McBlog

I’m launching a new podcast with a friend (more on that later) so we want it to be found via iTunes. To be able to submit a podcast to iTunes, you have to have an account – hmmmm – annoying, but somewhat understandable.

To set up an iTunes account, they want a credit card. FAIL! What if I don’t ever want to buy anything? What if I don’t want to give it out? What if I don’t have one? Well, it turns out you can create an account without needing a credit card if you either a) redeem a voucher (also a FAIL – I don’t want to buy anything) or by b) getting one of the free Apps from the iTunes App Store.

Great, so, I go to the App Store and try to get a free application. Any one will do – who cares, I’m throwing it away ‘cos I don’t have an iPhone. When I go to download it, it asks me for my account details so I say CREATE and, sure enough, when I get to the page where I’d enter a credit card, it now has the option of “NONE”

YAY! I can create an iTunes Store account without needing a credit card. So, Apple, why the frak didn’t you give me that option to begin with? Yet another FAIL!

Of course, now I’ve created the account and reached the verification stage. I’ve keyed in my GMail account details and it’s apparently sent out a verification email. Only problem is, it hasn’t arrived yet. Other emails are coming in OK, but not this one. In fact, I’ve asked it to send it 3 times now and still nothing. I’ve confirmed the address is correct and I’ve checked my SPAM folder. Nope – nada.

Oh joy – another FAIL on Apple’s part.

For a company that makes some pretty sexy equipment, it’s amazing how many times Apple FAILS! All this just to register a damned podcast…

Kitt’s G4 Mac has been out of action for a few weeks following a power outage here at home. When the power came back on, the machine refused to turn on, flashing its power light for a bit and then shutting down almost immediately.

I’d tried to get a new power supply for it as I figured that was the problem, but Macs have different power supplies to any PC out there. Oh well – time to call Apple and find out how much.

Speaking with a tech from one of the Apple stores in town, I explained the situation and he gave me the price on a new power supply (ouch!). He also said it sounded like it may not need one as it could just need a reset of the power management system on the board. He pointed me at an Apple support page about resetting the CUDA/PM on these computers.

Piece of cake – easily done and yes, that solved the problem. So now Kitt’s Mac is up and running again and there is much happiness in the house. Kitt’s very happy to have her computer back (she’d been using the laptops on my desk – one Windows and one Ubuntu) and I’m happy to have received great service from an Apple tech. Score more points for future Mac purchases :)