Apple promised to launch a new “app thinning” feature alongside iOS 9 in order to ensure it would be easier for 16GB, or even 32GB, iPhone owners to create more storage space on their devices.
However, because of what Apple is calling, “an issue affecting iCloud backup,” the Cupertino-based company has not been able to release the feature yet.
In order for this new app thinning to work, Apple has given app developers the power to mark specific portions of applications designed for Apple’s various devices. This means that if you’re an iPhone 4 user, you won’t need to download components of various apps related only to iOS 9, therefore thinning the download size and the amount of data that needs to be stored locally on the device.
But until Apple irons out its iCloud problems, users will still be receiving the universal version of apps, regardless of what device they’re using.
According to a recent release posted on Apple’s developer center blog, app slicing will eventually be added in a future software update, possibly iOS 9.0.2.
App slicing is currently unavailable for iOS 9 apps due to an issue affecting iCloud backups created from iOS 9 where some apps from the App Store would only restore to the same model of iOS device.
When a customer downloads your iOS 9 app, they will get the Universal version of your app, rather than the variant specific for their device type. TestFlight will continue to deliver variants for your internal testers. App slicing will be reenabled with a future software update. No action is needed by you at this time.
Apple’s OS beta testing app has supported the new feature for a number of weeks now. The company has been heavily criticized for its decision to continue adopting 16GB as the starting storage size for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, given most competing Android devices offer significantly more storage.
Apple released the latest version of iOS 9 this week, iOS 9.0.1.
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