iPod Touch Owners Protest $20 Upgrade
Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:04AM EST
See Comments (39)
The Macworld crowd cheered when Steve Jobs announced that the iPod Touch was getting a set of new apps: Mail, Maps, Weather, Notes, and Stocks. Then, the lead balloon: the upgrade will cost $20. Now there's an online petition calling for Apple to drop the charge, and thousands of Touch owners have signed on.
It's hard to argue with the guy. Back when the Wi-Fi-enabled iPod Touch was first released, I wondered why it came with the iPhone's Safari, YouTube, calendar, contacts, and clock widgets, but skimped on such essentials as mail, maps, weather, and other widgets included in the new update. After all, both the iPhone and the Touch run on the same basic platform, and the Touch has Wi-Fi, so why not? Now Apple seems to have (finally) come to the same conclusion, but charging early adopters $20 to get what they should have gotten in the first place—and what new Touch owners will get for free? Pretty weak.
Related:
Pod touch owners rally to get new apps for free [TUAW]
Comments on iPod Touch Owners Protest $20 Upgrade
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2 Posted by mtremblay_505 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse
Lesson as always, don't buy 1st gen products.
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3 Posted by momofhiagirl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:25PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm really glade I waited to get the Touch, I just new that they would be upgrading it with the new software. Like post number 2 stated "never buy 1st gen product" just like with the new mac air watch it'll have some of the things people want more USB ports and fire wire ect.
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4 Posted by rubenarthe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:55PM EDT Report Abuse
At least you can get the upgrade. In many many countries where there is not an iTunes Store, there is no way to buy and get the upgrade. I would pay for it if I could.
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5 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse
I am surprised that so FEW people have complained about this... Personally I would not even touch an iPod Touch until these new updates are on EVERY iPod Touch the stores are selling - I'm not going to spend an additional $20 to put on a SOFTWARE UPGRADE. Robbery...
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6 Posted by tonyfrg on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:16PM EDT Report Abuse
I downloaded the upgrade yesterday and I am tickled pink. I bought the Ipod as is and this is a cool upgrade that is easily worth the toll (for me). I just wish Apple would open up the platform so developers could write apps. What happended the the old Apple..that is how the Apple II (I am an old Geek) became so popular and enabled the Company to grow.
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7 Posted by eb3332001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse
The fact is that Apple has betrayed customers once more, and for some perhaps for the last time. They are in the process of trying to bring iPod Touch customers back to their palm and away from jailbreaks before they release the SDK in February and third party apps run rampant. However, by charging for apps that jailbroken iPods can get for free Apple is providing no incentive to return. Everyone in the iPod Touch community has been excited about the SDK release for some time, but with this blow from Apple, there is a chance that most users could continue to turn to Installer (through the jailbreak) for their applications and leave Apple out of the mix entirely. Smart move Jobs!
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8 Posted by bigshiggadigga@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:07PM EDT Report Abuse
The petition just broke 7,300 signers. If you sign the petition, don't forget to make your email address available to the Petition Author and keep the comments clean. Maybe, just maybe Apple will pay attention to consumers who WILL slow spending in the recession!! When a company pulls a gluttonous move on its customers, I usually will avoid them or refrain from repeat business with them... Are you listening Mr. Jobs?
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9 Posted by a.downs80 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:42PM EDT Report Abuse
Apple is listening and they are trying to stifle the calls of opposition. All critical remarks on their discussion forums are deleted and they leave up the posts trying to justify the fees. Very sly of them.
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10 Posted by grande_hustle on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse
Haha, i have never seen people so outraged about 20 dollars. All of you think that just because you bought the touch when it first came out, that you are "loyal customers." You had to have known , in this day and age when technology moves as quick as it does, that the model you bought would at one point or another become out-dated and you'd need to upgrade. Just jail break it. Whats the SDK?
1 Posted by matt_archbold2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse
More complaints from early adopters. They bought the product as is, and thats that. If apple wants to charge for an upgrade (or update), let them.