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 brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership brandpost Sponsored by BMC The data deluge: The need for IT Operations observability and strategies for achieving it BMC Helix brings thousands of data points together to create a holistic view of the health of a service. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership how-to How to create an effective business continuity plan A business continuity plan outlines procedures and instructions an organization must follow in the face of disaster, whether fire, flood, or cyberattack. Here’s how to create a plan that gives your business the best chance of surviving such an By Mary K. Pratt, Ed Tittel, Kim Lindros Dec 07, 2023 11 mins Small and Medium Business IT Skills Backup and Recovery 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