Apple clearly embraced backward compatibility with the hardware requirements for the next version of OS X and iOS 9 for mobile devices. Rolling out a new operating system — whether for the desktop or mobile devices — can be dicey. Flashy new features often mean that old hardware gets left behind. But Apple’s announcement on Monday of the next version of OS X and iOS 9 — they were unveiled at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) — will leave few Apple users out in the cold. Both OSes — the former for desktops and laptops, the latter for iPhones and iPads — have the same hardware requirements as their respective predecessors. The move reflects Apple’s decision to pull back on new features this year and instead work to refine the software users already have in hand. Both OSes will be available as public betas later this summer — a first for the initial release of iOS — and are slated to arrive fully baked, and free, this fall. In terms of hardware requirements: El Capitan will work on Macs that now run last year’s Yosemite and/or its three predecessors: Mavericks, Mountain Lion and Lion. Specifically, that means OS X 10.11 will work on iMacs built after mid-2007; on 13-in. MacBooks from late 2008 (aluminum case) and early 2009 (plastic case); MacBook Pro laptops from mid-2009 and later (13-in.) and late-2007 and after (the 15-in. model and the now-discontinued 17-in.); MacBook Air laptops from late 2008 and later; Mac Mini desktops from mid-2009 and after; and Mac Pro desktops built since early 2008. Mac owners can figure out how oild their hardware is by selecting “About This Mac” from the Apple menu and choosing “More Info…” from the ensuing window for Mavericks and earlier. The Mac’s age will appear under the name of the model. (In Yosemite, that information appears in the pop-up itself.) iOS 9 will work on the iPhone 4S, 5, 5S, 5C, and the current iPhone 6 and 6 Plus; on the iPad 2, third- and fourth-generation iPad, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, and iPad Mini 3; and the fifth-generation iPod Touch. That covers iPads and iPhones made in the last three years, although the new split-screen feature Apple execs touted Monday only works on the iPad Air 2. Together, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks and Yosemite powered 89.7% of all Macs in May, according to analytics company Net Applications. And, according to Apple, 83% of all iPhones are running iOS 8. With reports from Gregg Keizer of Computerworld. Related content feature 10 most popular IT certifications for 2023 Certifications are a great way to show employers you have the right IT skills and specializations for the job. These 10 certs are the ones IT pros are most likely to pursue, according to data from Dice. By Sarah K. White May 26, 2023 8 mins Certifications Careers interview Stepping up to the challenge of a global conglomerate CIO role Dr. Amrut Urkude became CIO of Reliance Polyester after his company was acquired by Reliance Industries. He discusses challenges IT leaders face while transitioning from a small company to a large multinational enterprise, and how to overcome them. By Yashvendra Singh May 26, 2023 7 mins Digital Transformation Careers brandpost With the new financial year looming, now is a good time to review your Microsoft 365 licenses By Veronica Lew May 25, 2023 5 mins Lenovo news Alteryx works in generative AI for speedy analytics results OpenAI integration and AI wizardry for report generation are aimed at making Alteryx’s analytics products more accessible. By Jon Gold May 25, 2023 3 mins Analytics Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe