alt Hacker NewsThe key difference here is iOS becomes a complete brick once the device no longer is supported in the store. We had a gen 1 and 2 iPad and both were just used for Kindle and web surfing but once they pulled safari and apple store they were paperweights.
You need to be on the most recent available minor update.
If the App Store still doesn't work, you can always jailbreak and install apps on your own