Filed under: iPod Family, Internet Tools, iTunes, iPhone
Those iPod touch MIA features
If you've just updated your iPod touch to 1.1.3, you may have noticed that nearly every advertised 1.1.3 feature is missing in action.
Frustrated? Annoyed? Well, you may be after I tell you that you're probably going to have to fork over another $20 to get those features. You may have thought the $20 January upgrade only applied to the extra software (Mail, Maps, Weather, Stocks, Notes) but apparently no. It also seems to be needed to release your iPod touch's new 1.1.3 features.
Update: Readers are reporting that Apple may have pulled the update. The Purchase button has been replace for some users with a "Remind Me Later" button.
Thanks Justin Nolan
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
James said 4:43PM on 1-16-2008
All right all you "It's SOX!" and "It didn't come with the Touch to begin with" apologists. Web clips and icon arrangement are updates to safari and springboard, apps that came with it. How do you explain this one?
Reply
MATT! said 4:49PM on 1-16-2008
they never said they were going to update the iPod Touch for free. It all has to do with the accounting just like daring fireball said last year. This is like saying waaa my old iPod video doesn't have cover flow waaaa. At least they are giving you a chance to update.
required said 5:37PM on 1-16-2008
All of the firmware/feature upgrades for Sony's PSP over the years have been free including things such as:
Internet, LocationFree TV, TiVo-To-Go, RSS, Flash, Visualizers, 720x480 video, custom UI, so on and so forth.
Just saying.
willyu34 said 7:22PM on 1-16-2008
MATT! up there, how do you explain that current iPod touch owners need to pay $20 more to get the same feature as new iPod Touch owners who buys today?
Are they adding $20 more to the current iPod touch price? Not that I last checked...
So what's this? Another punishment for someone who buys Apple product earlier and relentless showing people how great it is?
BAH I say!
Matt said 12:04PM on 1-17-2008
what's this with apple making bigger and better iPods but charging the same price?! it's obviously them screwing over early adopters. No it isn't. New things come out, old things become obsolete. It's all about the accounting.
http://daringfireball.net/2008/01/keynote_roundup
Luigi193 said 4:43PM on 1-16-2008
I don't really understand whats happening...
Sorry for being dumb... but Im not entirely sure about what you mean...
Reply
TigerPants said 4:47PM on 1-16-2008
Updated the iPod to 1.1.3 first through iTunes, all was good and free.
Then paid $20 for the new apps.
No problems?
This article reads like you have to pay for the 1.1.3 update.
If that's true... Apple screwed up. Give 'em a call.
Reply
TigerPants said 4:49PM on 1-16-2008
... Also, yes, I was able to move icons and make webclips and do other basic stuff before the apps were purchased.
Ryan said 4:53PM on 1-16-2008
well looks like we have two articles contradicted by user experiences on the first page
James said 4:55PM on 1-16-2008
How dare you deflate my righteous anger.
That's good news. It made no sense that updates to existing apps would cost money.
Guille said 5:01PM on 1-16-2008
I updated to 1.1.3 but I haven't paid for the apps. I can't move the icons, create Web Clip icons, or display lyrics.
After updating to 1.1.3 all I have is the new Dashboard-like dock, and a "1.1.3" in the About screen.
Bryan said 7:07PM on 1-16-2008
"I updated to 1.1.3 but I haven't paid for the apps. I can't move the icons, create Web Clip icons, or display lyrics.
After updating to 1.1.3 all I have is the new Dashboard-like dock, and a "1.1.3" in the About screen."
Same for me.
NetworkShadow said 5:32PM on 1-16-2008
I'm told this is true. No webclips or moving icons until you pay $20! WTF?!
Reply
Chris R said 5:52PM on 1-16-2008
That does appear to be the case. 1.1.3 by itself gives you nothing (except, no more jailbreak..). The 'extra apps' purchase is needed for web clips, reorganising icons, etc.
Seems to me like the 1.1.3 firmware upgrade does absolutely nothing except give you an ugly dock.
Jeremy said 4:52PM on 1-16-2008
Yeah, this post is factually incorrect, from my experience.
Reply
Jacob B said 4:56PM on 1-16-2008
I had to buy the add on before I was able to move icons on the home screen etc.
Couldn't see any difference with the 1.1.3 update before buying the add on, apart from the fact the items I've added since jail breaking it have now vanished.
Reply
rob said 5:07PM on 1-16-2008
err, what's your problem, everything seems fine here after the upgrade and reluctant purchase
Reply
Guillermo said 4:59PM on 1-16-2008
Exactly, James. And lyrics display is an update to the iPod part of the touch, and you don't get that either.
I'm fine with paying for extra apps, but I don't remember ever paying for software updates. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect free software updates for a product, since almost every piece of electronics I own, from my phone to my Wii to my PDA, gets free software updates from time to time. This feels like asking me to buy iLife just so I can update to 10.5.2.
They can't give away updates because of SOX? Then why didn't Apple use a subscription model like with the iPhone and the Apple TV? I'd like someone more knowledgeable in accounting to explain some reasons for not doing it that way, because it seems as if they didn't just so they'd have an excuse to charge for updates.
At the very least a warning or disclaimer would have been nice: "This product is not entitled to software updates, ever."
Reply
Daniel Jimenez said 6:05PM on 1-16-2008
I really hope apple will revert this situation. The customizable home screen and the lyrics features are updates for the exisiting applications (safari and sprinboard) and they should be free.
The apps should be free too because iphone users get every day new apps and we don't. The apps are already coded, tested, launches, so the cost is near $0. I would understand someting like $0.99 per app.
Reply
Greg G said 5:03PM on 1-16-2008
Yeah, the reaction at Macworld says it all.
"Woo new apps! Wait, you want what? Money... for an UPDATE?... Maybe I should just hack it..."
Bad move on Apple's part.
Reply