Owners of the upcoming iPad will have to pay for annual OS updates, according to a new Apple user agreement released online. Buyers of the tablet device expected to hit stores April 3 will get one free update, according to the Cupertino, Calif. company.
“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 software that originally shipped from Apple on your iPad, for free,” the company said.
The firm explained if an iPad shipped with iPad 3.x software, the electronics maker would provide OS updates up to and including the iPad 4.x OS.
“Such updates and releases may not necessarily include all of the new software features that Apple releases for newer iPad models,” Apple said.
The move aligns the iPad licensing with the iPad touch, which Apple has required owners to pay a small fee for iPhone OS updates.
[via Apple Insider]