Apple to charge upgrade fee for iPads moving to iOS 4? (update: unlikely)
By Vlad Savov 
posted July 20th 2010 6:47AM
posted July 20th 2010 6:47AM
As if waiting around until fall to get iOS 4 weren't enough of a downer for iPad owners, the latest rumor we're hearing is that they'll have to pay a fee in order to do so. That's right, for the privilege of waiting patiently to get some semblance of multitasking on your slate device, you'll have to pony up the cash -- or so the story goes. Stuff has it on strong authority from app developers in the know that Apple will be asking for a (relatively small) tithe from those wishing to update their iPads when the leaves start turning amber. We'd advise keeping the pitchforks stowed for now -- at least until there's some solid corroboration for this -- but then it's not like Apple hasn't done this before.Update: Apple's iPad licensing docs have been known to carry a provision that the "next major iPad OS software release" will be free, although iOS 4 and the word "free" do not happen to coincide in the same sentence -- overall though, that renders this rumor rather less likely to materialize.
Nice. Apple really loves it's customers.
@JDGAFFLIN
This sounds so good, now I will get to give more money to jobs and through to engadget! I feel blessed
/s
Sent from my iPad
Ha ha! Take Steve's shaft fools!
@JDGAFFLIN
colour me pessimistic but i always get the feeling Apple start these 'bad guy' rumours just so they can quash them, then look how good we are to you guys?... although it's something you should have for nowt in the first place... i'm obviously getting old.. [sigh]
@JDGAFFLIN Umm, apple had already announced that it was free to move the ipad to ios 4.0... source: http://www.macrumors.com/2010/03/29/future-apples-ipad-os-upgrade-pricing-policies-revealed-as-apple-seeds-gm-ipad-sdk-firmware-and-licensing-agreement/
"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."
@JDGAFFLIN
I upranked you, even though you basically said, "Apple really loves it is customers."
@JDGAFFLIN
Apple just loves cash and lots of it !
@JDGAFFLIN
I don't care what Apple charges me or what product it is because I'll buy it no matter what. I don't consider myself a fanboy, I just love buying superior quality products like only Apple can make.
If Steve Jobs wanted to punch me repeatedly in the throat I would gladly pay him $29.99 for the PRIVILEDGE.
@MrJimlad
Oh yes that sounds so entirely believable! Personally I always have the feeling Steve Jobs is an android created by the US government to trick us into buying iDevices with built-in mind control, so they can recruit hordes of zombies with a single button-press, should the need for a zombie army arise... /s
Maybe you should cut down on all the FUD and hating you consume on teh interwebs, because apparantly it's making you pessimistic and paranoid.
@moon unit
Hmmm...
Engadget = owned
They need someway to pay for the bumpers, srry ipad people!
@JDGAFFLIN Getting sick of coming across useless rumors with no substance and no proof of cited sources for Apple news. Who cares until something is confirmed??? Seems ANY news about Apple whether its confirmed, a rumor, or something totally made up it's post worthy news bc it's Apple. At least make am effort to cite your hearings. "We heard from an inside source" just isn't gonna cut it.
@Kurian
This is the Wifi iPad i presume? 3G costs are built in, etc... like a phone
@sonicyoof Opps, my bad. :)
Sent from my Palm Pixi, hehe..
@JDGAFFLIN well, someone have to pay for the free bumpers...
@canarsieville
Lol. +1
@munakib
@moon unit Engadget don't care if the information is true, all they want is page hits.
@JDGAFFLIN
I'm pretty sure that this rumor isn't true given the fact that Apple said that they found a way to make the upgrades free for all iDevices during the iPhone 4 unveiling like a month ago.
@soooted Yep. And the apple bashers are always there to supply them. Works for them.
@vqro
lol, you ifans always crack me up. Nobody can give even the smallest criticism of Apple with out you all going on and on about how the site does nothing but bash Apple all the time. And when they print an update or correction and admit the information they got was wrong you use this as some sort of justification. If you don't like, feel free to leave. You might have a more fulfilling experience over at macrumors, or apple.com forums.
@JDGAFFLIN Yea they do. You replied too early. Typical Apple hating knee jerk response.
@JDGAFFLIN
LOL woooow, even if it drops free of charge, as it should, fact we even have to talk about it is disheartening.
For the sake of the consumer I hope it'd be free, but for the sake of laughs I hope they do charge.
@beesneazy
HAH kneejerked it. Didn't read every comment, more importantly the important one.
iPod touch updates are paid for? This ie true?
@MrJimlad - Why was this piece of cr_p BS "article" posted and why is it still up when it is absolutely FALSE! Shame on you engadget. Some toll must have started this but please take it down. Absurd. Show some journalistic integrity.
Apple strikes again!
And the iSheep will keep forking over their money.
@WenJam The only "iSheep" here are those who believe any negative rumors about Apple ;) Considering the iPod touch got IOS4 for free, I doubt they would do that for the iPad. Also, Apple specifically stated that each iDevice would get at least one free upgrade from the version that shipped with it (we went through this before during the great iPad Bash-It-Because-It-Has-No-USB-Port-And-We-Have-No-Imagination party early in the year).
@WenJam
You mean 'the iHaters will all immediately believe this unconfirmed and unverifiable rumor and start flaming on Engadget'. Like sheep, you could say.
@Darkroom You do realize there are 3rd gen iPod touches that benefit from the multi-tasking in iOS 4, right?
@WenJam
DERP I don't know what rumor means.
@Darkroom What miniboss said - you realize the iPod touches with similar hardware to the iPhone 3G didn't get multitasking (for the same technical reason, not enough RAM or CPU), and the iPod touches with similar hardware to the iPhone 3GS did. It had more to do with the hardware there to support it.
You just said it yourself that the older iPod touches were slow :) Imagine if they added multitasking as well.
@miniboss1232
If you have a 3rd gen iPod Touch is has 2nd gen hardware. I never liked how Apple his that from the consumers. Unless you do some research the average consumer would not know that. So a lot of the features are missing, wallpaper and task-switching. I have avoided the update to 4.0 since mine is a 8gig.
@8bit -- if you bought the low tier iPod Touch, you got 2nd gen stuff... No different than them selling the iPhone 3G 8GB when te 3GS was new... Or them selling the 8GB 3GS now... If you're going to spend that kind of money on a device, it's sad that you don't research it better yourself.
@Darkroom what kind of ipod do you have? i have the 3rd gen and mine can do everything the 3gs can do. cept for imovie. get ur facts right. its also VERY fast.
If this is true...
@Wawo Then those who would buy an iPad upon release this Friday would feel cheated. But I doubt that Apple could be so cruel as to charge someone to update their O only weeks after the product has been released.
Ha Ha!
Just after they made it for free on the iPod touch? Sounds fishy.
@Anthony La thats what I was thinking....but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised, I mean this IS Apple....
i guess they've got to recover the money for those iphone 4 bumpers from somewhere!
@bigshape What a sinister, albeit realistic, thought!
@bigshape Took the words RIGHT out of my mouth! I was thinking the SAME exact thing when I read this. :-)
Screw you Jobs!
@FreakNasty WTF??? Someone said "Screw you Jobs!" and he didn't get upranked? When did the Android fanboys leave engadget???
@vqro We didn't. If you'll notice, in the morning, all the Apple hate comments are downranked and the Apple fans are upranked. After everyone with a life gets on, it'll be reversed like usual.
"Stuff have it on strong authority from app developers in the know that Apple will be asking for a (relatively small) tithe from those wishing to update their iPads when the leaves start turning amber"
Bullshit. I'm a registered Developer and there has never been any mention of this whatsoever. There is, however, an upgrade policy that guarantees that the first major iOS upgrade will be free, and right now there really is no indication this will be changed.
@drange I dont think they would necessarily inform every dev way in advance. Some are more important that others. However, the last part you said there does seem to make sense if theres such a guarantee.
@Bahumbug
Well I do get notified about almost everything going on with iOS months in advance, so you'd expect I'd get notified about this too.
@drange Engadget looking like an amateur blog right now. They don't even do research before posting an article.