Short answer: Happy update.
Recap:
I have an iPad First Generation -- iPad One which does NOT work on latest "Kindle for iPad" and "iBooks" apps.
I had trouble (i.e.I couldn't) re-loading Apps from my earlier iPad to the latest versions. What to do? Do I have an expensive paperweight?
Well somehow someone from Amazon called me to see if he could help. Whether exactly from email to Jeff Bezos, )one of tens of thousands per days he receives, so I kinda doubt it) or from scouring the web to listen to what people are saying about Amazon a la Google Alerts, of course I have no idea. But this guy from Amazon calls me and after a matter of arranging telephone calls after Thanksgiving, we chat and I explain the problem.
In a moment it's clear that my problem had been that I had been trying to download the apps via iTunes on my DESKTOP iMac.
But if I went to the App Store on my iPad One, NO PROBLEM. I try to download the App. It says something like "Sorry. Your old iPad cannot handle the newest App but we can give you the older one. Is that OK?" Well of course I say OK and problem solved in a heartbeat.
A couple interesting points:
1. No one contacted me from Apple. In fact I spoke with two Genius Bar people and told me that my iPad One would NOT work with iBooks any more at all and if I hadn't saved the APP to reinstall it, then too bad for you and just go buy a new iPad.
2. The Amazon guy was curious to know how iBooks would work (I guess it is part of their job to understand what is going on) and tested it on one of their iPad One's in their office. The AMAZON GUY told me that, not to worry, just go to App Store ON YOUR IPAD ONE and try to download iBooks. As we chatted on the phone, I did and lo and behold -- the same message from the Apple App Store:. "Sorry. We cannot dowload latest iBooks but we have an older version for your iPad. Would you like it?"
3. So, what to conclude?
* Better customer service at Amazon than Apple.
4. And a suggestion.
The Amazon guy and I fell to chatting and he warned me that eventually Amazon would stop supporting my iPad One. And I guess that in 10-15 years, sure, maybe. I demurred.
My iPad One is still a fine little tool (as are the early KIndles.) So maybe rather than just making orphans, Amazon (and Apple and I guess Android-based builders too) should keep supporting the older models to give to poorer communities and regions.
Why not establish a trade-in program? I want to buy an iPad Mini with Retina (sorry Jeff, you get plenty of my money anyway!) and Apple should take my old iPad, give me a credit on a new model and then give the old iPad to some poor school district, third world etc etc
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