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iOS 6 to dump support for original iPad, 3rd-generation iPod Touch?

Both devices missing from a purported full list of developer releases for Apple's next-generation mobile OS.

Steven Musil Night Editor / News
Steven Musil is the night news editor at CNET News. He's been hooked on tech since learning BASIC in the late '70s. When not cleaning up after his daughter and son, Steven can be found pedaling around the San Francisco Bay Area. Before joining CNET in 2000, Steven spent 10 years at various Bay Area newspapers.
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2 min read

It's not unusual for Apple to drop iOS support for hardware a couple of generations old, and that is the rumored fate of the original iPad or third-generation iPod Touch.

When Apple unveils its iOS 6 beta, which is expected to happen tomorrow at the World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco, the two devices will not be among those supported by the newest version of Apple's mobile operating system, according to a WeiPhone forum post that purports to have the full list of developer releases for both iOS 6 and OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion.Those making the cut appear to be the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 3GS, as well as the fourth-generation iPod and both versions of Apple TV.

However, it's possible that the forum list is incomplete or that Apple hasn't generated links for the devices. Clicking on the existing links provided yields only a message that the session has expired.

The new version of the software that powers iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Apple TV is expected to include an overhauled mapping application with 3D features similar to the ones Google demoed just days ago. Another rumor has it that Apple will add Siri, its popular voice assistant software that so far has been an iPhone 4S exclusive, for owners of Apple's latest tablet.

iOS 6 is also expected to feature Facebook integration that will give app makers an easier way to let users log in with their Facebook account, presumably without kicking them out to Facebook's app, which is how the behavior is currently treated.

Apple is expected to fully detail iOS 6 at its WWDC keynote, which kicks off on June 11 at 10 a.m. Pacific. CNET will be there to bring you all the news, as it happens. The pre-game show starts at 8 a.m. PT.

Tune in Monday anytime after 8 a.m. PT for our Apple WWDC keynote live blog.