In the interest of transparency, we'd like to share a few of our customer questions and staff responses regarding the new software version.
Why did you change to the new version when the old version was working?
The driving force behind this sudden change was that Apple removed the previous version from the app store because it was simply too old. As some customers experienced, this made it impossible to install the old version. We were already working on a new version but this forced our hand to deliver quickly and end the previous version support.
Why is the new version a web app?
The new version is actually a hybrid called a progressive web application or PWA. There are several reasons for this choice.
- The application now runs on all operating systems
- Distribution is no longer controlled by Apple or Google
- PWAs can be installed like a normal application
- Device support is no longer dictated by Apple or Google
PWAs have been around since 2015 and there are many popular apps that offer PWAs including X (aka Twitter), MS Office, and many more.
Why is the new application "glitchy"?
Many of our customers are using iPad mini 2's which are 10 years old! iOS only just started supporting PWA at that time and support was limited at best. In fact, the latest Chrome browser requires iOS version 15 or greater just to install. The iPad mini 2's are maxed out at iOS version 12.5.7 and thus lack proper support for many new application and security protocols. Apple is known for forcing customers to upgrade devices because of discontinued iOS support.
Which devices support the new app?
We can provide the following recommendations:
- iOS devices with version 15 or greater (we recommend using Chrome instead of Safari)
- Any modern android devices (excluding Fire tablets)
- Modern Windows and Mac laptops and PCs running currently supported OSs and browsers
If you have questions about device support, please reach out to us and we can help navigate the wide range of choices.
How often do we need to upgrade devices?
This is a question that unfortunately is difficult to answer and depends on the customer's business and security requirements. Modern devices typically support security best practices. For many, this is an important requirement. The latest AltoSignal release should be able to be run on devices for years to come. Because we control the distribution, we can assure that end of life versions are still available for old devices. This is an important distinction from the Apple or Google distribution scenarios. By maintaining control, those less concerned about the benefits of the newest OS will be free to use the last supported version for a particular device for years to come.