Even though we get used to the fast paced way that software gets updated, it can be hard to understand at times. Sometimes I look at some decisions on software support and wonder why it's so different than other industries. I wonder why it has to continue to move so quickly and not allow for standards that can be agreed upon or last long enough to become common, platforms that exist for more than about 3 years, devices that exist for more than about 2 years, or software that exists in a similar form for more than about 1 year. For instance, the following.
Google Apps has dropped support for IE9. IE 9 was released on March 14th, 2011, just 2 and a half years ago. IE9 isn't even installed on Windows 7, but is an upgrade to IE 8. And Windows 7 is the most used OS in the world and was released on October 22nd 2009, just 4 years ago. What this means is that over 90% of the people who have a PC or notebook need to update their built in web browser to run Google Apps. Forget about people on even older operating systems like Windows XP, who can't update their browser to IE 10.
I understand that software within an OS, and even an OS can often be updated easily and freely. And even operating systems are now being updated freely and somewhat easily in many cases. Both Windows Update and App Stores on mobile devices were great advances in the software industry. But why is everyone being "forced" to update so quickly?
Being a tech junkie and software developer I like new features, getting new software, and playing around with cool new apps. But even for me, the speed at which software is getting updated is now creating more negatives than positives in many cases.
Why do standards and platforms have to change so often? Why can't the computer that you or your grandma bought last year with Windows 7 and IE 8 work to run Google Apps and other websites properly? Why do you or her "have" to update to a new browser, which is essentially a built in OS for the web, just to make sure your online email works correctly?
Being a tech junkie and software developer I like new features, getting new software, and playing around with cool new apps. But even for me, the speed at which software is getting updated is now creating more negatives than positives in many cases. It's just moving too quickly to be useful at times, where you "have" to update and can't even choose to use your older software and apps that worked fine. Apps that ran quickly on your device, that had no new bugs introduced, did everything you needed, and that you had learned to use all of its features easily because the interface didn't change.
So I can understand what normal people think. People that bought a new PC a year ago. People who log in to check their email and see that not only has their email completely changed its interface and features, which is frustrating enough. But that they also need to update their "browser" just for it to work. The result is that their email runs slowly now because IE 11 is on their old computer, and that they can't figure out how to reply to an email because the interface and features have all changed. Or worse yet, they need to get a new computer just to check their email properly.