I have a 64BG iPod Touch that's mostly empty. It has a bunch of apps and a few albums I purchased from the iTune Store. Last week, I purchased my last one. Here's why:
I've only synch'ed the iTunes Store purchases with my desktop computer four times. 50% of the synchronizations failed, leaving a few songs of a purchased album on the computer, and none on the iPod.
(In both cases, I found the backup copy of the full album on my computer -- after a period of freaking out.)
I am beginning to better understand the point Cory Doctorow makes: that copy protection primarily hurts the honest customer. Until I impulsively purchased the iPod Touch, I had never experienced a locked-down music system. Instead, I had always purchased and made backup copies of records and CDs, which I transfered to MP3 format, and used without concern on unlocked players from Creative and Sony.
(In any case, Future Shop and Best Buy are undercutting Apple's pricing for CDs. Yesterday I purchased six CDs for an average price of $6.50 each.)
In earlier posts, I cited other problems with the bizarre iPhone/iTouch system, such as Apple blocking software vendors from sending me CAD and GIS software directly for review, and the unit's under-performing PIM [personal information manager] software.
Another problem: the iTouch doesn't tell me which applications were free (and can be erased) and which cost me $$$ (and so must never be erased, because the iTune Store does not offer redownloads of purchased software). And don't get me started on the dreadfully incomprehensible iTunes desktop software... Or the known bug in the iPhone OS that repeatedly loses strong WiFi connections... Or the irritating interface for accessing and playing back music... Or...
Increasingly, I am regretting the impulse purchase.
I've only synch'ed the iTunes Store purchases with my desktop computer four times. 50% of the synchronizations failed, leaving a few songs of a purchased album on the computer, and none on the iPod.
(In both cases, I found the backup copy of the full album on my computer -- after a period of freaking out.)
I am beginning to better understand the point Cory Doctorow makes: that copy protection primarily hurts the honest customer. Until I impulsively purchased the iPod Touch, I had never experienced a locked-down music system. Instead, I had always purchased and made backup copies of records and CDs, which I transfered to MP3 format, and used without concern on unlocked players from Creative and Sony.
(In any case, Future Shop and Best Buy are undercutting Apple's pricing for CDs. Yesterday I purchased six CDs for an average price of $6.50 each.)
In earlier posts, I cited other problems with the bizarre iPhone/iTouch system, such as Apple blocking software vendors from sending me CAD and GIS software directly for review, and the unit's under-performing PIM [personal information manager] software.
Another problem: the iTouch doesn't tell me which applications were free (and can be erased) and which cost me $$$ (and so must never be erased, because the iTune Store does not offer redownloads of purchased software). And don't get me started on the dreadfully incomprehensible iTunes desktop software... Or the known bug in the iPhone OS that repeatedly loses strong WiFi connections... Or the irritating interface for accessing and playing back music... Or...
Increasingly, I am regretting the impulse purchase.
Comments