Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

Part of the benefit of buying a product with upgradeable firmware is the ability to obtain new features as time goes on.  Many of the people who are upset with Apple are complaining because they have submitted suggestions to Apple using Apple’s “Feedback” page with the desire that Apple add these new features to existing iPods.  To suggest that these are childish reactions is to insult these individuals.  They feel betrayed by Apple after having spent anywhere from $300 to $500 for their iPods, offered suggestions to Apple for improvements to those iPods, and were left out when the suggestions were implemented.  Hopefully Apple will not turn its back on the very people who helped make the iPod such an overwhelming sales success.

Posted by WindozeBloze on May 4, 2003 at 6:26 AM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

Weren’t you guys happy when you bought the iPod? Did you expect a “on-the-go playlisting” feature to be added? If you weren’t happy with it, you should have returned it; and if you expected this feature, then you should have bought a Nomad or similar. Now that there’s a new product which does have this feature, you all get whiny because you don’t get it unless you ante up and buy a new iPod. Well, you aren’t entitled to anything other than what you took home from the store the day you bought it. Get real.

Posted by Rob in USA on May 4, 2003 at 2:33 AM (CDT)

Recording feature discovered in new iPods

OMG!!!!!

Posted by yagme on May 4, 2003 at 1:39 AM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

Seeing that we’re now stereotyping people angry with this fcked up iPod fiasco… it’s probably safe to say anyone who sides with Apple on this one probably “hates niggers” too.

-Adam Carrington, Age 8

Posted by Adam Carrington on May 4, 2003 at 12:01 AM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

Whether or not you think they’ve innovated Palm has consistently delivered OS updates for its older devices until the hardware simply got too different (which took quite a while). Eventually they started charging. Of course it costs money to develop these features, and Apple could reasonably charge us for new firmware updates. The thing is that our iPods aren’t obsolete. There’s no reason why both current and new users can’t share the benefits of new feature development efforts. People will still buy the new iPods: people who’ve never owned one, or people who are willing to pay for more space, the docking station, or a slimmer unit. Those are all great reasons. Withheld firmware components is not a good reason, and makes for a lot of bad blood.

Also, I’m getting pretty sick of the bad analogies people are coming up with here (and in a parallel discussion on my site) : cellphones, laptops, PDAs, etc..

Cellphones? Most people get them for free (or at least heavily subsidized) with a service plan. Most aren’t designed for straightforward software updates. The iPod is.

Laptops? We update software all the time on these. New OS? New features! Sometimes they’re free, sometimes they cost a lot of money, but you often don’t have to replace the hardware to benefit from new software.

PDA? I’m a Palm user, and I’ve installed new Palm OS software on many occasions, as well as lots of third party stuff. OS updates used to be free, then they started charging. How much? About $40, I think ;)

Posted by Songdog on May 3, 2003 at 10:05 PM (CDT)

A Word of Warning Regarding the New Artwork Feature in iTunes 4

That’s strange Tom. On my iBook the file size of the MP3 returned to the original size (before the artwork was added). I guess it works for some, but not others.

Posted by Cozzie on May 3, 2003 at 9:02 PM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

These are childish reactions, it appears, to those who simply want everything for free. To some extent, you should get reliable software upgrades, but to expect brand new features on old products is inane. Do you get upset that someone releases a new video card with new features, and expect the same functionality to automatically be available to your older generation card? That’s sort of ridiculous don’t you think? How would a company ever progress supporting older models to that degree?

I have (turning into past-tense) an “older” iPod but simply didn’t feel at all cheated when new units came out. I’m buying the new one for the extra space, and what appears to be a better interface—truly the top two items that are of any importance to an mp3 player, and reasonable choices for an upgrade, in my opinion.

Don’t like it? Sell it. Never satisfied? Use a CD player. Use a competitor. Vote with your dollars. If you don’t like Apple’s, ahem, “greedy” policy, then don’t use it. What, for $40, can you upgrade your cellphone, laptop, PDA to a newer model? I mean, come on, listen to yourselves! What’s the average age of the complainers? 8 years old? No, really?

Posted by reason on May 3, 2003 at 8:42 PM (CDT)

Give Apple iPod Feedback

I think macMike has a point. But I cannot help but get pissed. I purchased my 2G Ipod 10GB less than one month ago for 400 USD. Now, I check apple.com and they are telling me that If I had waited one month, for 100 USD less (300USD) I could have gotten a 10GB Ipod 3G !! You can imagine the look on my face. Oh well I say, but this was a big surprise and I am disapointed in Apples marketing strategies, but it is life. Although let me tell you guys one thing, I will not buy another audio player from apple until this one literally dies !! I will use it and make every penny I spent on it worthed. Would be nice of apple to give us 1G and 2G users something, some sort of software compensation for there dirty little tricks. Hey, I guess I expected Apple to think a little more about customers. But I guess not. I was going to purchase a new 12” powerbook G4 this summer, but I think I will use my Ibook till it dies also, then I will think about it.

GOOD JOB APPLE !! YOU ARE DIGGING YOUR OWN GRAVE !!

PS: have been a PC user all my life, This is making me think, did I do the right thing????

Posted by huesage in behind you on May 3, 2003 at 7:58 PM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

Apple has always been “greedy” and “screwed” over it’s customer base?  Please.

New features cost money develop, and it should only be expected that Apple wants to charge for them.  This was the case for the Jaguar upgrade, and it is the case for the new slew of iPods. 

Computing technology has *always* had a very quick adoption / obsoletion curve.  This is not unique to Apple, and I am thankful that they’re actually cranking out useful features in their new products (contrast to, say Palm, which hasn’t innovated all that much in 6 years).

Posted by Stu in Toronto ON on May 3, 2003 at 7:00 PM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

apple has always been greedy, and screwed its customer base over repeatedly. apple harware and software comes out months later and costs twice as much.

online petitions arent a bad idea, but most companies prefer to look at sales figures instead of petitions.

boycoting he online music store is a good idea, but i think that will happen anyways. why would anyone pay for music, esp the drm crap they are trying to sell?

as for apple deleting user posts, that is very slimy. when a company interferes with someones right to free speech they need to be taught a lesson. the RIAA had their site tooled a few times, and i think apple needs a taste of this medicine as well.

ppl should open their eyes. ever since a few thousand 1st gen apple pc’s went into a landfil site, the company showed their true colors. they would rather throw their stuff int eh garbage than give their users a good deal.

Posted by justice in www on May 3, 2003 at 6:40 PM (CDT)

A Word of Warning Regarding the New Artwork Feature in iTunes 4

Yeah, I did that Cozzie.  But even after deleting the artwork, the larger file size remained.  I tested this several times, and even rebooted my iBook after deleting the artwork.  The file size (MP3) remained the larger size that it grew to after I had added the artwork.

Tom

Posted by tntracy in Atlanta, GA on May 3, 2003 at 6:22 PM (CDT)

Hope for iPod Software 2.0 features on older iPods

It might suggest that the firmware contains routines intended for the earlier hardware. The fact that those diagnostics are in there could mean that they intend to build the firmware for our current iPods as well. It could also mean that they were just lazy and didn’t take out the old diagnostics. You all know what I’m hoping for, though.

Posted by Songdog on May 3, 2003 at 5:28 PM (CDT)

Hope for iPod Software 2.0 features on older iPods

how is this hope
where does it tell you that there is a 2.0 update coming soon???

Posted by Phill in Texas on May 3, 2003 at 5:23 PM (CDT)

A Word of Warning Regarding the New Artwork Feature in iTunes 4

Actually, if you get info (Apple-I) on the track, then go to the artwork pane (far right on the top), then click delete with the artwork selected, it should fully delete the artwork without need for re-ripping the track. This works both with AAC and MP3.

Posted by Cozzie on May 3, 2003 at 5:20 PM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

wes, that was Screaming Baboon’s chatlog, not mine. Credit where credit is due.

Posted by Songdog on May 3, 2003 at 5:19 PM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

Simply-SCREW APPLE-I NOW REALLY REGRET EVER BUYING MY IPOD!!!

Posted by Screw Apple on May 3, 2003 at 5:08 PM (CDT)

Hope for iPod Software 2.0 features on older iPods

As I’ve said befour Apple will msot likly release the firmware in a couple of months after the whole buzz of the enw models is over and they have ripped enough cash out of peoples pockets

Posted by Fusen in UK on May 3, 2003 at 4:58 PM (CDT)

Wired: Music Biz Buzzing Over ITunes

Drat.  Yet another thing I can’t use on a windows box!

;-)

Posted by What's your frequency, Kenneth? on May 3, 2003 at 4:53 PM (CDT)

Give Apple iPod Feedback

Why can’t you people just accept the fact that a new model has new features?  Yes, it is too bad that you just bought yours a month ago.  I’m sorry.  Boo hoo.
If it had been any other consumer electronics product that came out a month after buying yours would you be crying to them about not being able to upgrade yours to current features?  Do you really think that Sony or JVC or Panasonic or anyone else would really care if you were upset that your DVD player you just bought couldn’t be upgraded?  I think not.
If everyone that had an earlier generation of iPod could upgrade theirs then there would be no reason to purchase a new one, other than the physical and size aspects.  Apple knows this.  Thats why there are new software features as well.
I have a 1st generation 10 gig and have no plans to upgrade anytime soon (mostly because of the lack of accessories for the new models).
Grow up, please.

Posted by macMike on May 3, 2003 at 3:01 PM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

Maybe we should “accidentally” select from the current models when posting the form too, since it’ll be less likely to be ignored.  They’re probably more interested in feedback on the new models than on the old ones.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html

Posted by dee on May 3, 2003 at 2:57 PM (CDT)

Importing Contacts & Information into iPod

how do i import contacts into my ipod

Posted by Joel Angulo on May 3, 2003 at 2:53 PM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

More power to you, Jamie.  I was toying with the idea myself, but don’t have the time.  Make sure you post an announcement to the site if you get anywhere.  It doesn’t have to be completed, you just have to start getting somewhere and then other people might join in.  TiVos have been hacked after all, but then again they’re linux-based which made it easier.

I’d be willing to pay up to $40 for the software upgrade.  After getting an iPod when my Nomad Jukebox broke, that was my #1 complaint.  But there’s no way in hell I’m buying another $400 iPod just to get it, and I’ve told them as much (but more politely.)

If you’ve sent them a message, send another one after a few days.  I doubt they’re keeping track and won’t even notice unless you submit multiple times in a row.

Posted by Gremnan on May 3, 2003 at 2:45 PM (CDT)

Extensive Photos of New iPod 15GB

it uses fat32 AND NTFS. It reformates its hardrive when you hook it up to yur computer. Peace

Posted by sux89 on May 3, 2003 at 2:32 PM (CDT)

Wired: Music Biz Buzzing Over ITunes

Give it time. iTunes will be the only subscription based music store to see greater revenue and boast more songs than anyone. This is only the beginning. It is good to be a mac user! Thank You Steve Jobs for your creative ways!

Posted by Armando Mendez in Southern California on May 3, 2003 at 1:22 PM (CDT)

Classic iPod owners' frustration with Apple makes headlines

Songdog, I have to say that if that guy is a salesman he needs to do some serious work on his english and spelling.  its nice to know that he thinks that apple shouldnt have to support stuff they ‘dont make no more’, and that ‘there’ only acting reasonable.  with sales people like that its no wonder apple is stuck with, what, 3% market share?

Posted by wes on May 3, 2003 at 12:39 PM (CDT)