Apple Announces iPod Touch Software Update

[MattInOz]

The thing that is stupid here is:

Buy an iTouch say 2 months ago for $399 and you don't get the apps, now pay an extra $20

Buy the exact same iTouch now for $399 and get the apps included! No $20 extra!

Go figure! Must be Apples way of thanking all the early adopters!--)))

Now compare with:

Buy an Apple TV say 6 months ago and upgrade it's software to Apple TV 2, no charge!

Hmmmm makes a lot of sense to me! Yeah right!

Oh well live and learn. Never will I be an early adopter--)))))))

Well also...
Say you brought an iMac 2 months before an iLife update (say 06 that introduced Garageband? or was that 07) You might not have gotten an extra application that was added to iLife that someone who brought an iMac after the update would have got. To get you need to buy the New iLife.

Would expect a free upgrade then?

 

[winterspan]

How do you know they're giving it away to new purchasers? As I see it, you can continue to get free downloads for the touch (inc 1.1.3), but if you want to add these apps that were never mentioned before for the touch you can buy them for $20. I really can't understand what people are moaning about: It's $20 for God's sake, not $2000 and it gives you functionality that was never even hinted at through official channels.

IT was mentioned in the keynote, and is also mentioned on apple.com store.

 

[toxicbomber]

There's one other annoyance with the upgrade that no one's mentioned, I think. Does anyone actually want all 5 apps? App-bundling is inane, especially if not all the apps work everywhere. (I can only use Google Maps at wifi hotspots, for example.)

Btw: Ever get the feeling that Steve Jobs is reading this and writing down our ip addresses and Mac serial codes (or whatever)?

Hey, I jailbroke numerous times and frankly, after this update. I see no use in jailbreaking ever again. When february rolls around, someone is going to make an iChat for the iPhone but ONE HECK of a lot more beautiful and elegant than the crappy jailbroken apps now. Also the 5 apps are amazing.... and also to honest, I'm gonna tell you something that DID make me a bit mad. The apps are already on 1.1.3.... ugh.. Just a simple boolean switch probably to activate them.

 

[celebi23]

All of you who are DEFENDING Apple's decision to charge $20 for this, realize this. These 5 apps are INCLUDED in the 1.1.3 firmware. The thing that you buy from iTunes? A 20KB file. All it does it it modifies the plist file (in Springboard) to ENABLE the apps to appear on the home screen thing. How is a 20KB file worth $20??

 

[parrotheadmjb]

This is an empirical hypothesis, and I think it is false. It'll take a larger sample size to know for sure, but many people i know who bought the iPhone and iPodTouch didn't buy them "for the features that were present." They, or I should say "we", were buying these products for the potential. And again, Jobs fueled out expectations. The iPod Touch and iPhone are not like regular pieces of hardware; here the future was more open than ever before. I do worry that the post-SDK 3rd party apps will require this $20 pack...but hopefully it'll just require the free 1.1.3 update.

i agree with this... and i B*tch slap apple for trying to make $20 off me in a completely selfish move that costs them nothing. i will continue to you keep my jailbroken firmware, theres no way they can convince me to upgrade to this, lose ALL of the apps and settings I have on it, AND pay $20 for something I already have with less features. NO, I hate you

 

[wizard]

Ugh.. I hope they don't justify this with that accounting BS again. Honestly... someone will pirate this and it'll be on bittorrent before next week. Alternatively, JailBreak the touch.

This isn't really something you can blame on Apple. If the accounting was set up right in the beginning to allow for feature additions then they are obligated under federal law to charge for the new features. I don't like it and frankly many a leader of publicly traded companies don't like it neither. But; and it is a BIG BUTT, it is the law.

If you're as annoyed as I am about this... register your discontent with this obnoxious practice here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipodtouch.html

You are absolutely right to be appalled by the need to account for and charge for the feature additions, but Apple is the wrong place to raise the issue. Go to capitol hill and get into the face of a congressman or two.


Dave

 

[y4h0oo]

Yeah, I'm totally with you on this! I bought a minivan just before the new models came out and the new ones offer a tire-pressure sensor. Those greedy cheapskates at Chrysler expect me to buy an after market kit for my van when everyone that buys that same van now gets it for free!

No more mister nice-guy here... I'm not gonna tell a sole how much I love my van. Like you, I certainly will refrain from now on.

Yeah right, great comparison... not! I've already made my point and others have also explained there grief's. To bad if you can't understand why I, and a lot of others here are pissed off at Apple for charging for this.

BTW: This doesn't mean I'm opposed to paying for software. Heck, since I moved to Mac I've been buying much more software even though I could easily pirate it.

 

[jonathanjong]

Well also...
Say you brought an iMac 2 months before an iLife update (say 06 that introduced Garageband? or was that 07) You might not have gotten an extra application that was added to iLife that someone who brought an iMac after the update would have got. To get you need to buy the New iLife.

Would expect a free upgrade then?

Ah, no. But we're arguing that the iPod Touch case is different. Rightly or wrongly, we believed that more goodness was on the way...for free. No, Apple never promised free apps. But I'd argue that they encouraged to think that the future added goodness would be free...or not a $20 bundle. If they waited for the SDK, then posted Mail.app and Notes.app, etc. individually on the Downloads page, there would be less controversy (I think). But they're pitching this was an "upgrade", not "more commercial apps."

So, my annoyance is not merely that Apple is charging to added functionality. Good lord, no. It's the way they've done it. They've sold iPod Touches with all that blank Springboard space, tantalizing us with more goodness to come. They hang the SDK release before our noses...and ask us if we want to pay $20 for apps already on the iPhone and already available via jailbreaking (while effectively pretending they've never heard of jailbreaking before). Now, for most people, there is no benefit of upgrading over jailbreaking and/or waiting for what the SDK release will bring. None whatsover. But people will pay the $20. Why? Because people are dumb like that. Social psychology 101. We feel securer that these apps are from Cupertino, that they have the seal of approval from Jobs.

Edit: I stand corrected by toxicbomber. The Apple apps might be prettier than the jailbroken ones. Maybe.
Edit 2: I had no idea the $20 upgrade was for a switch. LOL. You gotta give it to these guys. Brilliant stuff.

 

[Taramac77]

Scam!!!

This is such bullsh*t! Not only do we pay $300 for the touch but now we have to pay $20 for some applications that should have been included in the first place!

I have a question, does this new mail app actually include VPN software like it does on the iPhone? If not, I definitely will not pay to upgrade and get more apps that I can't use at work because of our VPN network.

What are the odds that after enough complaints, Apple will decide to make this a free upgrade?

Very unfair move by Apple. I mean, it's bad enough we have to pay over $100 every time we want to upgrade the mac os on our computers.

 

[jonathanjong]

I'd pay $20 for WPA2 Enterprise, though. Heck, I'd pay more. I'm not sure there are too many mobile devices out there that have WPA2 Enterprise capability. But that's another story.

 

[swallman]

I registered on Mac Forums just to post a reply to this. I'm not a Mac user or an IPod Touch owner (although our daughter does have an 80 GB IPod).

I've just been following this news and I see this as a huge slippery slope. If Apple is able to get away with this, you can see this continuing with other software.

Those free updates to all of the IPods out there could potentially stop.

I've got a Sony PSP that has had many, many updates to the software/firmware on the device, providing new functionality, etc. and never had to pay a dime.

Just a bad idea on Apple's part.

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

should feel OK about paying a mere $20 to get Mail?
Do you know what the profit margin is on an iPod? I don't think it would hurt Apple to add these apps, which should have been on the Touch in the first place, without fleecing customers who've already paid a big sum which has comfortably lined Apple's pockets....
Apple made a ton of money from these products, now they're trying to take down customers for an app like Mail that they've always given away free in OS X. For a corporation sitting on $15bn of cash, at least some of it generated by the pricey iPod Touch, it's very poor indeed.

I seriously fail to understand why you want the mere Mail then if its so unworthy.

Do you know how much R&D costs. Just coz a 299$ iPT cost apple less than 150 to produce doesnt mean there was no R&D expense. BTW I dont think it'll hurt Apple if they donated a couple of billion dollars to some charity. So should they?

Since apple is giving Mail free on OS X they should also give it away free on every other platform they sell? And that's your logic? So apple should also bundle QT Pro with OS X. That thing costs nothing to apple. Let's all complain apple bout it and get it for free. After that let's get FCP for free.

Who are you and me to decide what should apple charge for their products. that job is for apple execs. You can decide if you want to buy or not. Thats it.

I still agree with the fact that it'd be better if it was free. But paying 20$ is not overkill. And once again I must remind no one is forced to buy thsese apps.

So please grow up. Ask your wife if the ipod stopped working? Or did it reduce any functions since the keynote announcements. if there is no new problem then stop whining and enjoy your ipod/mac. Simple.

 

[jonathanjong]

I registered on Mac Forums just to post a reply to this. I'm not a Mac user or an IPod Touch owner (although our daughter does have an 80 GB IPod).

I've just been following this news and I see this as a huge slippery slope. If Apple is able to get away with this, you can see this continuing with other software.

Those free updates to all of the IPods out there could potentially stop.

I've got a Sony PSP that has had many, many updates to the software/firmware on the device, providing new functionality, etc. and never had to pay a dime.

Just a bad idea on Apple's part.

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. We shouldn't let Apple get away with this.

 

[ALoLA]

I don't disagree that someone would consider buying a device for its capabilities, including its ability to gain enhanced functionality in the future. However, buyers have to understand that what they're buying is what the device offers at the time of purchase. Just as with the Mac analogy, you buy the Mac for what it comes with. It has the ability to increase its functionality by adding programs. Apple does not provide users with free installations of Final Cut Pro, but if you want the added functionality, you can choose to purchase it.

If I were an iPod touch owner, I would pay the $20 for the added functionality. It would have been nice if Apple offered the new functionality for free (presuming that they are even allowed to do so), but they are under no obligation to do so. Under what pretense do users expect Apple to continue offering new functionality at no cost? I have been an Apple user for many years. At no point did I expect them to upgrade my old hardware to the next revision for free, nor did I expect them to provide the next major release of system or application software for free. It would have been very nice and generous of them to do so, but I would not hold it against them if they did not. They have provided free updates to existing functionality, and I am thankful for that. Am I also thankful that I have Apple as an option for my hardware and software needs. Perhaps those who feel otherwise should consider what things might be like without them.

 

[Taramac77]

Jailbreaking...

Hey, I agree that there are some stupid people out there, but I also think that people just don't want to risk ***** up their $300 new toy. I would love to jailbreak my touch, but I haven't found any good, reliable instructions on how to do it. So now, I will just hold out, hoping that this update might be offered for free in the near future. Like I said before, I really was only interested in getting the mail app for the VPN, I don't think those other apps are worth $20.

 

[dfoster1992]

There's one other annoyance with the upgrade that no one's mentioned, I think. Does anyone actually want all 5 apps? App-bundling is inane, especially if not all the apps work everywhere. (I can only use Google Maps at wifi hotspots, for example.)

Btw: Ever get the feeling that Steve Jobs is reading this and writing down our ip addresses and Mac serial codes (or whatever)?

I Concur!!!

I could care less about stocks, weather, or notes. I just need mail and maps.

I think it sucks that early adopters have to pay but im getting one in a few months so it should have all of the apps installed but they should have released them all separately at 1.99. if they HAD to make people pay.

 

[jonathanjong]

ALoLA: You're not an iPod Touch owner? Anyway, I think our (my, anyway) frustrations are a little more complex than just not wanting to pay 20 bucks for added functionality. But these frustrations, which I believe are shared by others, are described in earlier posts.

Taramac77: Jailbreaking is easy. And the instructions I followed from jailbreakme.com were intuitive and reliable. In a nutshell:

You need: Apple's 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 .ipsw files, available for free online; the 1.1.2 jailbreak .jar file, available for free online.

First, restore your 1.1.2 iPod to 1.1.1. Then, go to jailbreakme.com and let it do its magic. Then, install Oktoprep in the Tweaks folder in Installer. Then Update (not Restore) to 1.1.2. Then run the .jar file. Then, enjoy magical jailbroken experience.

PS: Wow, lots of people joined today to rant. *muahahah*

 

[stoutboy1]

There's one other annoyance with the upgrade that no one's mentioned, I think. Does anyone actually want all 5 apps? App-bundling is inane, especially if not all the apps work everywhere. (I can only use Google Maps at wifi hotspots, for example.)

Btw: Ever get the feeling that Steve Jobs is reading this and writing down our ip addresses and Mac serial codes (or whatever)?

and you dont need wifi to use email stocks or weather? seems like you 'd only be able to use notes.

 

[Taramac77]

Who are you and me to decide what should apple charge for their products. that job is for apple execs. You can decide if you want to buy or not. Thats it.

I still agree with the fact that it'd be better if it was free. But paying 20$ is not overkill. And once again I must remind no one is forced to buy thsese apps.

So please grow up. Ask your wife if the ipod stopped working? Or did it reduce any functions since the keynote announcements. if there is no new problem then stop whining and enjoy your ipod/mac. Simple.

The point, my friend, is that "you and me" are key to Apple's decision regarding what to charge for their products. If we all submit to handing over our money for every little upgrade without any complaints, then we will never have free upgrades again. If enough of us express that this is unacceptable, and do not purchase the upgrade, then those "Apple execs" may just have a change of heart.

Who are you to decide what we, the consumers say about their products?

 

[LoganT]

Well it sounds like we know what the price of the iPhone/iPod Touch applications are going to be.

$3.99

$3.99*5=20 dollarrs (about, the price of the ipod touch update)

 

[seelab]

Has anyone been able to buy the software in Canada ? I keep getting a 5002 error in itunes after accepting the terms and conditions. Can't go further
Apple don't want my money or what ?

 

[Taramac77]

Thanks

Hey Thanks jonathanjong,

I am definitely going to try this. I really need the VPN! I 'll let you know how it goes!

 

[y4h0oo]

Hey, I agree that there are some stupid people out there, but I also think that people just don't want to risk ***** up their $300 new toy. I would love to jailbreak my touch, but I haven't found any good, reliable instructions on how to do it. So now, I will just hold out, hoping that this update might be offered for free in the near future. Like I said before, I really was only interested in getting the mail app for the VPN, I don't think those other apps are worth $20.

I have a jailbroken 1.1.2 iPod Touch (I won't post a HOWTO link since it's probably not allowed on this forum but it's dead easy to do, google is there for you...) and if I go in "Settings > General > Network > VPN" I have access to all kinds of L2TP / PPTP, RSA SecurID, Proxy etc. settings
Don't you have these? If not I guess it's because I've added all the iPhone 1.1.2 apps.

Well, I guess I'm going to wait 'till there is a way to jailbrake 1.1.3 before upgrading.
Anyone want to take a bet on how long this is going to take? I say 4 days (that said, someone may have figured a way already, lol)

 

[jonathanjong]

stoutboy1: I think Mail's and Weather's sole reliance on wifi is OK, because I (and others?) normally check the weather before I leave the house, and I (perhaps this is mostly just me) also normally check my mail indoors. These apps on the iPod mean that I don't have to use my laptop or desktop. I can check the weather right after I switch off my iPod alarm. Maps, on the other hand, is something I'd like to use when I'm on the road...lost. Without wifi. So it's pretty useful for me, and (I suspect) for others as well.

Taramac77: Amen to that! Power to the consumers!

 

[8bitrevolution]

Maybe this is a dumb question but to anyone who's bought the upgrade..

Does your dock change to the one in all the pictures on Apple's website? I much prefer the iPod touch half dock with reflection. I don't know if anyone else was curious about this but I know, for awhile, a lot of iPhone users were wanting this type of dock.

I notice that in the update, they list the ability to watch rentals as one of the features. Anyone think not getting this update will keep you from buying third party apps?