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iPod touch Down with Apple's Touch "Upgrade" Fees

I just don't get it.

When you buy the product you're paying for what it comes with. At the time of the last update I thought to myself... are these applications that I really want? The answer was no so I didn't pay for them.

I still had the same product I'd paid for (and was happy to pay for) and didn't care in the slightest if it was 'inferior' (whatever that means) in comparison with what other people own.

We are not entitled to them giving us new features for free. Now there'd be a difference for upgrades that are just providing improvements on what you paid for (that is, music and video playback, internet functionality etc.)

New features, such as mail, are not what you paid for initially. Therefore you pay to have these features added. New buyers are buying the product in the knowledge it comes with that feature. Therefore they are entitled to that feature at whatever price Apple decides to set it at (be it $0 or $100).
 
While it is probable that the ability to use 3rd party apps will require the paid upgrade, has it been 100% confirmed?

Other than the apps, 2.0 will come with enterprise features, Exchange support and the App Store. But as noted in the keynote, apps can be downloaded from iTunes and synced to the touch. It is possible that 3rd party app support will be included in 2.0 lite and the App Store in the full 2.0.

On subject of the price, I will say that Apple could have went with the subscription-based accounting as they did with :apple:TV but they didn't. They might have been planning the YouTube integration or movie rentals for a while but couldn't deliver at launch and decided to make sure updates were free. As far as I heard, only it and the iPhone do and so no Macs or iPods have been made upgrade-proof and no one has yet to die from that (as far as I know).
 
ChrisBrightwell said:
Either build a case for this or ****. Please.

Presenting it as blind fact does not make it so.
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Make a case for it being so, then.

Accepting it blindly doesn't make it so.

But, here's my logic.

Microsoft completely revamped its Zune players for free.

Sony has consistently updated the PSP with new features, all for free.
 
I'm soon to be iPhone Developer, and seeing what they charge for the iPod Touch, I say... Who cares?

"Mister Law" here should know that he has to prove to us, beyond a reasonable doubt, that SOX does not mandate a charge. What he lacks is the evidence.

I'm wondering if he slept through that Evidence 101 class or didn't even take it...

Besides, who cares? It's a one time fee! It's not like I'm going to see that money.

On another lighter note...

When I get my apps written, tested, and working great, I'm going to pay that $99/year and give it to everyone for free! I'm a college student, I'm poor, but I don't care, I want to show people that writing an app for the iPhone is easy and fun!
 
LtRammstein said:
I'm soon to be iPhone Developer, and seeing what they charge for the iPod Touch, I say... Who cares?

"Mister Law" here should know that he has to prove to us, beyond a reasonable doubt, that SOX does not mandate a charge. What he lacks is the evidence.

I'm wondering if he slept through that Evidence 101 class or didn't even take it...

Besides, who cares? It's a one time fee! It's not like I'm going to see that money.

On another lighter note...

When I get my apps written, tested, and working great, I'm going to pay that $99/year and give it to everyone for free! I'm a college student, I'm poor, but I don't care, I want to show people that writing an app for the iPhone is easy and fun!
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I'm not "Mr. Law" but I am pointing out several exceptions to Apple's excuse.
 
Pointing out exceptions doesn't mean anything or prove to what you are arguing about.

Just because you don't want to pay for an update that will come in June doesn't mean that you rant on how Apple is screwing you over.

If you want a free update buy an iPhone, or pay the ONE TIME FEE and get all the cool stuff.

I bought my iPod Touch the day after it came out, and I gladly paid for the $20 Software Upgrade. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Will the firmware update be worth about the same (or more) in June? Absolutely!

Like a few people posted here earlier, if you don't want to pay for it, jail break it and leave it at that.

Also, the PSP and Zune are subscription services with their respected companies. The iPhone is subscription to AT&T and a few other carriers. The iPod Touch is subscription to Apple. When they update the iPhone with something, and iPod Touch users want it, they have to charge it since it's not under the same subscription service.
 
LtRammstein said:
Pointing out exceptions doesn't mean anything or prove to what you are arguing about.

Just because you don't want to pay for an update that will come in June doesn't mean that you rant on how Apple is screwing you over.

If you want a free update buy an iPhone, or pay the ONE TIME FEE and get all the cool stuff.

I bought my iPod Touch the day after it came out, and I gladly paid for the $20 Software Upgrade. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Will the firmware update be worth about the same (or more) in June? Absolutely!

Like a few people posted here earlier, if you don't want to pay for it, jail break it and leave it at that.

Also, the PSP and Zune are subscription services with their respected companies. The iPhone is subscription to AT&T and a few other carriers. The iPod Touch is subscription to Apple. When they update the iPhone with something, and iPod Touch users want it, they have to charge it since it's not under the same subscription service.
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Prove to me that the PSP and Zune are accounted for on 24 month periods.
 
aristobrat said:
So I've seen one professional quote (from that MacWorld article) that says Apple has to do it for accounting reasons and zero professional quotes that say what they're doing is just to be greedy.

On what are you basing your scapegoat comment? If you've read more than the links I've dug up, please share!!!!
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You are speaking logic. How dare you.
 
I don't have the time or energy to give you attention anymore.

Prove to us that what you speak is truth instead of sitting on the sidelines.
 
So, nobody knows yet how much it will be, I take it? I trust it will be inexpensive, based solely on the wording. Since it's optional, I suppose that means nobody will be forced to purchase, and will still be able to enjoy the iPod Touch, as it was when purchased? I guess I have nothing to be upset about here, and just need to wait a bit, and see whether I find the upgrade worth the cost.

I for one, am happy that a product I already purchased can possibly be improved in functionality for a nominal fee, and I won't have to purchase a new unit just to get the upgraded features. I can't imagine how many angry posters there would be if the only way to get the new features was to buy a new iPod Touch. ;)
 
Has Apple ever added features to an iPod in the past? If so, did consumers need to pay for it?

I thought the iPod touch was intially marketed as an iPod with touch features? It wasn't my understanding it was introduced as a PDA.

If this is the case then why do people expect their iPod to be made into a PDA for free?
 
FALSE

There is nothing in SOX requiring this. Don't believe me? I suggest you read the Act. NOTHING in it requires these fees. It is just greed, plain and simple. SOX only deals with reporting requirements, and nothing within SOX creates a requirement to charge for software updates. The fact that Apple is saying this is a lie and false advertising. What's worse is that their loyal consumer base believes them without understanding the actual SOX Act and law.
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http://www.aicpa.org/pubs/jofa/dec2007/software_revenue.htm

Apple has disclosed in quarterly filings that it recognizes revenue from its new iPhone as well as the iPod and Macintosh computers under software revenue recognition rules. Apple will record all revenue and related costs of sales from the iPhone on a straight-line basis over the two-year estimated life of this product. Historically, many hardware companies might have recognized revenue upfront, at the time of the sale, from a product similar to an iPhone. However, Apple intends to provide iPhone users with free software upgrades, necessitating the deferral of revenue under SOP 97-2.
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now you can ask why apple doesn't do this for the ipod touch, but I don't see how you can insist Apple is doing this just to spike iPod Touch users, and the accounting issue is just something they made up just to screw their customers.


arn
 
pondie84 said:
Has Apple ever added features to an iPod in the past? If so, did consumers need to pay for it?

I thought the iPod touch was intially marketed as an iPod with touch features? It wasn't my understanding it was introduced as a PDA.

If this is the case then why do people expect their iPod to be made into a PDA for free?
Click to expand...

you are right the older ipods never got any new features and actaully if you rember the 60 and 80 gig versions with the brigher backlight and the search song feature etc those were only available on those two ipods people who had the 30 gigs were left with the same featueres they had from day one.
 
Think we can just make one thread to wine and complain about this firmware charge stuff its geting ridiculus in these forums i see 2 other Threads about this
 
macfan881 said:
Think we can just make one thread to wine and complain about this firmware charge stuff its geting ridiculus in these forums i see 2 other Threads about this
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And, well, it's a big deal and disturbing trend in computing today. Look at the Xbox 360 and PS3. You don't get the full game anymore... you have to buy the downloadable content.
 
^That's true Jack, and annoying as hell. The thing is, both Microsoft and Apple know that people [n]will[/b] pay for these extras, so that's why they wont budge.
 
delude said:
^That's true Jack, and annoying as hell. The thing is, both Microsoft and Apple know that people [n]will[/b] pay for these extras, so that's why they wont budge.
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And I understand that. I'm simply hoping this won't be another $20 update, which, I don't think ti will be.

By Apple's logic the January Sooftware Upgrade was $4.00 an app, a price that will likely be common in the AppStore. Perhaps, by Apple's logic, this will be more of a "802.1x, Push Email etc" enabler like the 802.11n enabler was on the Mac and will price it around $2.00
 
Boy I can't wait for another good feature upgrade to hear users moan and groan about paying for that update. These threads always make for a good laugh.
 
-Dark Angel- said:
Boy I can't wait for another good feature upgrade to hear users moan and groan about paying for that update. These threads always make for a good laugh.
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Think different, bud. It's not necessarily a good thing to just follow along like sheep. ;)

Anyway, if this 2.0 firmware is really fantastic - if there tons of cool, free apps on iTunes, etc, then yeah - I can see myself paying for the upgrade. But I will make sure Apple loses far more money than they gain from that sale (through other means) ... Greedy pigs. :mad:
 
Will anyone buying an iPod Touch between now and June get the upgrade for free? Otherwise Apple have shot themselves in the foot a bit by announcing the date of release, "give us $300 now and then another $25 in 3 months. Thanks"
 
IJ Reilly said:
Buy it or don't. Either way, deal with it. Please.
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I second that.

I bought a 5th generation iPod a couple of months before the Classic came out. I'd love the new interface with Cover Flow etc., but it'll never happen, and if it did, Apple would HAVE TO charge me for it.

If you have an iPod Touch, just be grateful that Apple are making this fantastic upgrade available to you at all, but no one's forcing you to buy it.
 
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