Why your old iphone could stop you installing this important update

Apple Watch owners hoping to make the jump to watchOS 4 – the next major operating system update for the smartwatch – could be forced to upgrade their smartphone first. While watchOS 4 will

be able to run on all existing Apple Watch hardware, iOS 11 will not be available for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C. That likely means Apple Watch owners using either of those smartphone models

will be forced to upgrade to a newer iPhone in order to update to watchOS 4. That’s because Apple Watch always requires a compatible iPhone to be activated and to update its operating

system. The iPhone paired with your Watch needs to be running the latest iOS update before the Watch app can access the latest watchOS software update. For example, you need to ensure your

iPhone is running iOS 9 to update Apple Watch to watchOS 2 and iOS 10 to update Apple Watch to watchOS 3. Provided Apple does not change this stance before the launch of watchOS 4 this

autumn, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C owners who cannot update to iOS 11 will be unable to migrate their Apple Watch to the latest software. It also means iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C owners will have to

upgrade their smartphone if they decide to buy a new Apple Watch running watchOS 4 out-of-the-box later this year. This would mark the first time Apple has changed the required iPhone to

use an Apple Watch. iOS 11 looks set to bring a slew of new features to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The new operating system boasts a number of upgrades to Siri – including

translations, as well as a tweaked camera app, better photo editing features, and the ability to send cash to your friends via Apple Pay. A one-handed keyboard, improved Apple Maps and

customisable Control Centre are also included in this huge update. Apple has rolled-out the first developer beta for iOS 11. Those who have trawled through the new version of iOS have

unearthed a new "dark mode" – a long-rumoured feature for the mobile operating system. The iPhone already has a similar feature installed called "invert colours" which is

aimed at helping people with vision issues, but it seems Apple is adding a 'smart invert' to iOS 11 as well. Once selected, it appears to turns the screen black with text on the

display changing to white. This so called “dark mode” has long been rumoured and could help to make looking the iPhone at night easier on the eye. "Dark Mode" would also help

people take a look at their devices in places such as the theatre or cinema less intrusive for others. FIRST PICTURES OF APPLE'S IPHONE 8 LEAKED However, there’s also another bonus of

making the colours negative – it will use much less power and therefore save battery on any device with an OLED display. Fortunately, that's exactly what Apple is believed to have

planned for its next iPhone, the so-called iPhone 8. Extended battery life is also expected to play a big part in the new handset, which Apple is rumoured to launch in September to mark the

10th anniversary of the best-selling smartphone range.