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2.0 Software

So you used the link to get the IPSW from apple, or did ya bittorent the leak.

BTW people are having problems with the first leaked version, just an FYI.

Not to be a net nanny or anything, but since OS 2 costs cash, I would highly suggest you don't post that you have your ways unless one of those ways is an ADC Premier membership.

EDIT: I am attaching a link from ArsTechnica (where I am an et subscriptor, thank you) for those of you not in the know. A lot of people have been having problems with the leaked version.

Ars Technica linky.

 
If I had a iPod Touch, I would steal it. Seriously, making people pay for a software upgrade is stupid. I understand paying for regular software, like iPhone/touch apps, but NOT critical software updates. And yes, 2.0 is a critical update. Lots of new security features.

-digital ;)

 
I agree its absolutely absurd! every update to the iPhone is free while we have to pay for them all! I wouldn't be suprised if somebody sues apple over the idea. its like iPod users are inferior or something.

 
I believe it's to do with the way that they account for the revenue from the iPhone vs. the iPod touch. I'm not too sure about the details, but they can't add new features to existing products without charging and upgrade fee or else they'd be breaking some law or defrauding the shareholders or something. For the iPhone they account for the initial fee as being a "subscription" over two years, so they can provide free software updates within that period legally. Or something along those lines. I would guess that after two years, they would have to charge for updates to the iPhone too.

It's the same reason as they had to charge $1.99 for the utility that enabled 802.11n on the early MacBooks Pros.

Yes, it's stupid. But I don't think there's anything they can do about it. Maybe they should have adopted the same accounting model for the iPod touch as the iPhone. But, of course, there might have been a good reason why they didn't... I'm no business law expert, so I couldn't say.

 
Also, I don't think the security parts of the 2.0 firmware are very critical to people with iPod Touches, since those aren't on a cell network, and indeed, might not even be online most of the time.

And nobody sued Apple last time there was a big software update, and iPod Touch owners were charged for it.

 
I believe it's to do with the way that they account for the revenue from the iPhone vs. the iPod touch. I'm not too sure about the details, but they can't add new features to existing products without charging and upgrade fee or else they'd be breaking some law or defrauding the shareholders or something. For the iPhone they account for the initial fee as being a "subscription" over two years, so they can provide free software updates within that period legally. Or something along those lines. I would guess that after two years, they would have to charge for updates to the iPhone too.
It's the same reason as they had to charge $1.99 for the utility that enabled 802.11n on the early MacBooks Pros.

Yes, it's stupid. But I don't think there's anything they can do about it. Maybe they should have adopted the same accounting model for the iPod touch as the iPhone. But, of course, there might have been a good reason why they didn't... I'm no business law expert, so I couldn't say.
You actually believe that a company is forced by law to ask money for software updates?

I beg your pardon...

[xx(] ]'>

 
I agree its absolutely absurd! every update to the iPhone is free while we have to pay for them all! I wouldn't be surprised if somebody sues apple over the idea. its like iPod users are inferior or something.
That's the way i felt when I used my iPod touch. Now I have a iPhone. I feel better. :)

Btw, anyone want to buy an 8GB iPod touch? It's just sitting in it's box with everything but the little plastic stand and headphones.

 
I believe it's to do with the way that they account for the revenue from the iPhone vs. the iPod touch. I'm not too sure about the details, but they can't add new features to existing products without charging and upgrade fee or else they'd be breaking some law or defrauding the shareholders or something. For the iPhone they account for the initial fee as being a "subscription" over two years, so they can provide free software updates within that period legally. Or something along those lines. I would guess that after two years, they would have to charge for updates to the iPhone too.
It's the same reason as they had to charge $1.99 for the utility that enabled 802.11n on the early MacBooks Pros.

Yes, it's stupid. But I don't think there's anything they can do about it. Maybe they should have adopted the same accounting model for the iPod touch as the iPhone. But, of course, there might have been a good reason why they didn't... I'm no business law expert, so I couldn't say.
You actually believe that a company is forced by law to ask money for software updates?

I beg your pardon...

[xx(] ]'>
As far as I can tell, yes that is the case. But, again, I'm no business law expert! This is what I read:

http://www.macworld.com/article/131991/2008/02/ipodtouch.html

"It’s an accounting requirement that if you upgrade a device that’s not on a subscription, you have to charge," Needham and Company financial analyst Charles Wolf said. "Apple has a choice of what to charge, but they have to charge."
 
I'm really, really certain that in no single country on the whole planet it is by law that any company must take money for updating software of anything.

You can sell software. You can give away software. You can sell devices. You can give away software for devices. A computer is a device. Some software is on subscription basis. Some not. Some is free.

Companies are completely free to do with their software whatever they like.

Apple can charge 39.999,00 $ per IPod Touch update, or can send you the software free with a coupon for a free Mac Pro maxed out configuration.

It is Apple deciding, on their will if, - or not -, to charge for anything.

 
I doubt that there are laws that say you have to charge for updates.

BUT

Fortune is claiming that Apple has 70% of the MP3 player market share. The product is also closely linked to the iTunes Music Store. That means that Apple is in a unique market position, and Apple may be concerned that this will put them at risk of anti-trust prosecution.

I mean think about it: how would Linux and Mac users scream if Microsoft decided that the upgrade from XP to Vista would be free. It would be using their dominant market position to restrict access to competitors.

 
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