As everyone knows, Apple is providing 1st generation iPhone users with a free update to the new firmware that finally enables sanctioned access to 3rd party applications (via the Apple app store), among other things. However, Apple is asking owners of the iPod Touch to shell out $10 for the same update.

This seems outrageous to me — as I understand it, Apple blames Sarbanes-Oxley accounting requirements rather than simple greed for the fee. That’s bunk, of course. Other hardware manufacturers routinely offer firmware updates at no charge.

Apparently, at least a few Touch owners have taken matters into their own hands — the Touch firmware update has escaped into the wild.