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itunes store dramas arrrrrrrgh

Hi all,

I know there are other threads regarding this but I've tried everything from the other threads. At least, I've tried everything from the other threads that makes sense to someone not that computer literate.

To start with I should make clear that all of my credit cards etc are to an Australian account plus Australian postal address but I am living in China where there is not an iTunes store. I use the store in Australia.

I have an iMac and a MacBook both on the same network, linked to each other and all the other guff.

This started about a week ago when I tried to download a couple of games for my ipod. On my big iMac an error message instantly appeared saying that it couldn't download the games. I can't remember the exact message. I then tried to download them to my MacBook. No problem, they downloaded straight away. I updated my iPod's games on the MacBook even though the songs are linked to the iMac (does that make sense?)

After that I connected my iPod back into my iMac and it asked me if I wanted to transfer my purchases to this computer. I said yes but it wouldnt allow it.

How do I transfer the games? Literally over my network or with a flash disk or whatever? Where do I find them to transfer them?

Today I re set up my wireless network to include the Time Capsule thing. I don't use the Time Capsule as the primary wireless router as I already have the N series wireless box thingy. I'm using the Time Capsule simply for Time Machine.

Anyway after that I went into the iTunes store and on BOTH computers I got the message "Itunes could not connect to the iTunes store. An unknown error occurred.(-4) Make sure your network connection is active and try again." It won't load the store and I can't log in on my ID - it says "trying to access store" and then the same error message appears.

Now I know that lots of people have had this problem. I don't have parental controls on, I don't have any odd settings on my wireless thingy, my keychains are fine, I've been updated with itunes 7 since it came out as everything automatically downloads.

Does ANYONE have any idea what I can do in nice simple English? Please remember I've used phrases such as "wireless thingy" when pitching the simplicity of your replies 🙂


Also, as lots of people are having this problem has there been any reply from apple? Or is it still "all services are working just fine thanks folks!"


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

iMac7,1, Mac OS X (10.5.4), iMac, MacBook and various iPods

Posted on Aug 18, 2008 2:52 AM

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Posted on Aug 18, 2008 6:38 AM

Hi I live in Shanghai. (American using my US credit card and mailing address). Yesterday my iTunes was working. I was able to download Podcasts and videos.

Today, I'm getting the same error message as you: "iTunes could not connect to the iTunes store. An unknown error occurred.(-4)"

It's been raining a lot and thought it might be a power surge problem or a problem with my wireless setup (Airport Express), but now since you're having the same problem, I think the server is down OR iTunes is being blocked in China for some reason.

Anyone else in China having this problem? I have to download episodes 16-20 of Stephen King's "N". Help!
82 replies

Aug 19, 2008 1:51 AM in response to wurzelzwerg

Same story here...another American in China who is trying to support IP rights and wants to buy legal stuff. Pity that's so hard. Does anyone know how a to set up a proxy? I'm not computer illiterate but I don't know the address of any proxy servers outside of the firewall. Are there some out there who do this for free / cheap that I could point to? Thanks.

Aug 19, 2008 3:23 AM in response to will-c

Hi Will,

for normal browsing you can use: youhide.com works excellent for me here. But does not help you to the itunes store.

Also I can't update anymore my iPhone like before with iTunes, because the Software update seems to get its information from the iTunes shop, for whatever reasons. Normal Apple system update works fine.

Aug 19, 2008 4:15 AM in response to gtrogue

Ok then, it's a bug in Apple's server architecture, introduced around the time of iTunes 7.6, which affects access to iTunes Store from certain locations, at certain times and under certain conditions for them to detect and fix. The intermittent nature of the problem and its different effects (ranging from crashes of iTunes to Store top-level access prevention) suggest that local/national network conditions and/or network access configurations might be factors, but my guess is that the Apple servers' security protection levels have been set too high to for default access to the most recent versions of iTunes, and that it is the latter which will be adjusted to match in new releases.

Temporary workaround for Mac OS users is to use the 'eye' button at right of bottom toolbar of iTunes window, and drill down through the menu hierarchy.

Iain

Aug 19, 2008 4:30 AM in response to hel0108

Live in Shanghai and in the family we have 5 Macs (2 iBook, 2 Macbook Pro and an iMac) with itunes accounts from both Sweden and the US. From this morning it is not possible any longer to log in to the store. Get the message "Itunes could not connect to the iTunes store. An unknown error occurred.-4"

Could it be a punishment from the Chinese authorities for launching the record "Songs for Tibet" via iTunes?

Aug 19, 2008 5:24 AM in response to hel0108

Same here... I live in Shenzhen and purchase via US iTune Store, been unable to access it since 2 days ago.

I had an issue with my iphone that day and wanted to restore with the new 2.01 firmware that I put my phone into dfu mode before realizing I can't restore an iphone in dfu mode if it an't connect to itune server... now I can't use my phone at all.

Could the issue due to the coming soon to be released iphone in chinese market?

Aug 19, 2008 6:06 AM in response to Keven

In my 12-year China experience, I've seen a plethora of all sorts of "blockages" from the Chinese government, and if that's what this is, it's likely a "content" issue. I wasn't aware of the aforementioned selection supporting Tibet, but that's exactly the kind of thing that would spur a blockage of the site, since they can't very well block a single song. I have a copy of the May National Geographic that I bought in Shenzhen that has blacked out text and at least six pages "glued" together blocking "sensitive" issues. For example, it blocks the China maps that show territory disputes with India. If that's the problem, it could be an ongoing issue for us here in China, as iPod sales are not that high in China, and 95% of the people that own them would never "buy" anything from iTunes anyway. Consequently, what's the impetus for Apple to change things for the China market over some small content issue - the ramifications for Apple would be worse if they made this change just to get a blockage released in China - imagine how that would play in the Western media. Let's hope they can cut a deal for the iPhone in China - that'd do the trick. Aiya!!!

Aug 19, 2008 7:06 AM in response to hel0108

I'm in Beijing and get the same error. This happened for a few days in June and I thought I had the connection issues. A few days later it was back and running. Before pulling your hair out and making computer changes. It might be best to just wait it out. For all those living here, you know what I mean....this is just another one of those unexplainable "joys" of living in China.

Aug 19, 2008 8:26 AM in response to hel0108

Hello all

I am also having the same problem right now in Shanghai. I have a Canadian as well as a US iTunes account and neither of them are working at this moment in China. This is driving me nuts. Now my iPhone is also pretty much useless because I cant sync anything with iTunes.

I am 99.9% sure that China is blocking iTunes. I just had my friend in the US tested both my iTunes account and they are working half way across the world. When I try to log into the same iTunes accounts in China but they are NOT working here. I tired using different version of iTunes as well and still no luck.

I hope Apple and China can come up with a deal soon.

It is sad to say but I CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT MY IPHONE!

Aug 19, 2008 9:50 AM in response to gtrogue

For phobos.apple.com :

Traceroute has started ...

traceroute to phobos.apple.com (17.250.236.65), 64 hops max, 40 byte packets
1 * HIDDEN TO AVOID DISPLAY MY IP *
2 * HIDDEN TO AVOID DISPLAY MY IP *
3 * HIDDEN TO AVOID DISPLAY MY IP *
4 124.74.210.237 (124.74.210.237) 13.311 ms 124.74.210.229 (124.74.210.229) 15.310 ms 9.557 ms
5 61.152.86.6 (61.152.86.6) 7.473 ms 8.558 ms 8.483 ms
6 202.97.33.38 (202.97.33.38) 8.486 ms 8.704 ms 8.492 ms
7 202.97.51.146 (202.97.51.146) 193.115 ms 196.817 ms 202.122 ms
8 192.205.35.85 (192.205.35.85) 192.872 ms 203.194 ms 192.106 ms
9 tbr2.sffca.ip.att.net (12.122.82.150) 196.873 ms 207.652 ms 231.599 ms
10 12.122.82.253 (12.122.82.253) 192.850 ms 200.599 ms 192.117 ms
11 12.118.116.10 (12.118.116.10) 214.107 ms 197.149 ms 210.322 ms
12 * * *

From 12 to 64 hops, it's * * *....

Definitivly blocked by the firewall.

Hope it'll be fixed soon.

Aug 19, 2008 10:00 AM in response to hel0108

Hi there,

Regarding transferring purchased items from the iPod to the computer, when you said it wasn't "allowed" ... I'm assuming that the message was regarding authorization. You can try to deauthorize/reauthorize your computer:

Launch iTunes
Click your Store menu and choose Deauthorize Computer
Enter your Apple ID and password and click 'Deauthorize'
Then, click your Store menu and choose Authorize Computer
Enter your Apple ID and password and click 'Authorize'

The error within iTunes Store (-4) is related to the store server (as I've been told by Apple support). Essentially, their response has been to wait and try again later. Not fun, but it seems to be the only option. From my understanding it is not a bug (I'm using iTunes 7.7.1 on OS X 10.5.4 and Win XP without any issues whatsoever) within iTunes, although, the error did start appearing with the release of iTunes 7.7. Keep in mind, though, that this release of iTunes coincided with the new iPhone 3G, and the App Store for iPod touch and iPhone users, so it stands to reason that the iTunes Store servers are busier than ever.

Your iPod games are located in this directory:
~/Music/iTunes/iPod Games/
You can copy files from this folder and add them to that folder on your other computer. Keep in mind that once they're in there, you still need to add them to your iTunes Library via File > Add to Library.

CG

Aug 19, 2008 3:41 PM in response to CasperGemini

Here is my response from Apple Support:


My name is Bryan and I understand that you have not been able to connect to the iTunes store for the last couple days and that you are concerned that it would be an issue with China blocking the iTunes store. I'm sorry to hear that and I'm happy to assist you with this today.

ITunes is not being blocked in China from our end, but access to the iTunes Store IS restricted in some areas in China. This would also explain why it's happening to your friends there as well.

I would advise that you contact your ISP about this matter. Please also note though that accessing the US iTunes Store outside of the geographic region of the United States is not supported, and that attempting to access it while in China is at your own risk.

The iTunes Store Sales and Service Policies are available for you to review:

Terms of Sale
http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/us/sales.html

Terms of Service
http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/us/service.html

Thank you for being a valued iTunes Store customer. I hope that you have found the above information helpful and that you have a great day!

Kind Regards,

Bryan
iTunes Store Customer Support

itunes store dramas arrrrrrrgh

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