iPhone 5s...

[Cr00zng]

Someone has given me an iPhone 5 and have some question about it...

AFAIK, support has ended for this iPhone, can the iOS be reset and/or install the latest supported iOS version from iTunes?

I do have a SIM card with an extra phone number from the Magenta company, that I had not set up yet as an eSIM for my iPhone 12 Pro.

The intent here is to wipe the iPhone 5s clean by reinstalling the iOS, add the SIM card and set it up for my granddaughter. It's more of a "test run" with iPhone 5s to see, if she can be responsible enough to take care of it. That, plus being able to call/text and find her, rather her iPhone. Parental Control will be active, probably as much as older version(s) of iOS allow it.

TIA...

 

[chscag]

Should be no problem. Just reset it with iTunes or Finder and the latest version of iOS that can be installed on the phone will be downloaded to it. Of course this is all assuming whoever gave you the phone cleared it from their Apple ID and Find My Phone, otherwise the phone can not be setup until that's accomplished.

 

[Cr00zng]

Thanks @chscag ..

I didn't check yet for clearing the iPhone 5s from the Apple ID/Find My Phone, but that'll be the first step prior to reinstalling iOS. Maybe later this week will get to it...

 

[Cr00zng]

Well, I couldn't wait...

The iPhone had been cleared and Find My Phone disabled. Powering on the iPhone greeted me with setup screen, like when you buy a new iPhone. That's the good news...

On the other hand, it is an iPhone 5, not 5s, from 2012, with iOS version 10.3.4. The parental control via "Screen Time" is not available in this version. At least I could not find it.

Is there an app that would do parental control for iOS 10.3.x?

TIA...

 

[chscag]

There are many parental control apps for iOS. Most are pay apps such as Net Nanny. Do a search for Best Parental Control apps for iOS and then go to their individual sites to see what the cost is and if they support older versions of iOS.

I touched on a few such as Net Nanny which is expensive and also requires some type of family plan to include all your devices.

Norton is another but I didn't bother to dig into what their requirements are and cost.

 

[Cr00zng]

Thanks @chscag...

I did the search, all apps require iOS version 11.x or higher. It seems that all of them rely on Apple's screen time for locking down the iPhone.

We've decided to let my granddaughter have it as it is and monitor her usage. She cannot purchase apps without the Apple ID's password and there's no CC in the wallet.

We'll see how she'll handle the iPhone and if she's a OK, maybe for her bday we'll get her an iPhone 12 Mini.

 

[chscag]

We'll see how she'll handle the iPhone and if she's a OK, maybe for her bday we'll get her an iPhone 12 Mini.

Most kids are more savvy about how to use an iPhone than we think. Anyway, an iPhone 12 Mini will make a nice gift for her.

Thinking about getting one for myself.

 

[Cr00zng]

Most kids are more savvy about how to use an iPhone than we think. Anyway, an iPhone 12 Mini will make a nice gift for her.

Thinking about getting one for myself.

No kidding that they are very savvy, you'd better watch out when you type in your PIN/pass-code. It doesn't take them long to "shoulder surf" when you do. The face ID can be fooled. My grandson, five years old, can unlock her daddy's Android phone with face ID, just by looking at it. One of the reasons why I don't use Face ID.

About the iPhone 12 Mini... My better half has one, but she's still missing the fingerprint button on her former 6s.

I am also not too excited about my iPhone 12 Pro. The haptic touch sometimes doesn't work since the 14.3 update, even the PIN numbers don't respond timely at times. Of course, typing it in fast may miss some of it and gives me an error.

The "Do Not Disturb While Driving" still does not work on "Automatic", just like my 8 Plus didn't do. I started to believe that it has something to with my settings, not with the iPhone.

Speed wise, it's faster than the 8 Plus, but nothing earth shattering. Albeit my grandson loves to play his Super Mario game on my phone, but he did like it on the old one too that had a wider screen.

On the other hand, the camera is really great, not quite to the level of Cannon EOS Rebel Xsi with all of its lenses, but getting closer. Maybe I should update my Cannon camera...

 

[MacInWin]

Thanks @chscag...

I did the search, all apps require iOS version 11.x or higher. It seems that all of them rely on Apple's screen time for locking down the iPhone.

We've decided to let my granddaughter have it as it is and monitor her usage. She cannot purchase apps without the Apple ID's password and there's no CC in the wallet.

We'll see how she'll handle the iPhone and if she's a OK, maybe for her bday we'll get her an iPhone 12 Mini.

What is more of a concern is where she goes on the Internet and who she "talks" to on there. My granddaughter is not yet allowed a cell phone at all (She's 11) and she's ok with it. Her parents have given her a Kindle to read on, restrict access through their WiFi router and monitor her usage. With her parents permission, I gave her an old MBP I had doing nothing so that she could use a new graphics pad they gave her for Christmas without having to share with her brother on the laptop they shared. Her parents monitor what she's doing and again, the router does a lot of the blocking for them. She is an amazing artist for her age and the with the graphics pad on the MBP by Christmas night she was doing some pretty fantastic drawings of figures. I bisect she may well decide on graphic design as a livelihood.

 

[Cr00zng]

I don't know Jake, it's a different world nowadays...

She has been using computers, both Mac and Windows, since she was five. Yes, we've monitored her internet usage and still do to a certain extent. She has not given us any reason for not trusting her. That may come later, she's younger than your granddaughter, but we will see.

Her brother, who is five now, pretty much uses all of my computing devices in my house now. He finds what he needs, regardless of the platform. I really enjoyed throwing different systems at them, some with touch screens, while others with touch-pad and mouse. For some reason, neither of them could get used of my mouse trackball. Then again, some adults cannot get used of it either. We do set the time limit for computer activities and off it goes, when expired. Interactive games and playing in the backyard are still important for them.

Their computer knowledge did come handy with the remote learning. Sometimes I am amazed at how active my grandson is in the class via Zoom meeting and how quickly both of them can navigate these online education programs. I have hard times sometimes just to even follow them where they are in the "remote class"..

If everything works out well, we will replace the iPhone 5 within couple of month that support screen time or any other paid app. If not, she will not have an iPhone, it's a privilege and she needs to treat it as such. We just didn't want to spend the money on an iPhone and have it in the draw for 2-3 years...

 

[Rod]

Don't neglect the iPhone SE 2. I upgraded my iPhone 7S to this SE, same size, same storage (128GB), faster processor, unlocked and future proofed for upcoming iOS's all for just under AU $400.00 with a trade-in of my old 7S. You can certainly pick one up under $500.00 that's half the price of the 12 Mini.

 

[Cr00zng]

@Rod, thanks...

The SE sounds like a good deal for $450, I have nothing to trade in, Apple doesn't want the iPhone 5. $780 for the Mini is a steep price to pay...

 

[chscag]

Unless you want the greater speed (5G) and the better screen the iPhone 12 Mini offers, the 2020 version of the SE is a good buy. I'm still using an 8 which is around the same size of the SE and the 12 Mini.

My wife on the other hand likes a larger phone. She's now using an 11 but would love to own the 12 Max Pro.

 

[ferrarr]

The face ID can be fooled. My grandson, five years old, can unlock her daddy's Android phone with face ID, just by looking at it. One of the reasons why I don't use Face ID.

I use it for everything on my iPhone 11, except to unlock the device.

 

[Cr00zng]

@chscag...

The better screen of the 12 Mini that might steer us away from the SE. The 5G doesn't matter that much from my perspective, even disabled it on my 12 Pro. It all depends on what one is doing on the phone and for me, 4G is plenty fast.

For my granddaughter and future proofing perspective, I'll probably go along with the 5G too; we'll see...

@ferrarr...

I stayed away from fingerprint authentication on my 8 Plus too, old habits die hard I guess...