Filed under: iPod Family, Software Update
iPod touch software update available soon
Apple is close to releasing its $9.99 iPhone 2.0 Software Update for iPod touch (sheesh) to bring it up to speed with the iPhone and App Store. As we mentioned yesterday, the update will also include Mail, Stocks, Maps, Weather and Notes.
The update is linked from Apple's website since about 4:30 this morning (ET), but clicking the link just opens iTunes with an error saying iTunes could not complete your request, and that the iTunes Store is temporarily unavailable. The errors are possibly related to the fact that the iTunes activation server is currently down.
In theory, you should be able to buy the update from Apple's website, or by clicking "Check for Update" in iTunes with your iPod touch connected to your computer.
Apple is charging for the update because of an accounting requirement: since the revenue generated from the iPod isn't considered a subscription (like an iPhone, with its two-year contract), Apple must charge a fee. The amount of the fee, however, is entirely up to Apple.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Viper007Bond said 10:21AM on 7-11-2008
Boy am I happy that I didn't waste money on the January update, not that I'm exactly happy now having to pay $10 to just be able to pay even more money for any premium apps I want.
Thanks Apple!
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Ian said 10:23AM on 7-11-2008
I'm still getting a 1.1.4 is the current version, intermixed with there is a software upgrade "contacting itunes store". still not working.
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XIV said 10:40AM on 7-11-2008
Same thing for me, but I'm patient and I know I'll soon enough have my applications.
@Viper007Bond : I was one od those who didn't want to buy the january update, but finaly bought it after the keynote in february. I don't really mind now having payed 20$ more, because I really used the notes, mail, google maps, and weather temperature since I have them. They were so usefull that it was worth it for me. I'm glad you waited tough, since it cost you less.
Viper007Bond said 6:59PM on 7-11-2008
@XIV: Yeah, I know. My iPod is jailbroken, so I got them via alternate methods. Mail rocks. :P
Gp said 10:28AM on 7-11-2008
Kind of a side-note. But I realized yesterday looking at my iPhone developer portal that they never released a final version of the SDK. It is still in Beta. And all the testing on the iPhone/iTouch OS was on a beta version.
So I guess we are all on Beta-level software.
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Anthony said 10:29AM on 7-11-2008
Isn't the Update $9.95 or 9.99?
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Jesus Franco said 10:29AM on 7-11-2008
I just clicked "check for update" it found 2.0 and installed it after a few message windows, and I wasn't asked to pay for it. Interesting, I guess Apple's severs are having major issues today. The update was downloaded, and is installed and now iTunes is installing the applications I downloaded yesterday.
I checked my iTunes purchase history to see if I accepted the fee without noticing and nope, it was definitely free, I wasn't even logged in when it downloaded it.
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Santiago said 11:37AM on 7-11-2008
Did you have the January Software Update? Maybe we are getting 2.0 from free. If not, luck you!
Santi said 11:36AM on 7-11-2008
Did you have the January Software Update? Maybe we are getting 2.0 from free. If not, luck you!
Cy said 10:33AM on 7-11-2008
Err, not exactly. iPhone revenue is spread across the life of the device (~2 years) because they're accounting for it primarily as a subscription, not because of the monthly fee and/or contract. It's the same reason that the AppleTV software update was free last year -- AppleTV and the iPhone are the two Apple products that use 'subscription accounting'.
More, if you're curious/bored/having trouble sleeping:
http://blackfriarsinc.com/blog/2007/04/apple-reinvents-consumer-electronics
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Hector said 10:38AM on 7-11-2008
Just got the "new software is available" from iTunes.
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Hector said 10:40AM on 7-11-2008
Nevermind, I did get the notification that the update was available for sale but when I clicked more info iTunes couldn't complete the request.
Soo close...
Jesus Franco said 10:42AM on 7-11-2008
Am I the only one that wasn't charged?
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darren said 10:52AM on 7-11-2008
Nope - free here too. But all the apps I've tried quit out on launch, including MonkeyBall.
Jesus Franco said 10:57AM on 7-11-2008
@ Darren, that doesn't happen here... that kinda sucks. Try "restoring" it
Bob said 10:51AM on 7-11-2008
i was going to download that too. how would you install it though? option-click update in iTunes?
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Just_a_guy said 10:59AM on 7-11-2008
here is what annoys me about their "subsciription" logic: they freaking allow you to run your iphone without a plan and still let you download the software for FREE
So that arguement proves that all apple cares about is screwing the ipod touch users.
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James C. said 11:22AM on 7-11-2008
it's not the monthly subscription that you pay that makes it subscription based accounting. It has to do with how apple realizes the earnings in their report. I believe it is similar to depreciation being calculated over time. It doesn't have to do with the fact that it is included in your monthly fee. It is more like instead of apple saying we make $300 today. They say we made $x per month for the next 2 years.
fracai said 12:31PM on 7-11-2008
All it proves is that Apple isn't basing their iPhone accounting on the phone contract. We already know that Apple is no longer getting a portion of the contract revenue. Apple is accounting for iPhone revenue on a subscription basis over the course of a year or two. In this manner they can provide new features without charging. They aren't accounting for iPod revenue on a subscription basis and under the Sarbanes-Oxley act they aren't allowed to provide new features that weren't advertised for the original product without charging.
This has nothing at all to do with the phone contract and only has to do with how sales are accounted.
It'd be nice if everything were accounted for on a subscription basis, but for whatever reason Apple has chosen to only do so for iPhones.
ps. Who is forcing you to upgrade? If you don't like the product or terms, don't accept them. Me? I got my iPod less than a month ago and I can't wait to upgrade.
SpinThis! said 11:53AM on 7-11-2008
To expand on what James C (above) mentioned, the Apple TV is also on the same accounting model as the iPhone... the monthly subscription of AT&T's service is irrelevant. A lot of people get AT&T's revenue sharing mixed up with Apple's own internal accounting model as well.