WRONG. Punishing early adopters would be if Apple started adding these apps to NEW Touches, and NOT offering an upgrade to existing Touch owners at all.

What happens when you buy a computer with Windows XP and then Vista comes out and you want the computer to have that instead? You have to pay to upgrade it, that's what. Even if its the same hardware... costing the SAME price (or less).

Yes, it'd be very cool if manufacturers just doled out free software/feature updates for everyone in perpetuity... but that's not realistic. Apple simply doesn't treat the Touch as a product that gets free feature upgrades. You can get the latest firmware, you just won't get the new APPS. Pay close attention to how this works. In about one month, or so... you'll look at 5 high-calibre apps for $20 as a nice deal. Apple DOES treat the iPhone and Apple TV as products that will receive free updates and features. WHY? Because they structured their accounting that way, and specifically because they represent two NEW fields for Apple (cellphone/video) that Apple wants to remain competitive in. Those 5 apps have NOTHING to do with being competitive in the PMP/Mp3 market. They're already KING BANANA their, and NO ONE else offers features that these 5 apps do on your mp3 player. NO ONE. --So, $20. Big whoop. Does it make iPod Touch a PDA now? Yes, basically. They've now changed the product from an PMP to a PDA... and you get to stay current by paying $20. If only all manufacturer upgrades were that easy to jump on-board with.