iTunes Spyware

You may think our ire at this 'feature' is ranting, but I think you've missed the point. Yes, it's a gut reaction, but I think it's a valid complaint. I tried opening iTunes today when my internet connection was down and ended up waiting 2 or 3 minutes while it was trying to 'phone home' (and I was wondering what was screwed up). Playing music from my library should not require contact with any other computer. And here's the real gripe - I shouldn't have to figure out how to turn this feature off; it shouldn't be turned on by default. As a computer consultant who spends way too much time dealing with adware, spyware, and other annoying ware, I don't appreciate wondering if Apple (or anyone else) has a database of the 7000 items in my iTunes library. Gathering information about me without my 'explicit' approval is a slippery slope.

FYI - I'm ranting about this because I love Apple products like iTunes, the iPod and the Mac. This is the kind of behavior I expect from other companies, not from Apple.

Gee, I feel better. Who's next...


G5 Dual 1.8 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

You're ranting without checking the facts. There are several ways to turn off the Ministore (menu command, command key set, button at lower right of the iTunes window), and once the window is closed, no further information is sent to Apple.

Next time, try the Search feature before you post. If you had this time, you'd have found the answer to turning off the ministore in several dozen posts, and would not have had to bother posting your rant.

Regards.

I agree with macmonte. I was shocked when I restarted my computer after allowing the latest upgrade and started listening to music I have in a private playlist that the Music Store was monitoring what I was listening to and posting suggestions of what I might like to buy based on each selection. I never gave anyone permission to spy on my listening practices. I was never told how to turn this feature off, and if I had not queried "help" after searching for a way in preferences, I would never have found this discussion group.
I am also irritated by the fact that I have to sign up to acquire an "Apple ID" to even make a complaint. There is no longer anyway of contacting Apple directly. Apple seems to feel they are free to spy on me, but I have no way of even finding them!
Clicking the icon on the bottom right of the screen did indeed make that window go away, but how do I have any assurance Apple is not connected to my computer anyway - just because that window is gone - they put up that window without my permission. What else are they doing without my permission? It's a trust issue! Apple has broken mine.
I intend to avoid using iTunes when I'm connected to the internet in the future to try to avoid this spying, and I am turning off access to the Music Store in my preferences. I find this practice deplorable, and like macmonte, I used to love iTunes (and still love aspects of it - the stuff that was there before this latest "Upgrade"!)

That's my two cents for what it's worth.

I think this issue is very simple to understand considering the tons of posts are being placed for the last day.

I'm a marketing guy:
- When people are satisfied with your product and understand why is useful for... You did a good work.

- When people gets mad and confused... you did a bad work.

Agreed. When you pis off SlashDot, maybe it's no big deal, but when you ******* the Mac Faithful, you screwed up bad.

Privacy issues aside. I think it's telling that I (self described computer expert) could not figure out how to hide the MiniStore until I read these posts. Is Grandma going to read this? Doubtful, she'll just say "just more advertising on the web".

My first reaction was absolute outrage that one third of my screen real estate was gone and there was no obvious way to get rid of it. Ctrl-click didn't work, and iTunes did not ask me with a nice pop up to tell me about this new feature and "would you like to enable it".

The miniStore may be a great idea, but DONT FORCE IT ON PEOPLE.
Forcing the ministore on people like that only ****** them off. Even ignoring the privacy issue, it is a LOUSY user experience. This was a huge mistake by Apple.


Mac OS X (10.4.3)

When I made the leap from Windows to Mac, I believed I had sent a signal to those who think it is acceptable to invade my privacy in order that they might do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to advertise their wares to me and milk me of my last dollars. Wow was I naive if I thought I was going to computer heaven.

Apple has just shown it is just as bad as Microsoft. Apple had an opportunity to distinguish themselves by showing more modesty and being more respectful. They could have won my loyalty. This iTunes spyware-by-default implementation is absolutely rotten. It's one thing to ask someone if they would mind sharing their personal data and information that could be personally identifiable. It's quite another to take it without express formal request (opt-in). Twas my first Mac, and now it is my LAST Mac, Here I come Linux.

Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4.4)