iTunes on a public-use computer

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Level 1

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iTunes on a public-use computer

I've been searching across the span of the Internet over the past couple of days and can't find any solid, reliable resource with the answer this question: How, or can you, install iTunes on a Windows public-use computer?

We have a large number of Windows-based PCs where patrons are requesting iTunes. However, there is another caveat to this question: these computers employ technology that prevents data from being retained across sessions. In other words, each time a computer restarts, it goes back to the factory configuration. We have the capability to specify certain directories that can have data persist across sessions if necessary.

1) Is it against the iTunes EULA to do this (it appears to be) (http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula/)

2) Is this feasible?

- Will users be prompted to format their iDevice when they plug it in the first time

- Will users use up one of their device connections (maximum of 5 I believe)

3) Other?

I'm looking for any input, even input that says this is a bad idea - just let me know why it is. If this isn't possible, or is a bad idea, I need to let the board know "why".

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Windows 7

Posted on Nov 6, 2012 11:58 AM

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Answer 1

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Top-ranking reply

varjak paw

Level 10

182,536 points

Nov 6, 2012 12:53 PM in response to beems

I would say it's a bad idea and that you shouldn't do it. It would easily cause your users all sorts of problems with iTunes Store authorizations. A computer gets authorized to a user's iTunes Store accounts up to a maximum of five computers per account, and five accounts per computer, so your public workstations would quickly get authorized up to the limit, since it's unlikely that all your users would remember to deauthorize (wiping the data automatically will not deauthorize the system).

And yes, if a user connects their iOS device to a workstation other than the one to which the device is normally synched, the iOS device will be erased.

There is no licensing block against installing iTunes itself on your public workstations. I just don't see much point in doing so, and many negatives. So again, I'd recommend against it.

Regards.

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Answer 2

the fiend

Level 7

23,208 points

Nov 7, 2012 3:24 AM in response to beems

beems wrote:

We have a large number of Windows-based PCs where patrons are requesting iTunes.

Then your patrons obviously don't understand how iTunes works.

An iPod owner imports their CDs in to their iTunes Library, or buys music from the iTunes Store, which also imported into their iTunes Library. It's a similar arrangment for other media, such as Apps.

Crucially, media (of all types) purchased from the iTunes Store is linked to their account. Then, the iPod owner Syncs their iPod, to their iTunes Library and their media content is put on to their iPod.

Apologies for the excessive emphasis on the word "their", but I'm attempting to demonstrate that an iTunes Library is specific to one user, or family. There is no way this could work on a public computer.

And if anyone should suggest that they don't want to Sync their iPod to a public iTunes, but they simply want to play their music through that computer... (crazy as this may appear, people do try this. I have no idea why!)

Huh? If the music is on their iPod, then simply plug the headphones into the iPod.

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iTunes on a public-use computer