the iTunes Store blocked in China

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the iTunes Store blocked in China

There's enough evidence from other posters on the forums (inc. this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1932440&tstart=0) and from Twitterers to conclude that the iTunes Store has been blocked by the Chinese "Great Firewall" which 'filters' certain material.

I can: update and download apps and podcasts that I already have.

I can't: access the iTMS at all, for the past 48 hours (it's now 10am on Monday, Beijing time [GMT +8]), and the same for lots of other users in different parts of the country.

It's the same problem when tried on my gf's Windows laptop, my own Macbook, and on my iPod Touch, and it's the same regardless of whether I'm signed in to my iTMS account or not.

So, any official word from Apple on whether they can confirm the blockage?

Thanks.

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Mar 8, 2009 7:11 PM

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Answer 1

mmukhe

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Mar 8, 2009 10:34 PM in response to Steven'08

Any idea if we need to tell Apple about this so they confirm whether it is the "Internet Firewall" issue in China on accessing the iTunes store??

Looks like it is still blocked as of 1.30 pm Beijing time on Monday, March 9.

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Answer 2

mmukhe

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Mar 8, 2009 10:36 PM in response to mmukhe

By the way, have you tried contacting the Apple Store in Beijing to ask them about this? I assume they cannot access the iTunes store either? Can they confirm the issue to us?

Thanks.

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Answer 3

Steven'08 Author

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5 points

Mar 8, 2009 10:52 PM in response to mmukhe

Apple surely know what's happening, but are powerless to change the last IP link in the ax.phobos... etc link that iTunes uses, which another user has proved fails at it's final Beijing IP address, proving a widespread blockage (ie: the Great Firewall, or #gfw on twitter) rather than any problem with any individual user's iTunes or computer.

So, don't bother re-installing iTunes, repairing permissions, or anything, as it's no use. It'll work when it gets unblocked, however long it takes, but just a few days I guess.

It occurred once last year because of some 'sensitive' concert for Tibet album in the Store. Just check back occasionally on the iTMS, and it'll eventually work.

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Answer 4

Mar 8, 2009 11:21 PM in response to Steven'08

It's now 14:21 here in Beijing, China, and the iTune store is still unable to be connected.

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Answer 5

Golo66

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Mar 8, 2009 11:22 PM in response to Steven'08

Confirming that itunes is still blocked at 02:20 pm in Beijing. It worked until saturday morning. Same problem with a G5 and my itouch.

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Answer 6

ProfPaul

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Mar 9, 2009 1:04 AM in response to Golo66

Greetings from Kaifeng. Thanks to this board I know have company in not being able to connect to the iTunes store. I'm writing this at 4:00 PM March 9 and cannot access. I need to update several podcasts so I hope it gets resolved before I exhaust my backlog.

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Answer 7

Steven'08 Author

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5 points

Mar 9, 2009 2:48 AM in response to ProfPaul

You can actually still update the podcasts that you've already subscribed too, even though the whole Store is still blocked.

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Answer 8

mackrom

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Mar 9, 2009 3:31 AM in response to ProfPaul

18:30 and is working for me (Beijing). Anyone still with problems?

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Answer 9

Steven'08 Author

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5 points

Mar 9, 2009 4:04 AM in response to Steven'08

Yes, indeed; now 7pm Beijing time, and it's back, after a mysterious 3 day outage that will probably remain unexplained.

At least by knowing that it was blocked locally, it saved us hassle thinking our own computer/account was the issue, when it actually wasn't.

So, question 'answered' and topic closed, I guess!

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Answer 10

mmukhe

Level 1

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Mar 9, 2009 5:23 AM in response to Steven'08

8.20 pm in Beijing and iTunes seems to work fine now... Thanks to all who posted, feels good to know that I was not the only one affected and this was the "Firewall" in play.

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