Reasons Not to Buy the new Apple Software Update

cellphonewrote an interesting post today on Here’s a quick excerpt I understand why Apple is charging for these apps. I actually no longer have a problem with that. I am a little confused, however, as to why Apple did not include some of the new iPhone

Personally I am kinda angry at Apple for making users pay money for a software update .. the reason I said “kinda angry” was because I’m not going to get all mad for a mistake that Apple is making. I’m planning on getting a iPod touch in the future, I do have a iPod Classic but I would prefer the touch functionality and the web experience on my iPod. Eventho the software update will be already on my new iPod .. I was willing to Jail Break it and I probably still am for the IM and other fun apps :).

I realize that you come from the world of PC gamers who would rather lose a testicle than pay for software, but the Touch update is only $20.00! Does it really hurt a gamers cred that much to pay 20 bucks for 5 apps? And keep in mind that Apple has to pay licensing fees for each copy of some of the apps (the “GPS” app for examle). iPhone owners don’t pay because Apple gets a cut of the monthly bill. The Touch is a small computer-with CPU, memory, display, and OS. The OS will continuously be improved, just like OSX and that costs money. Try re-programming your brain to the concept that giving is better than receiving, that giving money for goods received is showing appreciation, a thank-you, in this case, to Apple’s hard-working engineers. I know it goes against every nerve fiber in your broke-*** body, but at least think about it. -zato

We’re talking about twenty bucks, gamers. Just one of your “MACSUX” T-shirts cost more than that!

David Gaffenwrote an interesting post today on Here’s a quick excerpt If I am not mistaken, mail, Google maps and stocks were already included on the iPhone. If they had been developed then, why do we have to pay for them now a whole 6 months later? And why were

I think its annoying that people have to pay $20 for that update but its probably worth it. I guess we are seeing that the iTouch is a new type of device and a new distribution model for software. If people are willing to pay more for this stuff its very compelling for developers and Apple. But I can understand why they would not want to be nickeled and dime’d.

Reasons Not to Buy the new Apple Software Update(Chris Pirillo )

Five good reasons

Jesus, it’s $20 bucks for “crying out loud”.

I’ll bet you waist more than that each week in toilet paper alone.

You people never cease to amaze me.

I bought the upgrade, but I totally agree with you. The main annoyance I have is that none of the apps (save Notes) is any use without a wifi connection.

Part of the reason I bought the apps is because I really wanted Notes, and I also wanted to avoid jailbreaking my Touch at this stage - at least until the SDK is out and there are a huge range of apps available.

What makes me nervous though is the amount Apple might try to charge for third party apps. What if they can only be sold via iTunes, and what if Apple wants a comission, forcing developers to sell even really basic apps for at least $10 or $15 a pop? $20 for a suite of apps is acceptable (or it would have been if they were newer, better apps) but having to buy multiple applications for individual, high charges is not.

Anyway if it gets expensive I’m jailbreaking. I’m still prepared to pay for good third party apps, I’m just not prepared to pay for overpriced apps via iTunes if Apple decides to screw developers.

I’m still amazed that Apple didn’t try to buy that Physics app I saw on Youtube, like they did Coverflow. It’s just the kind of thing that would really intrigue potential Touch/iPhone buyers as a demo in stores. And it would have made that $20 seem greatly less sour.

I agree with this post. I was not happy to see Apple charge for the new apps. on the ipod touch. I will not be buying them and I hope they rethink charging for future ones. Of course they will.

I would not buy them if i had a touch. I mean they should give it for free. Like tip #3 said there are free option for your Touch online. if i had a touch, i would say my touch broke (on apple part) and get a new one. Its an idea isnt it?

~~~~Google

Personally, I’ve never gotten on the “ipod bandwagon”. I’m quite content with my 2GB Sandisk Sansa e250. It does all I need it for, plus more. Yeah, so it isn’t as fancy as the ipod, but it still does mp3’s, video, voice recording, photo slideshows, and has a built in FM reciever. All of this I recieved for about $80 bucks ( plus when I bought it at radio shack, they had a special in store offer: a free FM transmitter, so that I can transmit my music over the radio at home, or in the car). Not bad, not bad at all.

I’m in Australia. There is no iPhone here yet, so for us the iPod Touch is at the top of the food chain of ultra-cool gadgets. I purchased the upgrade without hesitation just a few hours after it went up on the Apple Store - with no regrets at all. The new applications especially Mail, Notes and even Maps have transformed the device from being just a cool music/video player into something that is very useful on a regular basis. My desktop and especially laptop usage has actually dropped since installing this upgrade! It’s definitely worth the small fee.

Apple making people buy an update i think is rather, how the french say, “stupid”. bad enough iPhone and iPod Touch cost alot but making anyone pay for an update makes me glad i don’t own either objects. just how much more money does Apple need to suck out from our wallets?

the price of being cool i guess.

I wanted to point out that if you purchased your iTouch a mere four days prior to the announcement, then you were still in your 14 day period where you could have returned the iTouch for a refund and purchased a new one with the new applications.

If you remember when Apple released the wireless N enabler for their computers that had the proper hardware, just not the firmware, they charged 1.99 due to Sarbanes-Oxley. This 20.00 charge could be part of the same predicament. I am not a businessman or a MBA, but if anyone wants to weigh in on the possibility, I would like to hear it. Did Apple charge their customers because they had to?

It should be free like the iphones update. I dont think i would buy it, thats if I had it.

well i think you should get it because it has extra features and new applications, but if you bought a 499-599 phone you can spare 20 bucks

When do you think we should go ahead and buy the update.

I stuck with the iPhone just for that reason… it’s gotta be some sort of licensing issue - who knows?

I haven’t bought an ipod touch, however; I do think that $20 is a bit much for such a seemingly small upgrade in features. I think they would get a much bigger response from the cost being around $5. Imagine if they were to release a total of 5 packages for $20 each thats about a 40% increase in cost when you could just buy a new ipod touch at a later date or get an iphone with free upgrades and spend less in the long run. I guess thats just me. I’m a bit frugal that way.

I also think that apple made a bad choice for i pod touch users. They should have had a free update , they have enough money as already. Good blog ; }

I can definetly see why Apple is charging for the new iPod Touch apps. They came straight from the iPhone. That means they are easily worth over $50. I did end up just paying the $20 for these apps, and I think that they are a nice addition to the iPod Touch. They are a great thing for iPod Touch owners, but just alittle bit of a stab in the back to the iPhone owners. I bet they are really mad that we get them for only $20.

I knew this was a way to make money right off the start. Very smart apple.. I did however really want the “Mail” and “Weather” apps the most, so I had to get this. I do feel $20 is a bit pricey. I think $5 sounds more reasonable really. I bet they just wanted to get this out before the SDK in February. However that is even more to look forward to. My recommendation is only buy this if you really like these apps and will use them, not just to show off to your friends.

I would never buy this… This stuff is great on the iphone, but not on the ipod touch

Chris, my sister has an iphone, and she was getting mad why she had to pay. This really sums it up, telling her not to pay if she doesn’t want to. In what you said, most of the new software was already installed on it so whats the need for it. Thanks

I currently have an ipod touch, bought it 3 hours after it was announced, and I feel really screwed over with this deal. The only thing that makes it mabey ok is that its easy to hack it and get them for free.

Apple has gotten more and more smug when it comes to this kind of stuff over the years. Why should I have to pay for something that should come standard? Why does Apple think that since their stuff is so good, they have to charge you for everything. Apple needs to quit this kind of behavior, as it is quickly changing my opinions about the company. Peace of mind is not something that we should have to pay for.

I thought that this was the worst thing apple has done i am pretty sure many people will take the jailbreak option

i totally agree this is totally rediculous that you have to pay for these updates. im not getting them.

Hi,

I am from Canada. I recently bought (end of Jan) a 16GB Touch at an Apple store. They gave me a $20 credit to compensate for the software upgrade. I don’t think they freely advertise this. If you are getting a Touch from an Apple store, make sure you ask if they will adjust the price by $20 to compensate for the software upgrade.

Personally speaking, I am outraged that Apple is charging early buyers of the iPod Touch $20 for a system update that ought to be free.

While I understand Apple’s decision to charge money for the new applications the new $20 “application pack” also includes a SYSTEM UPDATE in the form of the home page editing, web clips, and lyrics features. All of these are updates to the currently existing iPod Touch software and NOT new applications, which means that they ought to be free to all users of the iPod Touch.

Adding insult to injury these applications are all hidden in the 1.1.3 system update, a whopping 104.4mb file that all users must download if they want to fix bugs in the system. These applications can only be used when you pay Apple $20 to “unlock” them, but even if you decide not to buy them they stay on your iPod taking up precious space that could be used for songs, videos, or photos.

Apple is normally wonderful when it comes to providing system support and updates, but having them shaft early adopters and loyal fans like this is offensive and shows that Apple has absolutely no regard for the iPod Touch community.

You can leave Apple direct feedback here:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipodtouch.html

You can also sign this petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/freeappi/petition.html

management (potentially the name of apps distributed via iTunes) A more complete Bluetooth manager iChat accessible only via WiFi Now, that would be one helluva update. More in the thread. Related Content: How to Flash iPhone Firmware I Hate IE6!Reasons Not to Buy the new Apple Software UpdateOK… So I LIKE My iPhone The iPod does a Paris Hilton *** Video