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Apple to charge for future iPad OS updates

But you'll get one freebie

Apple to charge for future iPad OS updates
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Alongside delivering the first official iPad OS SDK to developers, Apple has released some documentation including the end-use agreement.

While the bulk of the text is the usual legal mumbo jumbo - thou shalt not jailbreak, and all that - one choice quote that MacRumors found reveals Apple's plans for iPad operating system updates.

Here's what Apple says. "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."

Which is a convoluted way of saying that you'll get one major iPad upgrade for free, but you'll have to pay for any future ones. Seeing as launch day iPads will ship with version 3.2, you'll get everything up to 4.0 for free, and then you'll be forced to pay for 5.0.

At least iPad owners will be doing better than iPod touch users who have to pay for all their major OS updates, while iPhone customers get all their upgrades for free. Apple blames it on legal accounting requirements, but it's not yet known if the 3G version of the iPad will get similar treatment.

MacRumors
Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer