Now that Macworld has had a chance to sink in, it has become evident that users are definitely unhappy about a number of things, and the $20 iPod Touch apps just seem to add insult to injury for many Apple customers. As expected, people have come up with a way to put pressure on Apple in the form of an online petition.
The folks over at onlinepetition.com have put up a simple page calling on Apple to free the new iPod Touch apps from their $20 shackles. We aren’t quite sure what effect this will have, even if a large number of people sign the petition it is unlikely that Apple will change their plans at this point. Apple does have a long history of expecting users to pay for significant upgrades to previously released products, so this may be just one more in a long line of for-pay product upgrades.
So what do you think? Is this petition going to change anything? Is Apple going to release these applications to previous iPod Touch owners for free?
To see the petition and sign it, click here
20 responses so far ↓
1 Zorro // Jan 17, 2008 at 11:18 am
Did the paid update include VPN support, or was that the free one?
2 Don // Jan 17, 2008 at 11:20 am
$20 is really not that much, but then again, $20 in my pocket is better than $20 in Apple’s pocket!
If it was $50 or more I would complain, but since I don’t own an iPod Touch, but hope to soon, that is easy for me to say, I guess?
3 Heff // Jan 17, 2008 at 11:43 am
The petition is a bit misguided. Apple has no choice in the matter. It’s a federal accounting law that forces them to charge for the new features. (Sarbannes Oxley, remember?!)
4 Kevin // Jan 17, 2008 at 11:58 am
Nothing to do with “expecting users to pay for significant upgrades to previously released products” — everything to do with US accounting rules.
When you bought your iPod touch, Apple recognized as revenue the amount you paid. If they were to add “significant” functionality for no additional cost after the sale, US accounting regulations say that Apple should not have recognized your payment as revenue until the additional functionality was delivered. If Apple delivered the update for free, they would have to restate their financial earnings. Instead, they treat the update as its own sale, and therefore its own revenue event.
iPhone revenue is not recognized in full upon sale, but instead is recognized in equal increments over the 2-year contract period. Under this form of “subscription” or “accrual” accounting, major feature updates can be offered at any time during the 2-year period with no impact on revenue recognition.
As to whether or not its “fair” that current iPod touches have more features at the same price point than when you bought yours… well, that’s technology! The fact that you can catch up in functionality with a simple software update rather than buying anew should be considered a benefit!
5 Alan Trewin // Jan 17, 2008 at 12:04 pm
People shell out $400 for an iPod Touch then complain that Apple charges $19.99 for new features - this is ridiculous! Who else will give you this package of apps for such a low price? We all want Apple to prosper, but at the same time, we want freebies. Grow up!
6 steve // Jan 17, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Hey i don’t even have an iTouch
I would agree that the accounting explanation is plausible given their history of charging for other updates, but it may also be that Apple wants (And probably deserves in many cases) additional revenue for significant upgrades. Both may be true.
7 Mark // Jan 17, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Hmmm, I must get back in touch with Audi and get the free DSG gearbox and 265bhp engine that I didn’t have when I purchased the car originally.
8 Russ // Jan 17, 2008 at 4:59 pm
That is why I will not buy any product until it has absolutely everything that I want already included. Non of this ‘future’ availability. No thanks - Apple this is lame. Accounting requirement is a pile of crap. If you can make the backdated stock fiasco work for the ’shirts and suits’ you can spring for the ‘rest of the story’ on the Pods.
9 Joe // Jan 17, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Its all about greed. Apple greed.
10 Rot'n Apple // Jan 17, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Or greedy consumers! Just depends upon which side of the cash register you are standing on.
11 John // Jan 17, 2008 at 10:11 pm
The whole accounting iPod Touch thing is BS. If that were true, why don’t they have to charge for the significant update they did to the Apple TV? When I bought my iPod TV, I couldn’t do near the things they are advertising it can do now, and that update is free.
Significant new feature of the iPod Touch?… it could always do those features just like the iPhone, Apple chose to disable and/or not include functions it could always do.
12 Jason // Jan 17, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Would you rather pay $299 for new iPod that has Google Maps, Mail, etc, on it? How about buying a new Mac because the new one has a newer OS, or just newer software?
Personally, I’d much rather buy new hardware than pay a significantly smaller fee to upgrade my current hardware.
Dork.
13 John is an Idiot // Jan 18, 2008 at 5:12 pm
John the reason you didn’t have to pay for updates to the AppleTV and iPhone is Apple is amortizing the reveniew from these products over several years, which allows them to update them with new features without violating Sarbannes Oxley. They haven’t done this with the iPod Touch (or any other Apple product) so all other updates that add features, to any other products they will have to charge. I suggest you complain to your government about the poorly formed laws then to Apple.
14 Elenoir // Jan 19, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Don’t believe the people trying to spin this issue as Apple obeying US accounting rules. That’s bull. If Apple wanted to give us Touch owners the update for free (which they should) but were bound by law to charge for it, they could simply charge .99. The $20. ripoff is all about greed and discrimination. Sign the petition and then boycott Apple products and itunes. Amazon’s better anyway.
15 phillip // Jan 19, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I don’t think it’s right to be charged for this upgrade. Don’t forget to let apple know how you feel.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipodtouch.html
16 Sum Jung Gai // Jan 21, 2008 at 11:43 pm
You guys are stupid. No offense intended. But look at Russ’s comments: he won’t buy anything until it has all the features he wants. Well, if it has all the features you want, Russ, this is a non-issue for y ou: don’t buy the upgrade!! And the rest of you, complaining about GAAP rules, don’t spout off about accounting rules unless you understand them.
Have a nice day.
17 Lawrence Guzzetta // Jan 22, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Seriously guys? Did Sony even offer you an upgrade on that TV after you bought it? What about Nokia on that phone? I agree that $20 is a little steep but how does this backlash not confirm the saying “No good deed goes unpunished.?” Come on Steve, get time just make them buy the latest model to get the latest features. Apparently that’s the only way they’re going to be happy about it.
18 georgep // Jan 22, 2008 at 6:33 pm
A total ripoff. The apps should have been included in the iTouch from the beginning, as they were with the iPhone.
19 Jim // Jan 24, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Show me one internet petition that ever accomplished anything…
20 Clay // Jan 27, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Jim, you said it. I’ve never heard of one single Internet petition that has ever done any good.
Secondly, the online petition has the worst grammar conceivable; the English is atrocious and makes little sense. If that weren’t enough, I also won’t sign anything with Spanish on it.
Leave a Comment