Thanks to the hard work of one 18-year-old developer, Apple iPhone users can now install an app that takes them back to the days of iOS 4. The app is aptly named 'OldOS,' and it's one of the most creative iPhone app releases in recent memory.
As it stands today, iOS 14 is a pretty fantastic operating system. It has more features than ever before, widgets and the App Library have completely changed the function of home screens, and its minimalistic design is both visually pleasing and easy to navigate. In just a few months, all of this is about to get even better with the release of iOS 15. This next iOS version was announced during the opening keynote for WWDC 2021, and once again, Apple is adding even more to the iOS experience. iOS 15 aims to redesign notifications, add a heap of new features to FaceTime, make Siri faster, and a lot more. While every iOS update strives to make the iPhone more functional and powerful, they can also leave some users longing for simpler times.
For those users, OldOS is the perfect solution. Created by developer Zane, OldOS is an iOS application that recreates iOS 4 to a shockingly accurate degree. It was created using Apple's SwiftUI development platform, is open-source for other developers to tinker with, and is available as a free download through TestFlight and GitHub.
How The OldOS iPhone App Works
After downloading and installing OldOS on an iPhone, users are transported back to 2013 the second they open the application. Virtually every single element of iOS 4 has been recreated here. This includes the 'Slide to unlock' lock screen with a water droplet wallpaper, Apple's iconic skeuomorphism design, and even a virtual home button that not only works, but also uses the iPhone's Taptic engine to mimic the feeling of a physical button. It's all really impressive stuff on the surface, but the magic of OldOS is that it's also extremely functional.
In addition to recreating the iOS 4 lock screen, home screen, and app icons, Zane also went out of their way to develop fully functioning apps based on how they looked at the time. Users can open the Notes app to jot down thoughts throughout the day, and they'll do so on a yellow notebook page. The Photos app also works to browse pictures saved on the iPhone, but they'll be presented in the Photos app UI from 2013. This also includes the App Store, Weather app, Phone app, Maps app, and plenty more. As Zane says in their tweet announcing OldOS, it's "Fully functional, perhaps even usable as a second OS." While there are some lingering bugs and apps that don't currently work, it's noted that future updates will address these things. In addition to making OldOS a smoother and less buggy experience, Zane also plans on building additional apps (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), making it available for the iPad, and offering other iOS versions beyond iOS 4. While there's no doubt that iOS is a better operating system today than it was eight years ago, the fact that iPhone owners can experience something like this is nothing short of amazing.