Ipad2 app store can't download apps - get error 'item is being modified, try again later', but daughter IS able to download it just fine!

I'm using the UK Apple Store and getting exactly the same error message when trying to download anything listed in the AppsGoneFree App. Is this Apple trying to make people pay for everything so that they can make a few $billion more profit?

The two apps I menioned above, "Komos" and "Fera for Facebook", both downloaded fine this morning. 🙂

I wonder if this is an ad hoc matter, perhaps based on the developers submitting trivial changes to restart the process, or if Apple has fixed something.....

Hey people, I'm having the same issue, and I think it's related to the Apple ID, because when I tried to download an app that is free for a day, like those apps that are made free by some app dealers like FAAD and so on, and I tried to download a specific app approximately 10 times in a timespan of a few hours (I'm talking about 5-10h), and it didn't and didn't want to purchase it, it showed it on the desktop of my iPod touch, and then it threw me the message that the item is being modified, and I should try later. Well, ad I mentioned before, I tried that, no success. But then I tried with another Apple ID, which is for the Slovenian store (the countrys store where I live in), and then it downloaded it immediatelly with no problems. And that A.ID, with which I tried a few times to download the app at the first time, was for the US store. So I think that is associated to the Apple ID-s, nothing else IMO.

@index1366

That's some good info, but it's also device dependent, which adds a layer of randomness to the intrigue. I could download my own free app (I'm a developer) but my wife and about 75% of the other people that tried it could not.

As far as I know, the problem fixed itself with my app in a couple days, so I think it has something to do with Apple not propogating changes in pricing to all servers in a timely manner.

I also have not received this error in the last week, while trying to download recent "apps gone free." ... so, I just don't know if they are silently fixing the problem for some (I complained to them, since it's potential revenue lost for me,) or if it's just plain luck of the draw!

@slice.net

Device dependent? You're to easily intrigued.

I've not personally experienced, or read in this forum (including your post) anything that would indicate that this is anything other than a server side issue that effects particular AppleID's.

You're a developer and you think that when one person's AppleID is able to "purchase" an app and another person's cannot, that's device dependent? Have you read this thread? If you had, you would know that the device ipods, iphone4, iphone 4s, ipad, ipad 2, PC, Mac mini... doesn't matter. When one of us experiences this problem, it occurs on ALL devices - Apple idevices, Apple Macs, or other. You'd also know, that the apps can be installed on a device that display this bad behavior by using the gifting work around, previously mentioned in this thread. These two facts alone should be enough to point an Apple developer to the problem code within the server side software that facilitates app store purchases. (ARE YOU LISTENING APPLE?!?)

Granted, an open internet forum doesn't equal empirical data in a scientifically publishable form, but if you'd take the time to read this thread, you'd see that this has nothing to do with devices, itunes (versions) or operating systems. In addition, you'd see that coming into this thread and sounding like an email from Apple support, may bother some people.

And worse... Apple may actually use these forums to aid in trending issues. Posting erroneous junk may cause a delay in the implementation of a fix.

I think it's both "luck of the draw" as to which products have the problem and how long before the problem fixes itself. I've been experiencing the issue since roughly Feb. 1st. I've had the problem on 2 PCs (one running Windows XP and the other running Windows Vista), an iPod Touch 4G and an iPad 2, so it is definitely not device specific. There have also been times where a download has worked fine for me and not for someone else on the same App Store, and vice versa. This leads me to believe it's not end user ID specific, at least. The two responses I've gotten from Apple support about the issue are "from time to time, the iTunes Store updates the items in the catalog to ensure the highest possible quality for our customers" and "the problem is the purchase "price" is edited before the description and that is why there is sometimes a discrepancy". I guess the real question is what, if anything, they are doing to try and fix it.

slice.net wrote:

@index1366

That's some good info, but it's also device dependent, which adds a layer of randomness to the intrigue. I could download my own free app (I'm a developer) but my wife and about 75% of the other people that tried it could not.

You didn't say if your wife was trying to download using a different Apple ID to you or not, but I will assume she was using a different ID. I think you'll find that's the difference and that the device is irrelevant.

tgroman wrote:

You're a developer and you think that when one person's AppleID is able to "purchase" an app and another person's cannot, that's device dependent? Have you read this thread? If you had, you would know that the device ipods, iphone4, iphone 4s, ipad, ipad 2, PC, Mac mini... doesn't matter. When one of us experiences this problem, it occurs on ALL devices - Apple idevices, Apple Macs, or other.

Spot on tgroman.

Keep hassling Apple Support everyone, and don't lie down and take it when they give you the standard line about updating the catalog 'to ensure the highest possible quality for our customers'. No database takes upwards of 3 days to propagate minor changes. Let's forget for a moment that only some users are affected here, give Apple the benefit of the doubt for just a moment and assume that the developers are doing something wrong when they update their apps which is causing them to become unavailable for days at a time. Even if this was the case, the widespread occurrence of it would tell me that Apple hasn't made the process as simple as it should be for developers to update their app's price or description. So either way, the buck stops with Apple.

On a completely unrelated issue, anyone know why Mac Safari's spellcheck doesn't work in the main comment field when you type? Oddly enough it works in the little text field at the bottom when you make an edit, but not in the main text field. Strange.

Briefly yesterday, I thought that conceivably the problem was fixed, when I downloaded a few free apps with no problem. But that illusion was quickly dispelled when three more apps have failed since yesterday evening and today: "Logic Square" (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id432045052?mt=8), "Angry King Kong" (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id489128378?mt=8), and "Move the Box" (http://itunes.apple.com/app/move-the-box/id491113310?mt=8).

Dang I wish they would fix this; or maybe I should start by wishing they merely begin to understand the problem? (The tech support responses above are indeed maddeningly bureaucratic, self-serving, and ignorant....)

Hi,

It seems to be a problem with some of the Apple's servers (but they are being conveniently quite about this) https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3712134

--

Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

webform@boolbalabs.com wrote:

I found this App because it's free and I probably would have paid for it if I saw it before but for the last 3 days I've been trying to install the App and it says that it's being modified try later and won't let me install. can you guys please do something about it please.

Thank you.

this is the answer I got from one of the company that made the App that I was trying to install.

It's happening again with another game that's currently on sale: Glowfish HD (Full). My friends at Apple Support will be so happy to hear from me again I'm sure.

@Kalsta

Have you tried the gifting workaround?

Earlier in this thread, it was reported that you can purchase problem discounted apps by gifting the app. On the app's details view, click gift in the upper right hand corner, signin, and purchase for an alternate email address (not the email address associated to the account you're using to purchase gift).

Hope this helps...

The problem with that is when you gift something it goes on your credit card instead of using your iTunes balance. Now it would be interesting to see if you could "gift" free software. Seems kind of silly, but that would be a decent workaround for free stuff until Apple gets their issues worked out.

Eric

@RustySabre

Right. Workarounds = imperfect (no credit balance, alternate email hassle, etc...)

No. You cannot gift free apps. The gift option does not appear for free apps.

@Kalsta - just curious if you're trying to purchase the discounted "(Full)" version of Glowfish, or if you're trying to purchase in-app full-game unlock in the free version. The in-app unlock is @ $0.99 as well, I actually purchased it myself earlier this AM.

Oddly enough - since I gifted myself the discounted How To Cook Everything, I haven't seen the "being modified" error again. I've tried downloading random on-sale-for-free apps just to see if I'd get it again, but - so far - everything has worked just fine. Of course, that's likely complete coincidence and I've probably just jinxed my luck by mentioning it. But, thought it was worth noting since its been a few days now.