The iPod Numb
From a 2005 report: “Despite reaping great profits from iPod sales, Apple is still hesitant to bring its iTunes Music Store to Taiwan, because local consumers are still downloading songs via peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing Web sites instead of using online music stores.”
I’m bringing this up because Apple has lately seen fit to include some very useful applications to the iPod Touch. The only problem is that, while the new apps are free for new purchases and free if you have an iPhone, they are charging a bit of money, US$20, to unlock these abilities for the iPod Touch. They might as well be charging a million dollars, because if you don’t happen to be in an iTunes-approved country, you won’t be able to get that or anything else from iTunes or Apple, even if the country you’re in actually makes the iPods you’re not allowed to upgrade.
But is it me, or is this logic backwards? Apple is “hesitant” to bring iTunes to Taiwan because local consumers are downloading music from P2P sources? Hello, McFly? If there’s no other viable alternative, of course people will download songs that way. Just like by keeping the iPhone out of Taiwan, you’re ensuring that people will have no choice except to Jailbreak phones bought abroad. I’m considering jailbreaking my iPod Touch, though I really, really don’t want to. I’d much rather keep it unjailbroken and use iTunes to update it with the latest apps. I don’t have that big a problem with paying 20 bucks for the extra features. But Apple won’t let me do any of that because I’m in the wrong country.
The only thing that is even more hilarious is the fact that only foreigners from iTunes-approved countries are able to use the new maps application on their iPod Touches. Most Chinese-speaking people won’t be allowed access to this application. The maps it displays, however, are in Chinese.
While Apple create get products they are also greedy money makers who have no different an intent than MicroSoft used to with locking people in to full commercial solutions by denying competitors access.
The problem with Apple is they just don’t understand the rest of the world properly. There lock-in attempts are so US market oriented it either doesn’t work outside the US or they just don’t care.
I love my iPod but I think Apple are a bit sour.
Comment by Stephen — January 18, 2008 @ 4:50 am
That just doesn’t make sense. I’m not saying that regionalization schemes ever do, but that bit with the maps is messed up.
Comment by Mark — January 19, 2008 @ 4:20 am
When I read about how they are screwing the iPod touch users, I thought of you. I’m sure if you just Jailbreak it, you can add all of those features and more for free.
Comment by Frostfox — January 19, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
Yeah, problem is that I’m a moron and foolishly installed 1.1.3, but as soon as a software hack comes out, I’ll be sorely tempted to do just that.
Comment by Poagao — January 19, 2008 @ 9:47 pm
[…] has a great article about Apple’s reluctance to open iTunes Music Stores in Taiwan. This has also hamstrung Taiwanese users from upgrading their iPod […]
Pingback by TheNHBushman.com | Bushman’s Picks, January 20, 2008 — January 20, 2008 @ 6:16 am
Jailbreak for 1.1.3 now available. http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/27/dev-team-1-1-3-jailbreak-for-iphone-ipod-touch-now-available/
Comment by Frostfox — January 28, 2008 @ 8:39 am
Interesting iPod Post! Thank you for the great read!
Comment by iPOD — September 19, 2008 @ 1:59 am
Incidentally, I’m selling my 32gb iPod Touch. I got an iPhone instead, and I have to say it’s smarvellious.
Comment by Poagao — September 19, 2008 @ 2:23 am