It looks like iPad users will have to pay for major OS updates, similar to how iPod Touch users have to pay for them. Daily Tech took a look at the documentation that accompanied the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK and came to the following conclusion:
With the iPad, Apple is following a rather unique approach. It will be giving users one freebie — a single major OS upgrade. After that users will be on their own and will be forced to pay to upgrade the OS. Upgrades will likely be priced similar to those on the iPod Touch, at about $10.
Some potential iPad owners are outraged by this development, wondering why they should pay for OS updates. Others look at the precedent set by the iPod Touch and don’t care.
How do you feel about the matter? Should “major” OS updates be free? Or is $10 a pop acceptable?
The precedents that Apple has made with the iPhone and like products all seem outrageous to me.
Things that "free" phones can do the iPhone originally couldn't and people accepted that.
They put out an updated model every year and ask full price each time and people flock to it.
To be a smartphone doesn't it have to be able to run multiple apps? or it used to be that way.
Wow! I never understood why someone had to pay for updates, especially on ipod touch's. You're paying market price not a subsidized one with a contract needed like the iphone. So a consumer that's just hunkered down the minimum of $499 now will have to pay $10.00 every time Apple decides to update their OS, or $629 plus whatever At&t will charge for their 3g service and the $10.00. This seems more expensive to me now that a netbook or a laptop. I'm going to pass on this now.
You’re asking a bunch of American consumers if something should be free?
Why don’t you just ask them if they think brownies are delicious?
Mmmmm… brownies… with ice cream… (*drool*)
-M
@Iceman iPod Touch owners don’t seem to mind. They either by the updates or ignore them.
Ok, seriously, it would be a question of consistency for me. I mean, why does Apple not charge for OS updates for its desktops/laptops and iPhone, but it does for iPod Touch and iPad? At first I would think its a cost-of-hardware issue, but the iPhone is cheaper than the iPad, so that argument is out the window. The only logical reason I can think of as to why Apple does is has to do with the nuances of programming for specialized “watered-down” versions of its main OS require more resources and/or more frequent maintenance and thus the cost must be passed on to the consumer. Just my guess, but really, I’d like to know why.
-M
@Iceman Apple does charge for “major” updates for its personal computers.
I don't understand. I have a MacBook Pro that originally had OSX (version 10.2 I think) and over the course of a few years, I have upgraded (through regular software updates) to version 10.6.2. I've never once had to pay for those updates. When you say "major" updates, do you mean from like OS 9 to OSX? I've never done that before.
-M
@Iceman Hasn't the upgrade price for last two version been $29? That includes updates for all the software that comes with the OS.
Ok so I know I have asked for help in understanding some of the software that Apple (or mac) makes and what everything there is. I am back with more questions…mac OS X, tiger, leopard, snow leopard…they are all mostly just words to me. I know that the last three are in order of their release and which one is newest, etc. But I am confused as to how their operating systems are made and how they are titled, especially as far as updates and stuff like that.
I understand the progression of Windows' OS's, but Apple loses me with the complexity of their software names.
@bsukenyan I still prefer Google's method:
Alpha
Beta
Cupcake
Donut
Eclair
Froyo (Frozen Yogurt)
Gingerbread
https://rpad.tv/2010/02/09/can-you-guess-the-next-…
@rpad
cupcack? ha!
What happened to "D"? you figured they would've thrown in Donut somewhere in there.
I have always thought the software updates for iPod touch are completely legit. I pay for the iPhone every month so maybe I feel a little more entitled than my friend who bought his touch a few years ago. He gripes about the $10 but I pay more than that for text each month
@tokz_21 Fixed!
@rpad
Aw! Now my comment is going to make me look like i’m crazy!
hey, with blackest night serial ending today, how do you think brightest day is going to go?