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Windows Firmware Update 1.3 Added

Posted by pudge on from the petition-vs-happy-to-see-me-pick-one-now-puny-human dept.

TechnoPope writes "Apple has finally released the 1.3 Updater for older Windows iPods. It claims UI improvements and longer battery life, but the much desired and asked for on the fly playlist feature is absent. It should also be noted that there is a web petition asking for new firmware for the older generations of iPods." It's a shame that older iPod owners have to live with the functionality that was advertised to them when they bought it.

5 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm by CptChipJew · · Score: 5, Informative

    I don't recall Apple ever advertising on-the-fly playlists as a feature for the old iPod. They didn't even talk about it until the new iPod came out.

    The on-the-fly playlists and new games are features that are part of the new iPod only, and I'm pretty sure they'll never be added to the old iPod. That's just how it is.

    --
    Vonal Declosion
    1. Re:Hmm by WCityMike · · Score: 2, Informative

      I don't recall Apple ever advertising on-the-fly playlists as a feature for the old iPod. They didn't even talk about it until the new iPod came out.

      The on-the-fly playlists and new games are features that are part of the new iPod only, and I'm pretty sure they'll never be added to the old iPod. That's just how it is.

      That was his point. He was being sarcastic.

      *whooooooooooooooooooooooosh*

  2. Reason... by Zifnab32 · · Score: 5, Informative
    The head of the iPod software group, I can't remember his name now though, gave a session at MacHack this year, and the subject of bringing the latest firmware enhancements to the older iPods was discussed.

    He basically said "no way."

    the reasons he gave for this were:
    1. Push new iPods - because Apple likes money.
    2. Reduce testing expenses - because every update needs to be tested on every version of the iPod, which would have added 5 models (including a silent rev of the original 5-gig) to the three they have to test now.
    3. Money from 2 better spent adding even more features to latest iPods.

    Oh, and the next iPod game is going to be Doom 3, with network games over BlueTooth.

    1. Re:Reason... by drsmithy · · Score: 2, Informative
      Reduce testing expenses - because every update needs to be tested on every version of the iPod, which would have added 5 models (including a silent rev of the original 5-gig) to the three they have to test now.

      Microsoft manage to test Windows and various other applications with thousands of pieces of hardware and hundreds of combinations thereof. I find it mind boggling anyone would suggest Apple are incapable of efficiently testing a miniscule number of hardware platforms with software of very limited functionality.

      Reasons 1 and 3 are logical, if somewhat discourteous. Reason 2 is either brown-nosing or incompetence.

  3. Re:Its a shame, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    There's a version of Linux for the iPod. Perhaps some of the people signing the petitions should see if they can write their own firmware using the system. Then they'll not be dependent on Apple for new functionality...