Apple - Another Walled Garden Problem

Is it a walled garden, or is it a prison?

The problem with being locked into the iTunes app store is that when Apple screws up, we are the ones being screwed.

Case in point: I'm using my wife's iPad, laying in bed and playing some Trade Nations. When I finished, I checked the app store for updates. There were two, both free updates for free apps (Dropbox was one) so I told it to update both. This is something that I've done a lot since I got this for my lovely wife last Christmas.

But instead of asking me for my ITMS login, it takes me to the app store to log in and check my billing information. Then it tells me that PayPal is "not accepted on this device.". WTF Apple?

1. You've always accepted PayPal from this device, my macs, my windows boxes as well as my iPod touch. I've been a registered Apple developer for years, including when it was $500 a year, not $99. So you obviously know who I am.

2. Most importantly, I'm updating FREE programs with FREE updates! So who gives a flying fig about PayPal being supported on this device?

You have me locked into your "benevolent dictatorship" so it isn't like I can go elsewhere for my apps. I'm serious though that the Android tablets That I've been eyeing are looking better and better.

The only thing I do on the iPad that I can't do on Android is play Trade Nations, UberRacer and Metal-storm. Every productivity and non-game entertainment app I use on the iPad or my iPod is also on my Android phone. Plus there are a number of nice apps on my phone that aren't available for IOS.

Keep screwing with us and you'll lose us. While I fully realize that the thousands of dollars I've spent are the tiniest of a fraction of your income, if enough of us switch, they'll all add up and Apple could end up being known as the Packard-Bell of the 21st century.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad