Apple to Charge for iPad OS Upgrades After One Freebie

according to "wired.com" Apple will charge for OS updates after OS 4.0

iPad owners will receive one major OS upgrade for free, but subsequent OS upgrades will cost a fee, according to documentation posted by Apple.

Apple on Monday began seeding the Golden Master version of its iPhone OS 3.2 software development kit to developers, which will be the version of the OS that ships on the iPad, according to MacRumors’ Arnold Kim. Apple also posted the iPad licensing agreement to its server. A clause in the agreement reveals that iPad customers will get a free download of the major OS following the one that shipped with the product, and after that, subsequent major OS upgrades will come at a cost:

Apple will provide you any iPad OS software updates that it may release from time to time, up to and including the next major iPad OS software release following the version of iPad OS software that originally shipped from Apple on your iPad, for free. For example, if your iPad originally shipped with iPad 3.x software, Apple would provide you with any iPad OS software updates it might release up to and including the iPad 4.x software release. Such updates and releases may not necessarily include all of the new software features that Apple releases for newer iPad models.

That implies that for first-generation iPad customers, iPhone OS 4.0 will be a free download, but versions that follow — 5.0, 6.0 and so on, will cost a fee.

The iPad’s upgrade policy would fall in the middle of the upgrade policies for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. iPod Touch owners had to pay a $10 fee when they upgraded to iPhone OS 2.0 and iPhone OS 3.0. iPhone customers, however, receive OS upgrades for free. Apple has cited legal accounting requirements when explaining the reasoning behind the iPod Touch’s policy.

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The major upgrade will be the one coming this fall. Besides that I am not opposed to paying 10.00 for a software upgrade. It is not much different than upgrading to Snow leopard for 29.00. With the cool new stuff in the fall upgrade I would have gladly paid for that one too.

4.0 will be the last free one.

I also have no problem paying a reasonable fee for major upgrades. Heck, i'd pay $10 for 4.0.....

This assuming all maintenance upgrades remain free. I have no problem paying for things I want and use.

I am fine with the upgrade fee so long as the improvements are commensurate with the amount.

Old news.

Personally I'm really surprised the first update is free. I had to pay for the first major update for my iPod Touch.

I am not opposed to dropping $10 for further upgrades beyond OS 4.0

We are iPad owners...that ten bucks represents a couple less apps a month and I'm covered. To think free upgrades were part or should be part of the deal seems a bit polyana.

Even software upgrades for desktops incur fees at some point.

The iPad is a sexy beast! Beauty has never in this life been cheap.

Originally Posted by Isaac Newton

I am not opposed to dropping $10 for further upgrades beyond OS 4.0

We are iPad owners...that ten bucks represents a couple less apps a month and I'm covered. To think free upgrades were part or should be part of the deal seems a bit polyana.

Even software upgrades for desktops incur fees at some point.

The iPad is a sexy beast! Beauty has never in this life been cheap.

I spend $20 a week on apps....for a new OS...come on thats nothing.

I agree it's cheaper than lunch at macdonalds lol.


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