77% don't want to pay for iPod touch update
17 January 2008 9:54 GMT - Following Steve Jobs' announcement at Macworld2008 that the iPod touch would be getting five new applications - but at the cost of $20 to current owners - we asked the Pocket-lint readers if they thought folks should shell out for updates.
It seems Apple's new policy is not popular with our readership. When asked, "Do you think iPod owners should have to pay $20 for software updates?" a whopping 77% said no and just 23% said yes.
The five new applications for the iPod touch are Stocks, Mail, Notes, Maps and Weather. These applications included on the iPhone, and anyone buying a new iPod touch from now on will get them for free.
This had led to Apple again being criticised - again - for penalising early adopters for being quick to purchase new products. It also sets a worrying precedent for the future.
What's being called the "January Software Upgrade", suggesting others to follow in the year to come, to the annoyance of over three quarters of the Pocket-lint readers, costs UK customers £12.99.
One iPod touch owner is not taking Apple's new policy lying down and has created an online petition to protest the charges.
Stating that "I think that Apple is doing a really nasty thing charging for the apps. Why do iPhone users not have to pay anything but iPod touch users have to?" the e-petition has collected nearly 3000 signatures so far.
What do you think? Are you happy to pay for firmware improvements if they bring new features or do you think they should be free? Is Apple getting greedy? Have your say on our "Chat" forums...
Macworld2008: iPod touch gets new software
15 January 2008 17:40 GMT - Apple has announced that it will be adding five new applications to the iPod touch, including Stocks, Mail, Notes, Maps and Weather as found on the Apple iPhone.
However rather than offering it for free as is normally the case, the company has said it will be charging customers of the iPod touch $20, or £13 in the UK, to upgrade the software.
The news is likely to annoy customers, as the same software is available to Apple iPhone customers for free.
The move means however that Apple iPod touch users will be able to get Stocks, Mail, Notes, Maps and Weather information using the wireless connectivity of the device.
The software update will be available from today.
Macworld2008: iPhone firmware goes 1.1.3
15 January 2008 17:38 GMT - During his keynote speech at the Moscone Centre in San Francisco for the opening of Macworld2008, Steve Jobs revealed that four million iPhones have been sold to date.
This figure is particularly significant as the date of Steve Jobs' speech - the 15th January - is the 200th day since the iPhone has been on sale, meaning that 20,000 iPhones have been sold each day the device has been on sale.
Jobs revealed that in the first quarter of the iPhone being on sale, it achieved a market share of 19.5%, putting it in second place.
On the subject of the iPhone, Jobs moved on to talk about the new features that the latest iPhone update will bring.
The new functionality that firmware update 1.1.3 will offer iPhone owners will include improved mapping that can find a user's location, customisable homescreens and the ability to SMS multiple people at once.
Other improvements include more language support in video, lyrics support in audio and webclips.
The improvements to mapping come in via cellphone signal triangulating, as the iPhone obviously does not contain a GPS chip.
Jobs rounded up the iPhone section of his speech with the statement that this update is "available today as a free software update for every iPhone".
[Via - Pocket-Lint, Gadgets News and Reviews]