Apple, Apple, Apple

I'm feeling pretty frustrated lately with Apple. (skip this if you don't want to hear a rant...if you've been linked through a search, I'd love to hear your iTouch story)

If you remember, about a month ago, I decided to enter the world of MP3 players...went with Apple because of the ease of use, quality etc.. Well, unfortunately I dipped my feet in the water just a few months early or late depending on how you look at it. I happened to hit BEST BUY right as the new iTouch iPod was released, so I guess I'm in the guinea pig phase that often happens at the launch of a new product.

Being a guinea pig sucks!

Do you see the helpless stare in the little fella's eyes?

After falling madly, deeply, passionately in love with my iTouch iPod...I found out it has a little glich. I'm just soooo pissed because now I'm too committed to the relationship to walk away. My blood pressure actually rises when I see the cool new T.V. ads. But still, I can't part ways with my iTouch. Thus far I've spent about an hour on the phone with Appple Support (not so impressed) and had to go back and return my original- in hopes of fixing the problem.

The problem is that the iTouch is somewhat selective about which video's it will play back. At first I thought it was just a DVD I ripped for my son, then I realized I had the problem with videos I PURCHASED from iTunes. I went to BEST BUY yesterday and the manager was like "oh, yeah we've been seeing problems with this." I had also googled it and noticed the issue is common enough that it was easy to find.

So, I exchanged my iTouch and also purchased a Nano. (Against the advice of the BEST BUY people who said the software etc.. was the same) Well, the video that won't play on my iTouch will play on the Nano...


What did the folks at Apple say? Well, the first two guys I talked to hadn't heard of the problem!!! Which irritates me because I found it on THEIR discussion boards. The second guy tells me the problem is that the iTouch only plays videos in H.264 format. So I direct him to Apples tech page on the iTouch to prove to him it also supports MPEG-4. Infact, if you rip/burn a file in the H.264 it won't play at all on the thing. It will however, give it the old college try on an MPEG file (plays 5, 10 or 15 minutes then shuts the iPod down or locks up the video then returns the main menu). THEN Apple tech guy tells me it must be a software problem and that they have already had a couple of software updates on the iTouch...asks me if I have updated my software. WHAT!! Do they tell their tech support people anything? The big talk on the iTouch is that iTunes is still has 1.1.1, the original software. Yet, units shipping to Europe are preloaded with 1.1.2. Which you can download on the web, from a NON-Apple site...but probably not the best idea. The guy is like "Oh...let me check that...you're right" By now I'm sounding pretty pissed. This, by the way, is the same guy who tells me I can't trust BEST BUY on the whole "getting a lot of machines returned thing." Gee, seems like they know more about the product then the Apple Tech Support.


So...if I really want to be able to play ANY video...guess I'll be getting a Nano (well, returning the one I have and getting one with more memory). And if I want to continue to enjoy the wifi...I'll be keeping my iTouch. As I write this, I realize that...hummm that's a lot to pay to be able to lay in bed at night checking my email, visiting blogs.


So...I may have to break up with my iTouch after all. On the bright side, I have to say, that new Nanos are pretty darn sexy...


p.s. so if I decide to keep my iTouch, should I Jailbreak it? Coley / Steve feedback please.