When the iPod touch was released in September 2007, many people found the device to be unnecessarily crippled compared to its more mobile cousin, the iPhone. Applications such as Google maps, native mail, weather, notes, and stocks were all absent from the iPod Touch at it’s release, leading many to speculate that Apple was intentionally crippling the device to sell more iPhones. Clever users eventually found a way to jailbreak the iPod Touch just like the iPhone, and add these applications back into the device, but with each new firmware release Apple managed to undo all the hacks.
Enter Macworld 2008, and Apple has finally released the missing applications for the iPod Touch, but theres a catch: Apple wants $20 from current owners for these programs. New iPod Touch customers will get these applications free, and of course iPhones have had them since birth. So why the charge? Various explanations have been tossed around so far. An obvious comparison can be made to the 802.11n enabler released last year which Apple charged users $1.99 for. This charge for new functionality was explained as an accounting requirement, and repeatedly criticized by everyone from Apple haters to mainstream news.
Apple may also be using this as an opportunity to test out iTunes applications sales for the upcoming SDK release. Although they already do sell iPod games this way, this may be a way to test the waters to see how willing people are to pay for applications. With the release of the SDK, Apple will also be entering into a middleman situation in its sale of applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. It has been reported that developers will submit source code for their apps to Apple, who will then compile it and sign the code so the iPhone and iPod Touch will run the application. All in all this is a fair amount of complexity that probably will need to be tested out on a large scale before going public, exactly the sort of situation the new iTouch applications release provides.
There is no question that many iPod Touch users are miffed at Apple for charging $20 for applications that iPhone users have had since the beginning, so why the $20 figure and not $2.99? It could be that Apple spent significant time developing these applications for use specifically on the iPod touch and wants some compensation for their work. It could also be the case that users may see the $20 figure and assign more value to these applications, whereas a $1.99 figure may seem insulting, why charge at all if its only $1.99?
Apple will certainly feel some criticism over this decision, but application sales in general will certainly be a success on iTunes.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Steve // Jan 18, 2008 at 8:49 am
I agree. This is just a plain outrageous rip-off. The “new” iTouch will come with this software pre-installed. I would guess that quite a few people received the (now) “old” iTouch for Christmas. In essence, we (the “old” users) have already paid for this software via our original purchase (since the “new” iTouch costs the same as the “old”). Releasing this software right after Christmas and charging $20.00 is a big turn-off for me. Apple seems to not care that they appear to be raping their customer base.
2 Alyssa // Jan 18, 2008 at 3:11 pm
The whole idea of basically ripping us “old” users off just enrages me. They are pentalizing us for loving their product so much that we bought it close to release? My Bad if I should have waited and kept your sales low. And charging $20? Now that’s a load of garbage. Sorry if I don’t babysit 24/7. Let’s see, applications or songs? Free for the new users, yeah, that makes me mad. Apple, get ready for chaos.
3 Rick // Jan 21, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Even the cheapest software maker provides gratis upgrades for ’stale’ product bought off a retail shelf. There’s plenty of profit margin on the iTouch iPod to allow for such an upgrade.
Doggone glad I bought my Macbook from Amazon–got it cheaper from Apple to start with, no sales tax, and a $75 rebate.
Will be sure–IF I buy another Apple product–to be sure NOT to buy it from Apple. Make’em share the MSRP with a middleman.
4 Rob // Feb 2, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Actually, its not free for new iTouch customers. I have just recently bought my iTouch with the new January Software Release Pack and the price was $20 more expensive than the original iTouch. I’m not sure how you guys came to the conclusion that new customers get it “free” because the price for the new software is included in the purchase.
5 ben // Mar 13, 2008 at 7:55 pm
The reason I’m miffed is because I want to have apps that I can use when not around a wifi connection otherwise I should have just kept my old Ipod video! Web apps are cool, but let me have some games and stuff to use when not around wifi!! Charge for them if you wish but for petes sake make this unit worth the $$$. At least with my cell phone I can download and play games and not use airtime!!
6 vic // Apr 11, 2008 at 7:59 am
HEY PEEPS MY PROBLEM IS NOT THE MONEY OR ANY THING MY PROBLEM IS I AM IN AFRICA AND INTERNET CONNECTION IS NOT VERY FAST HERE SO I NEED THEM TO REDUCE THE SIZES OF THESE FILES THEY WANT US TO DOWN LOAD.. I WANT TO UPGRADE MY ITOUCH TO THE LATEST SOFT WARE I HAVE BEEN TRYIN FOR A WEEK I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DOWNLAOD IT COMPLETELY COZ THE SIZE IS 165 MB.. IF THEY CAN REDUCE THE SIZES TO LIKE 50 MB IT WILL BE BETTER AND ONCE THERE IS AN INTERUPTION THE DOWNLOADIN STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN SO PLZ APPLE DO SOME THING SO I CAN UPGRADE AND DOWN LOAD THE APPLICATIONS COZ I NEED EM…..
7 unknown 999595 // Apr 23, 2008 at 9:52 am
do any of you have any idea of how to get all the apps but not paying, can you jailbreak it and get them or is there another way??
8 ruben // May 19, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Well instead of paying for those apps… why dont u jail break ur ipod touch like i did and get those apps for free
9 gaby // Jun 25, 2008 at 11:27 pm
where can i download those apps.I would pay the $20. ive looked for them everywhere on the apple site. please help me or give me a link
10 steve // Jun 26, 2008 at 7:36 pm
gaby: it has to be done through itunes. So you have to connect your device to itunes and it should ask you if you want to buy the new apps.
When you do this you aren’t actually downloading anything, but the device unlocks the apps for you. The apps themselves are part of the firmware and were added in a firmware update around the time the new apps were “released”.
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