It appears that Apple has stopped signing every firmware version for a lot of older devices that used A5 chips. All devices whose latest firmware update was either iOS 9.3.5 or iOS 5.1.1 has lost its ability to update or restore. That means if an issue occurs, such as a brick, iTunes will be unable to restore the iDevice. Oddly enough, devices who's latest firmware was iOS 6.1.6 are not affected by this. This comes recently after the controversy over Apple slowing down the performance of its older devices. Hopefully this will be fixed soon.

EDIT: It appears 9.3.5 for all versions of the first iPad mini and the iPod Touch 5 is being signed again.

EDIT 2: It appears apple has noticed and is resigning more devices. The iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPhone 4 iOS 9.3.5 was resigned and iPod Touch 3 and iPad 1 iOS 5.1.1 was also resigned.

Source: r/Jailbreak thread

 

[Deleted User]

So, on top of throttling down performance on its phones, Apple's getting rid of firmware updates/restores.

Essentially, the message they're trying to send to consumers is "buy our new shit."

EDIT: Ah, they're signing devices again? That's good, I suppose, but the sentiment remains. Apple seems to be doing a lot of stuff lately that's absolutely killing consumer confidence. I don't entirely trust them, in all honesty.

 

[weatMod]

so it only on 2 FW's 9.3.5 and 5.1.1 and not 5.1.1- 9.3.5 minus 6.1.6 right

 

[AutumnWolf]

Yet people continue buying their products...

 

[DinohScene]

I hope hackers will create FW restore packages for the older devices.

Preservation n what not ;/

 

[dAVID_]

Classic Apple.

Forcing them to buy new overpriced products.

 

[Deleted User]

*slow clap* Doing this WHILE being investigated for fraud?

I'm sure people will LOVE this.

 

[Carnelian]

Since Tim Cook Apple sucks...

 

[Thirty3Three]

Since Tim Cook Apple sucks...

It's always kind of sucked though...

 

[I pwned U!]

I have been getting ready to sell my old iPad 3 recently. I am glad that I updated it last week...

 

[RustInPeace]

This makes for major material for James Rolfe's "You Know What's Bullshit?" series, since he's an Apple user and has ranted about iTunes updates in the past, I doubt he buys the newest iPhone.

Oh hai Skiddo.

 

[Deleted User]

Maybe now I can convince my mom buy me android lol

 

[orangy57]

well they've officially removed support for my first-gen ipad, goodnight sweet prince

 

[Deleted User]

Strange how it effects some firmwares but not others. Maybe a mistake?
They've had a lot of negative press lately so doing this purposely would be crazy.

 

[bowser]

They're getting ready to activate the hidden brick code.

 

[Yepi69]

If you're jailbroken, you can save your SHSH blobs and restore from iTunes as any times as you want.

 

[the_randomizer]

Apple's gonna Apple. Shocking.

 

[Spectral Blizzard]

Samsung: Our shit is everywhere.
Apple: Our everything is shit.
Nintendo: Wa-hoo!

 

[GhostLatte]

Apple creating a Final Solution is nothing surprising.

 

[cvskid]

(edit) Found it, nvm.