Apple offers $20 software upgrade for iPod touch
Apple on Tuesday announced a $20 software upgrade for its iPod touch digital media player that adds Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes applications to the touch-screen-based device.
The iPod touch software upgrade also includes new features such as Web Clips, a customizable home screen and beginning today, the ability to watch iTunes Movie Rentals. New iPod touch products shipping from the factory will include the software upgrade and existing iPod touch customers can get the software upgrade for $19.99 by purchasing and downloading it from iTunes, Apple said.
?These amazing new mobile applications make iPod touch not only the best iPod, but the best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world,? said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. ?With its revolutionary touch interface and software, plus its stunning 3.5 inch screen, iPod touch is evolving into the first mainstream Wi-Fi mobile platform of the 21st century.?
Mail on iPod touch is a rich HTML email client that fetches email in the background from most POP3 or IMAP mail services and displays photos and graphics along with the text of the email. Users can configure Mail for Google?s Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, .Mac Mail or most POP or IMAP based mail services with just a few clicks.
Maps on iPod touch features the ability to automatically find your current location using nearby Wi-Fi base stations, and use it as a starting or ending point for directions or to find local points of interest. Users can get real-time traffic conditions, and view maps in map or satellite view, or a hybrid view which combines map and satellite views so you can see major street names overlaid on satellite imagery.
Stocks and Weather allow users to access live stock and weather reports at their fingertips, and Notes lets you jot down information on-the-go using the intelligent keyboard.
In addition, the iPod touch home screen can now be customized, allowing users to reorder and add new icons, with support for up to nine different home screens which they can easily flick between. With the new Web Clips feature, you can even create custom icons on your home screen for your favorite websites. Web Clips are a great way to easily track web sites that you frequently check such as news, blogs, sports sites, movie listings and more.
With Apple?s new iTunes Movie Rentals, movie fans can rent movies on their computer, easily and quickly transfer them to their iPod touch, and watch them anywhere on iPod touch?s 3.5 inch screen. Users can also now navigate forward or backward through their movies by chapters, select alternate language tracks and view subtitles, if available.
Pricing & Availability
The software upgrade for iPod touch is available immediately. New iPod touch products shipping from the factory will include the software upgrade and existing iPod touch customers can get the software upgrade for $19.99 by purchasing and downloading it from iTunes. iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only.
The iPod touch software upgrade also includes new features such as Web Clips, a customizable home screen and beginning today, the ability to watch iTunes Movie Rentals. New iPod touch products shipping from the factory will include the software upgrade and existing iPod touch customers can get the software upgrade for $19.99 by purchasing and downloading it from iTunes, Apple said.
?These amazing new mobile applications make iPod touch not only the best iPod, but the best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world,? said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. ?With its revolutionary touch interface and software, plus its stunning 3.5 inch screen, iPod touch is evolving into the first mainstream Wi-Fi mobile platform of the 21st century.?
Mail on iPod touch is a rich HTML email client that fetches email in the background from most POP3 or IMAP mail services and displays photos and graphics along with the text of the email. Users can configure Mail for Google?s Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, .Mac Mail or most POP or IMAP based mail services with just a few clicks.
Maps on iPod touch features the ability to automatically find your current location using nearby Wi-Fi base stations, and use it as a starting or ending point for directions or to find local points of interest. Users can get real-time traffic conditions, and view maps in map or satellite view, or a hybrid view which combines map and satellite views so you can see major street names overlaid on satellite imagery.
Stocks and Weather allow users to access live stock and weather reports at their fingertips, and Notes lets you jot down information on-the-go using the intelligent keyboard.
In addition, the iPod touch home screen can now be customized, allowing users to reorder and add new icons, with support for up to nine different home screens which they can easily flick between. With the new Web Clips feature, you can even create custom icons on your home screen for your favorite websites. Web Clips are a great way to easily track web sites that you frequently check such as news, blogs, sports sites, movie listings and more.
With Apple?s new iTunes Movie Rentals, movie fans can rent movies on their computer, easily and quickly transfer them to their iPod touch, and watch them anywhere on iPod touch?s 3.5 inch screen. Users can also now navigate forward or backward through their movies by chapters, select alternate language tracks and view subtitles, if available.
Pricing & Availability
The software upgrade for iPod touch is available immediately. New iPod touch products shipping from the factory will include the software upgrade and existing iPod touch customers can get the software upgrade for $19.99 by purchasing and downloading it from iTunes. iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only.
Comments
$20 or £13 for software that should be free? Shove off Apple.
Indeed. Goes to show what Steve thinks of the iPod Touch owners. Sheesh.
The chutzpah!
If you think about it for a second, his margins on the hardware alone are astronomical - in the order of 51% I believe. Now is added mail, which should have been on the original software, iTunes movie rental - useless if you're not in the US and a couple of other pissass little apps that no one will use.
My touch is already broken - the headphone jack only plays one channel and getting it serviced is a nightmare.
That cheeky cunt wants $20 for THAT!
The chutzpah!
If you think about it for a second, his margins on the hardware alone are astronomical - in the order of 51% I believe. Now is added mail, which should have been on the original software, iTunes movie rental - useless if you're not in the US and a couple of other pissass little apps that no one will use.
My touch is already broken - the headphone jack only plays one channel and getting it serviced is a nightmare.
I'm assuming this has to do with those same SEC regulations that necessitated the charge for the Airport N upgrade on laptops a while ago. The iPhone revenue is reported differently, thus, they can give it away for free. The Touch is just another iPod, so I guess they can't.
Of course, they could charge $5 instead of $20.
I'm assuming this has to do with those same SEC regulations that necessitated the charge for the Airport N upgrade on laptops a while ago. The iPhone revenue is reported differently, thus, they can give it away for free. The Touch is just another iPod, so I guess they can't.
Of course, they could charge $5 instead of $20.
iPod Touch was already known to be getting software upgrades and later additional apps. Not to mention the fact that everything in this pack Apps-wise was already available through the Safari Browser. What could SEC have had to do with it?
[Possibly on the basis of some silly piece of stupidly ineffective legislation....]
However, I was certain that if they did do this, they would ALSO do something like add an additional new application that would attempt to convert the hackers back onto the core software. I really I can't believe they've done this without anything new....
I'd held off on hacking my iPod Touch until after the keynote. Now it's obvious there's no reason not to. No SDK details and now $20 for Apple to copy existing apps. I don't think so.
It's a pity. I probably would have actually used the movie rentals.
Just wanting to make sure I read that right. As I don't need the Mail/Notes/etc, but I'd like to have the ability to customize.
Hmm, since when can you play games on the iPod touch? Is that bejeweled I see?
It's a webclip of PopCap's Bejewelled WebApp
Okay, to get the customizable home page, I need to buy the update?
Just wanting to make sure I read that right. As I don't need the Mail/Notes/etc, but I'd like to have the ability to customize.
We're unclear. It seemed that way, but now some people and certain (Not all) Apple materials suggest otherwise.
Okay, to get the customizable home page, I need to buy the update?
Just wanting to make sure I read that right. As I don't need the Mail/Notes/etc, but I'd like to have the ability to customize.
MacWorld rocked! But this is not a nice update. Teorically 20$ is ok for this update, but it should be free anyway.
In defeding of Apple:
I sell iPod touchs and noone returned with problems it is a incredible product, so if you got one problem just go to an Apple Store... the productes is fantastic, this update is questionable i agree.
Hmm, since when can you play games on the iPod touch? Is that bejeweled I see?
Webclip.
Okay, to get the customizable home page, I need to buy the update?
No. 1.1.3 is free but the apps cost $20.
No. 1.1.3 is free but the apps cost $20.
I'm going to need to seem some proof, cos:
suggests otherwise
Toyota have never offered me an upgrade on my car, Panasonic have never offered me an upgrade on our Home Cinema equipment. Thank you Apple for offering us this upgrade without having to buy new hardware.
One question though.... how does a WiFi router/hotpspot know where it is in the world to work with Maps????
Yes, it would be nice for Apple to give away these applications for free, that doesn't mean they should have to. It's not like iPhone users got anything for free either.