Free apps For iPod touch, please!
Well, I guess this is not news anymore since this was announced at the MacWorld 2008 event, but anyway… it seems many iPod touch owners are not happy about the $20 charge for the five applications (mail, maps, weather, notes and stocks) and the customisable homescreen now made available . These softwares, excpet the customisable homescreen, shipped with the iPhone on launch but was omitted for the iPod touch for obvious reasons. Now that Apple finally decides to release them for the iPod touch, they’re asking for money for it!
I think what really annoyed iPod touch owners is the fact that the iPhone also got some new software updates (new homescreen, etc.)…but… for FREE. Yep, $0 – just connect your iPhone and your software will be updated. No need to click the ‘buy now’ button presented to iPod touch owners.
To be honest, I’m not all that bothered by this move because I got my iPod touch back in the days when it was first released without the softwares. Not to mention, I have all the mentioned apps now anyway since my iPod is jailbroken (I’m pretty happy with what I have). But yeah, it does seem silly that Apple is charging for these apps screwing all early adopters whom wish not to hack their iPods (I’d pay for the apps, though). Btw, all new iPod touches now come with the 5 softwares as standard.
So what are the unhappy early adopters doing about this? Well, they’re getting everyone to sign the ‘Free APP For iPod Touch‘ online petition. Because I have a relative who just bought an iPod touch on the 29 Dec 2007, and another friend whom bought one 3 days before the MacWorld event, I feel bummed for them therefore I signed the petition. As you can see from the screengrab below, I am no.10977 in the petition.
If you’re an iPod touch owner, new or old, hacked or not, it’ll be great if you all can sign the petition too. Apple’s practices as of late are really not acceptable, imho. No doubt, they may make great products and stuff but they’re becoming really, really arrogant and worst of all, greedy.
We may be Apple whores but that doesn’t mean Apple can mess with us!
Or can they… ?
6 comments
Some people are so petty. Better to spend your energy focusing on making money than getting all worked up over 20 bucks. Just pay it and be done with it. Sheesh.
This has been explained elsewhere, but if Apple wants to introduce major functionality changes to a device without charging for it, it either has to recognize revenue on the device on a subscription basis, or restate earnlngs on the device from past periods. After the furor over the back-dated options, Apple is being extra cautious about its bookkeeping. If anybody wants to blame -somebody- for the $20 charge, I’d say blame the SEC (for its stringent accounting regulations) and/or the Apple shareholders (who sued Apple for the back-dated options). But I’d have a harder time blaming Apple for wanting to be careful with the law. ^^;
Of course, I’m sure that some folks are upset about the $20 on the basis of their opinion that “the apps should’ve been included on the iPod Touch from day one.” If that was indeed their opinion, and they felt -that- strongly about it, they probably shouldn’t have bought the iPod Touch in the first place. ^^
People getting upset about the sudden $200 price drop on the iPhone, I can totally understand. But over $20? I think there’s something to be said about picking one’s battles. ^^;
Your friend who bought the one 3 days before the event can return it and get a new one with the apps. Your friend has two weeks from the date of purchase if they bought it from an Apple Store.
Also, if you bought an iPod Touch without those apps, then you bought it knowing you may never have those apps. Why should you expect to get them for free?
I paid the $20 and the apps work perfectly well and I never have to worry about waiting for a jailbreak to come out for a new firmware update, etc. The peace of mind and lack of worry is more than worth my $20.
People need to stop expecting Apple to give them everything for free. As it is now, we get more from Apple than most computer or electronic manufacturers would consider giving.
I personal didn’t like what was offered on the iPod touch, so I decided to wait until it was more to my liking. One doesn’t need to be a Mac fanboy to know that Apple will upgrade any device in roughly 6 months time.
Hate to sound like an @ss, but why did your friend buy so close to Macworld? ^^;
SHOULD BE FREE!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY!!!!
im agreeing with Angela it should be free!!!