Apple App Store

[IdeasVacuum]

Is the Apple App Store a disaster waiting to happen?

My wife was recently given an Apple iPad Mini and wanted to download a free app recommended by a friend. Yet Apple want a lot of personal info, including purchasing (bank account) details, up front. Why? - and why is this practice even being allowed?

[Tenaja]

Is the Apple App Store a disaster waiting to happen?

Yes. But not really any more than other services that collect cc info.

My wife was recently given an Apple iPad Mini and wanted to download a free app recommended by a friend. Yet Apple want a lot of personal info, including purchasing (bank account) details, up front. Why? -

because once you get into the habit of how easy it is to download a free app, eventually you will accept paying for one.

and why is this practice even being allowed?

Because people accept it.

[luis]

Tenaja's answers are correct and quite frankly I'm surprised someone is asking what you asked. Wasn't obvious ?

Anyway, from my iTunes account:

Payment information: No credit card on file.

So you don't need to give that "up-front" (at least in the italian version of the app store).
I can download free apps (filled with iAds usually and so deleted as soon I can confirm that) from the appstore.
I remember when free meant free.

If i want to buy a music album or an app I fill the field when needed and then empty it again.

[PB]

> Yet Apple want a lot of personal info, including purchasing (bank account) details

It sets up an account for all future purchases. Apparently you can
just opt to use Gift Cards instead if you wish (I haven't done so).

And no, it's not really a disaster waiting to happen. It's been running
that way for years and years with no complaints from the iSheep.

[IdeasVacuum]

It's been running
that way for years and years with no complaints from the iSheep.

I was thinking of the Sony debacle for one, but even some of the UK banks have had security breaches where customer's details have fallen into the hands of the unscrupulous. If the information was not stored by vendors, they could not compromise it. Currently (perhaps this is new?) Apple are asking for all purchase details upfront, you have to fill in the form in it's entirety.

[luis]

iSheep.

Define iSheep.
Who are the iSheep ?
Am I an iSheep ?

[fsw]

iSheep.

Define iSheep.
Who are the iSheep ?
Am I an iSheep ?

You can be whatever you want to be.
Just pick one out.

[the.weavster]

My wife was recently given an Apple iPad Mini and wanted to download a free app recommended by a friend. Yet Apple want a lot of personal info, including purchasing (bank account) details, up front. Why? - and why is this practice even being allowed?

A few years ago I had an iPhone bought for me as a gift (I can't remember now if it was a 3G or a 3GS). In order to 'activate' it I had to install iTunes on a PC (which required Windows or Mac - there was no Linux support) and then use that to connect to Apple's servers and enter loads of personal details just to make the chuffin' phone work!

I didn't even like the damn phone. To add insult to injury iTunes was the crappiest bit of shiteware I've ever been subjected to, why the heck Apple couldn't just support USB Mass Storage so people could just use their regular file manager I really don't know.

[the.weavster]

I just remembered another detail. As part of the activation process I had to specify whether or not I wanted to receive junk email from Apple, despite the fact I opted not to they proceeded to bombard my inbox with crap anyway. I had to get pretty short with them to make it stop.

[IdeasVacuum]

....yes, you actually have to buy an adaptor for the iPad to exchange images, and even then they have to be managed in a particular way for the device to recognise them. The Safari web browser is nice though.

[fsw]

A few years ago I had an iPhone bought for me as a gift (I can't remember now if it was a 3G or a 3GS). In order to 'activate' it I had to install iTunes on a PC (which required Windows or Mac - there was no Linux support) and then use that to connect to Apple's servers and enter loads of personal details just to make the chuffin' phone work!

I didn't even like the damn phone. To add insult to injury iTunes was the crappiest bit of shiteware I've ever been subjected to, why the heck Apple couldn't just support USB Mass Storage so people could just use their regular file manager I really don't know.

I just remembered another detail. As part of the activation process I had to specify whether or not I wanted to receive junk email from Apple, despite the fact I opted not to they proceeded to bombard my inbox with crap anyway. I had to get pretty short with them to make it stop.

It's not like that anymore.

Sure you still have to type in your credit card number, but you don't need another computer to activate it.
Nowadays there are apps that work as a file manager and allow you to move/copy/etc. files to your computer (even with Wi-Fi).
Could be that it only works on the Apple Eco-System though (from/to iPhone to Apple computers...).

Also they don't send you emails if you don't want to.

[PB]

> why the heck Apple couldn't just support USB Mass Storage so
> people could just use their regular file manager

I use a free program called iFunBox to do exactly that. Anyone
with an iPhone or iPad should download this program ASAP, as
it makes the iDevice accessible just like a regular USB drive.

> you actually have to buy an adaptor for the iPad to exchange images

What do you mean? I have an iPad and don't need any adaptor.

> you still have to type in your credit card number

I don't think you need to if you're using a Gift Card.