Empowering a continent by creating better livelihoods through education.
The Wings to Fly scholarship program, an initiative of the Equity Group and Mastercard Foundation (MCF), was established to support secondary education for top performing children from financially challenged backgrounds. With support from other partners, the program offers access to leadership training to previously marginalized children in all counties.
The program offers comprehensive support for the scholars through provision of tuition fees, accommodation, books, uniform, shopping, pocket money and transport to and from school during their 4 years of secondary education. It has so far supported 60,009 bright but economically challenged scholars. MCF has so far committed to support 10,000 scholars through two phases of funding with the last intake joining the program in 2021.
In the context of software preservation, the "IPA" file serves as the primary unit of distribution. However, obtaining and utilizing these files on iOS 9.3.5 has become increasingly complex due to digital rights management (DRM), the sunset of 32-bit app support on the App Store, and code-signing requirements. This paper analyzes the viability of iOS 9.3.5 devices in the modern landscape through the lens of IPA management.
The iOS 9.3.5 IPA is more than a file extension; it is a historical document. It represents the final breath of 32-bit iOS, a security bulwark against state-level spyware, and a lifeline for vintage Apple hardware. As devices continue to evolve toward ever-thinner, ever-faster architectures, the ability to run iOS 9.3.5—and the specific IPAs designed for it—offers a tactile, digital time capsule. For those willing to navigate the complexities of sideloading and preservation, 9.3.5 remains a quiet, stable island in a sea of forced obsolescence.
Paradoxically, the exploits used to deploy Pegasus became the foundation for the "Phoenix" (or "phœnix") jailbreak. For legacy enthusiasts, these security flaws were a "blessing in disguise." The ability to execute arbitrary code allowed developers to create semi-untethered jailbreak tools for iOS 9.3.5. This enabled users to bypass Apple's signing restrictions, permitting the installation of unsigned or custom IPAs, effectively extending the lifespan of these devices beyond their official support window.
To install IPAs outside of the official App Store ecosystem (common for retro gaming emulators or legacy versions of apps like YouTube), users must rely on sideloading tools.
As of 2024, using iOS 9.3.5 devices presents significant software acquisition challenges. The App Store has largely purged applications that do not support 64-bit architectures or newer iOS SDKs.
The iOS 9.3.5 IPA is a nostalgic throwback for those who remember the iOS 9 series. It offers stability, some security, and compatibility for older devices. However, its outdated nature means users will have to contend with limitations in terms of app compatibility and missing out on newer features and security patches.
For historians and enthusiasts, preserving IPAs for iOS 9.3.5 is an act of digital archaeology. It involves archiving abandoned applications (Abandonware) and maintaining the toolchains necessary to sign and install them. The IPA file, in this context, is no longer just an installation package, but a vessel of digital history, representing a time when mobile OS architecture was undergoing a fundamental shift.
The Legacy Lifecycle: An Analysis of iOS 9.3.5 and the Persistence of IPA Architectures
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Martha completes primary school and passes her main exams with flying colors.
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Her parents can’t afford her high school tuition. She then applies for the Wings To Fly program.
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The Wings to Fly stepped in with a scholarship
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Martha does exceptionally well in her main secondary school exams with a vision in mind for her career.
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ELP steps in and Martha gets to study in an Ivy League university where she gets the best education.
