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View Full Version : Did Apple just rip me off?


ariastar
03-20-2007, 10:39 PM
I've been a total Microsoft-basher for a while now, singing the praises of Apple instead. And am hating both right now....

I set up a new iTunes account today because I forgot which of my many e-mail accounts I used for my last one. And besides, I wanted to use a new card I just got anyway. So I made a somewhat-sizable (for a single transaction anyway) purchase and went to put it on my iPod (if it matters, 60GB video). No can do.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/theyear2007/untitled.jpg


Okay, so it's in the ToS, but one would think that there'd be some way to find out which song came from which account later.

So I call Apple about this. Twice.

The first time I called, I asked how I could figure out which songs currently on my iPod go to which account, and the guy said, "I don't know," in a way that I could tell he didn't care. I told him that this is Apple, he should know, and he told me I should know which songs go to which account. He said I should just check with the friends whose accounts they came from. I explained to him that two of the people I no longer have contact with, and he said it's not his problem. So I asked his name and he said, "My name is-" and then a click.

So I called back and spoke to a guy again, sounded like the same one, but I couldn't tell. After going over the whole thing again, I was told I can either delete all the content on my iPod (4,440 songs currently, plus several subscriptions) or buy a new iPod. This person also wouldn't give me a name.

If the iPod can tell how many accounts there are, there must be a way for the consumer to identify which music came from which account. Actually, I know there is, they just aren't telling.

I don't know whether I'm more pissed right now at making a $200-purchase I can't use and am feeling ripped off about it since they said there's no way so i can't use my music unless I delete a ton of paid-for songs or buy a new iPod, or that they were so rude when I called, even hanging up on me and trying to make it sound like it just disconnected (at a very convenient spot for them).

ericjosepi
03-20-2007, 10:56 PM
Well... you could always fight DRM with trickery... totally a DMCA violation (http://hymn-project.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1553)

*Flees to Canada*

tokenuser
03-21-2007, 12:02 AM
I've been a total Microsoft-basher for a while now, singing the praises of Apple instead. And am hating both right now....Did you buy something from Apple? Was it over priced or encased in a see through plastic box? Then yes ... you were just ripped off by Apple.

You have hit a known problem with iTunes. The way all the fan boys ***** and moan about Microsoft's DRM in the Zune and on Vista, they forget that Apple are just as, if not more, nefarious.

don't know what to say, but suggest taking a trip down town and taking it up with a "Genius (tm)".

ariastar
03-21-2007, 12:06 AM
I stuck this up on Digg (http://digg.com/apple/Did_Apple_rip_me_off).

Funny that, by trying to download legally, I might be forced to download illegally to use what I bought. If the "powers that be" decide to sue me, can Apple be a co-defendant because they forced me down that path?

Haha! "Genius" my ass!

masherscf
03-21-2007, 12:09 AM
The moral of this story, dear friends, is never, never, ever buy DRMed music. They'll just frack you in the end.

ariastar
03-21-2007, 12:19 AM
The moral of this story, dear friends, is never, never, ever buy DRMed music. They'll just frack you in the end.

And to think, I was trying to be moral and legal.

tokenuser
03-21-2007, 12:34 AM
And to think, I was trying to be moral and legal.You have already legally purchased the content. This is a grey area because the DRM is now interferring with your access to legally purchased products.

r3v
03-21-2007, 12:52 AM
Heh, the digg article is how I found it.I stuck this up on Digg (http://digg.com/apple/Did_Apple_rip_me_off).

Funny that, by trying to download legally, I might be forced to download illegally to use what I bought. If the "powers that be" decide to sue me, can Apple be a co-defendant because they forced me down that path?

Haha! "Genius" my ass!Anyways, no. I'm guessing you're just being snarky because you're irritated, which is understandable. However, trying to say you were forced down the dark path of piracy in a court of law isn't likely to go over too well. heh.

I explained to him that two of the people I no longer have contact with, and he said it's not his problem.Not that I am a fan of DRM (and I am not here to argue it's merit or lack thereof), but this is where I start to wonder how you retain the moral high ground? Apparently you have music bought by at least two other people? I could be wrong, but it seems like you're breaking the rules there.

Anyways, you can see the account name that purchased a track by doing "get info" on the track. (Right click, get info or Cmd-I on a Mac.) I completely acquiesce to the likely forthcoming point that this is a pain in the ass. Just saying, there is a way and since the data is there, maybe it's scriptable.

However, on a different note, you should have called back and demanded a supervisor immediately.

travislopes
03-21-2007, 12:54 AM
Anyways, you can see the account name that purchased a track by doing "get info" on the track. (Right click, get info or Cmd-I on a Mac.)

If you do that, you should end up getting something like this:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7251/itunesyy3.jpg

ariastar
03-21-2007, 12:59 AM
You have already legally purchased the content. This is a grey area because the DRM is now interferring with your access to legally purchased products.

So what would be the best option aside from deleting everything on my iPod, most of which was legally purchased on iTunes, most of the rest ripped from CDs owned by me and/or old friends, and fewer than a hundred illegally downloaded?

ariastar
03-21-2007, 01:00 AM
If you do that, you should end up getting something like this:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7251/itunesyy3.jpg

I have over 4,400 songs and about 200 videos/shows from iTunes. It would take months solid to do that for every single track and vid.

phatlip12
03-21-2007, 03:19 AM
The moral of this story, dear friends, is never, never, ever buy DRMed music. They'll just frack you in the end.

I'm the "Mac guy" in my operating systems class. I assisted my professor in giving a demonstration of OS X right before the break actually.

Anyways, we got on the topic of how he bought his grandchild an iPod nano but was reluctant due to the iTunes DRM.

Ps. After the demo of OS X one of the girls in the class decided to switch to a Mac. ;)