My mom is still happily using her original iPad mini with iOS 9. Some apps these days are not compatible with it but asurprising number are still targeting iOS 9. Lots of popular apps such as Telegram, Netflix, Overdrive books support iOS 9 and still get updates (unsure for how much longer). Others like the Target app, require later iOS versions and force her to use an older version, which tend to still be functional, though without the latest features.

Even if they don't get updates. The older versions should still work. I downloaded the older version of Netflix "the last compatible version" for my first gen iPad running iOS 5 and it still works.

It's really frustrating with app stores and auto-updating apps. I've got an ereader running an older Android operating system, and it's difficult trying to keep versions of apps that work on it to stay the same and not brick themselves. It's a little sketchy having to track down and sideload the right older appk package that still works.

I wish it was more like Nuget, where you can select the version you want and have to explicitly upgrade, with an easy downgrade option.

I have a coworker using either a 4 or 4S and I saw him install a new app on it last week. Are you referring specifically to apps that no longer support old versions of iOS? As far as I know the App Store maintains compatibility with old iPhones and allows them to download and install stuff just like new ones.

That is not my experience at all. I have an original iPad, an original iPad mini, several iPhone 4 and 4s.

Well, I use an iPhone 4S running iOS 8 and can install apps from the app store.

What do you mean "you can't install apps"?

If you're not running a current or near current version of iOS the App Store won't have software available for download.

I know people that've reluctantly retired their otherwise fully functional iPad 2-era devices for the same reason.

I have a functional iPad 1 that I reset last year. Apple let's you download the "last compatible version" of an app. I was able to download Netflix, Hulu, Crackle and a bunch of other apps.

You have to have downloaded the app previously on the same account. The workaround is to download the app with iTunes and then it will let you download the same app on your iOS device as long as there was once a compatible version.