer machine. Of course, there does come the time one must upgrade to newer hardware or OS. Apple has reported the hardware requirements for most recent OS X versions and even what devices iOS will run on during their keynote announcements. The problem in this instance is there is no notice or warning in iTunes 11.4 that this version will no longer work with iOS 9. Even though iTunes 11.4 is the version that is download and installing iOS 9 on your iOS device.
Yes, it may be time to make that hard decision to upgrade OS X to a newer version. Unfortunately, Mavericks or Yosemite still don't feel quite as fast as Snow Leopard. I had tested them briefly on the last model MacBook Pro that supported SL, with SSD drive installed and 10 GB RAM. Nothing scientific, just personal observation during use, startup & shutdown.
A quick update. I noticed a post in another group about iTunes 11.4 & Snow Leopard not working with iOS 9.
Re: After iPad iOS 9 update you can't use 10.6.x
I took a chance with an iPad 2 I had at work. It actually only had iOS 8.0 on it, so I used the IPSW file I downloaded to update it to iOS 8.1.4 with iTunes 11.4 on Snow Leopard. I ran a normal backup and disconnected the iPad. I ran the iOS 9 OTA updater from the iPad. Once fully updated & basic settings looked over, I connected the iPad back to the Snow Leopard Mac and it was recognized. iTunes 11.4 backed up and synced the iOS 9 device, both over WiFi and wired connections.
When I got home, I took the chance with my personal iPhone 6. Everything worked the same as the iPad. iOS 9 is now running on my iPhone 6 and it will still sync with my Snow Leopard laptop with iTunes 11.4.
Of course, the usual YMMV. Apple won't be signing iOS 8 for much longer so if one needs to revert back, that window is probably closing quickly.
Yes, I've taken my chances as and iOS 9.0.1 update may break this all over again and I won't be able to use my current setup, but I have a plan to deal with that if it happens - a Mac Mini with updated software to keep our iDevices synced.
There is another thread here at Re: After iPad iOS 9 update you can't use 10.6.x that indicates you can still use iTunes 11.4 if you upgrade to iOS 9 using the OTA update instead of the iTunes one. I'm going to try the OTA update because I want to run iOS 9.
mshospin,
Write back to let us know how the update went!
I want to try the same thing!
Thanks!
The OTA update to iOS 9 worked on all three of my devices: iPhone 4S, iPhone 6, and iPad 3. I can sync from iTunes 11.4 to iOS 9 without any problems. The moral of the story is to ignore the iTunes request to update your device to iOS 9 and use the update on the device instead.
I did an over the air update from iOS 9.0.0 to iOS 9.0.1 to try to restore compatibility with iTunes 11.4 and it did not work.
Michael,
When you updated to iOS 9, did you use OTA or through iTunes?
I just updated an iPad 2 from iOS 9.0 to 9.0.1 via OTA. This had previously been updated from 8.4.1 to 9.0 via that OTA update on the iPad 2. The iPad still syncs with iTunes 11.4 on Snow Leopard OS X 10.6.8 - using either WiFi or USB cable.
With this news using my company's iPad, I'm going to try my personal iPhone 6 tonight from home. That also was updated to iOS 9 via OTA and still synced with iTunes 11.4 running on a Snow Leopard MacBook Pro.
As a side note, it seems this upgrade has made WiFi syncing a little more reliable. Before, I wouldn't always get my iPhone to show up in iTunes. Some sort of reset would have to be done, whether it was the phone, laptop or AirPort base station.
Indeed, it appears that updating to IOS 9 (or in my case IOS 9.0.1) through iTunes 11.4 will disable connectivity with ITunes 11.4 Mac. I'm in an audio/video studio environment and had to downgrade a couple workstations last year to Snow Leopard to maintain compatibility with other software whose newer versions (and their accompanying hardware and dongles) weren't yet fully functional with Yosemite. Looks like those machines are now unable to talk to the iPads and iPhones. Sad, as the tablets handle some of our teleprompter work, and that connectivity is pretty vital. I do understand the need for Apple to move on to newer and better things, but it would've been nice to know that optioning for an OTA 9.0.1 update vs. the same thing through iTunes 11.4 would've kept us on the air. Kinda senseless that there's even a difference. A little warning next time, perhaps?
Here is what I did to fix mine:
i am having a similar problem. i updated my iPhone 4s to the 9.0, but it still synced just fine on the iTunes 11.4 on my MacBook 10.6.8. i didn't hav any compatibility issues. but then i synced my iPod, with iOS 6.1.6 on the iTunes, that worked just fine but now i can't sync my iPhone anymore, the computer tells me i need updates, but i think my hardware may be too old for the sufficiently new versions.
the frustrating thing is that it all worked fine until i synced the iPod.
Just bought an iPad Air 2 and updated it to IOS 9 before I really knew what was what, foolishly trusting Apple to have my best interest at heart. I should know better by now. As soon as the three hour update was done through my Mac Pro (10.6.8) I was told to get lost by Apple because Snow Leopard is beneath their notice now. Very frustrating to pay hundreds of dollars and get such lousy support from Microsoft - I mean Apple.
Does iTunes 11.4 sync with iOS 9?
