Help needed with apps and iphone compatibility

[MissWooWoo]

My SIL has given me one of her old iphones, I believe it is an iphone 3. I've tried to download a couple of apps but the following message keeps coming up "update required. this app requires iOS 5". Surely this doesn't mean that unless you have the latest phone you can't have any of the apps???

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to smartphones but having got used to using the internet on it I was ready to tackle the wonderful world of apps but now I don't know where I'm at! Please help!

Just go to settings and download the latest upgrade. Should take about 15-20 mins.

thanks ihatethecold after checking on the apple website oh how I should do this I found out that I was missing the "software upgrade" option in settings. So I did some googling and looks like I have a 3G phone rather than a 3GS (the model number on the back indicates this according to a page on the apple website) and so this means that I can't upgrade to iOS 5, meaning the only way to get apps now is to get a new phone. Can someone tell me if I've got this right or is there a way around this?

thanks

Not all apps need iOS5, but many newer apps do (some now need iOS 6), because they use the updated technology in the newer iPhone models.

Aha so perhaps all is not lost. Is there a better way of finding out which apps will be compatible? I don't fancy clicking on each app in iTunes which is the only way that springs to mind

Seems like a bit of a stupid app store store Apple have there. I'm not too familiar with it, but in the Android store you simply can't see the Apps that aren't compatible with your phone. I think Apple have some learning to do with their user experience!

If you connect the phone to iTunes and click "check for updates" it will tell you if you can update the software.
I had a 3G and updated the software to iOS 4 a few years ago.
It just doesn't have it as an option on the phone on the 3G like it does on the 4 but you should still be able to update via iTunes.