Why is Apple's way of handling iTunes authorized computers so clumsy?

[MotionMan]

I recently had to replace a hard drive, and go through a couple reformats (it ended up being a bad mobo). Because I forgot to reauthorize the computer before one of the formats, I now have the max 5 authorized computers (though 2 (maybe 3) are the same computer).

There is no way to see which computers are authorized, nor is there any way to deauthorize a single computer. And, if I want to start over, I can only do it once a year.

Why is Apple's way of handling iTunes authorized computers so clumsy?

MotionMan

 

[nickbits]

I don't find it too bad. At least they let you clear everything out and start over. I thought there used to be a way to see what computers are authorized but it doesn't seem to be there now, only the #.

FYI there is an option to deauthorize the computer first (if you remember although I never do).

 

[MotionMan]

FYI there is an option to deauthorize the computer first (if you remember although I never do).

Yeah, I never remember.

MotionMan

 

[Rakehellion]

Do you get that many new computers every year and forget to deactivate them all?

 

[MotionMan]

Do you get that many new computers every year and forget to deactivate them all?

Usually one or so a year and there is enough time between them that, yes, I usually forget to deactivate the old ones.

However, that does not really move the conversation forward as to why the system is set up the way Apple has it, now, does it?

Also, in this case, I had a couple hardware failures that required a HD replacement and a subsequent reformat/reinstall, so your question is fairly irrelevant.

MotionMan

 

[Phynaz]

Most likely it's the music publishers that make it work this way.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Most likely it's the music publishers that make it work this way.

Probably at first, but now they have other publishers that probably want it that way too.

It really is annoying that there is a 5 computer limit and there's no way to deactivate one from one place unless you want to deactivate all of them. I've had to do this multiple times when I restore to a new computer without remembering to deactivate iTunes.

 

[MotionMan]

Probably at first, but now they have other publishers that probably want it that way too.

The only reason publishers would want it is to prevent piracy and I am not sure how not giving the user more control to deauthoirze computers helps defeat piracy.

It really is annoying that there is a 5 computer limit and there's no way to deactivate one from one place unless you want to deactivate all of them. I've had to do this multiple times when I restore to a new computer without remembering to deactivate iTunes.

It is also odd that Apple cannot link the authorization to the physical computer versus the OS or iTunes install. Apple certainly knows what computer I am on since they can scan the unit for warranty purposes through their website.

MotionMan

 

[vbuggy]

Most likely it's the music publishers that make it work this way.

That's the way with Mac users isn't it - never Apple, always someone else because Apple is perfect.

I'm pretty sure they do this intentionally to stop casual misuse - or use not as intended - of accounts. I toss out my Apple hardware on an on-refresh basis (mainly in the hope that it's less of a total POS that the outgoing machine was) so this bothers me quite a lot. But I can work out why they'd do it.

 

[TheStu]

That's the way with Mac users isn't it - never Apple, always someone else because Apple is perfect.

I'm pretty sure they do this intentionally to stop casual misuse - or use not as intended - of accounts. I toss out my Apple hardware on an on-refresh basis (mainly in the hope that it's less of a total POS that the outgoing machine was) so this bothers me quite a lot. But I can work out why they'd do it.

My ZunePass music was only accessible on up to 3 computers and 5 devices as I recall, and I could only deauthorize 1 of those every 30-90 days (I can't remember exactly).

Google Music is apparently similar "Google issued the following statement regarding the policy change. “We limit the number of times you can swap out new devices at the request of some of our music partners in an effort to limit abuse."

So you're right, it's there to limit abuse, but it's almost certainly at the studio's request.

 

[vbuggy]

My ZunePass music was only accessible on up to 3 computers and 5 devices as I recall, and I could only deauthorize 1 of those every 30-90 days (I can't remember exactly).

Google Music is apparently similar "Google issued the following statement regarding the policy change. “We limit the number of times you can swap out new devices at the request of some of our music partners in an effort to limit abuse."

So you're right, it's there to limit abuse, but it's almost certainly at the studio's request.

Except those are subscription services where it's crystal clear the service will be abused if they allow easy switching: You may want to know what the services entail before you repeat the Apple-are-saints mantra.

 

[MotionMan]

My ZunePass music was only accessible on up to 3 computers and 5 devices as I recall, and I could only deauthorize 1 of those every 30-90 days (I can't remember exactly).

Google Music is apparently similar "Google issued the following statement regarding the policy change. “We limit the number of times you can swap out new devices at the request of some of our music partners in an effort to limit abuse."

So you're right, it's there to limit abuse, but it's almost certainly at the studio's request.

The current system does not seem to limit how often you can authorize or deauthorize a single machine (as long as you remember to deauthorize before you sell or reformat it). It only limits how often you can use the Scorched Earth approach. And I do not have an issue with that.

The issue I have is the lack of the ability to see what units are authorized and to be able to deauthorize individual units from some sort of control center.

I still don't get how this helps the studios or record labels.

MotionMan

 

[TheStu]

Except those are subscription services where it's crystal clear the service will be abused if they allow easy switching: You may want to know what the services entail before you repeat the Apple-are-saints mantra.

Amazon is not a subscription service (you can pay a subscription to increase storage, but it's not like Google Play Music or XBox Music or anything like that), and yet, they limit total number of authorization (10), and they also say that once you deauthorize a device, it takes 30 days for that device's spot to open back up.

So again, obviously it's set up to prevent/slow down/discourage/<insert similar word here> abuse. But it's not like Apple's the only one doing it. I never said they were a saint, and you're the only one here saying that they're the devil, and that the users are stupid and/or foolish.

What's interesting is that I can't find anything that suggests that there's a limit to the number of devices that can access your Kindle library.

 

[TheStu]

The current system does not seem to limit how often you can authorize or deauthorize a single machine (as long as you remember to deauthorize before you sell or reformat it). It only limits how often you can use the Scorched Earth approach. And I do not have an issue with that.

The issue I have is the lack of the ability to see what units are authorized and to be able to deauthorize individual units from some sort of control center.

I still don't get how this helps the studios or record labels.

MotionMan

Man, I could have sworn there was a control center... I wonder if they got rid of it.

 

[TheStu]

Man, I could have sworn there was a control center... I wonder if they got rid of it.

Ok, I was thinking of where you can remove devices that are able to download your purchases or do the autodownloads. It's a separate list for some reason.

 

[ViRGE]

Ok, I was thinking of where you can remove devices that are able to download your purchases or do the autodownloads. It's a separate list for some reason.

Indeed. There has never been a control center. The 5 device, reset all mechanism has been with us since the early days.

Though personally I've always thought it to be rather generous. Especially compared to rival services of the past and present. Obviously Apple could roll out a more fine grained system whenever they'd like, but outside of a few niche cases I'm not sure it would be any better.

 

[MotionMan]

Indeed. There has never been a control center. The 5 device, reset all mechanism has been with us since the early days.

Though personally I've always thought it to be rather generous. Especially compared to rival services of the past and present. Obviously Apple could roll out a more fine grained system whenever they'd like, but outside of a few niche cases I'm not sure it would be any better.

I am not sure that this would be a niche case. I would think it would come up fairly often, but most people deal with it by deauthorizing all their computers and reauthorizing them one-by-one. I will HAVE to do that the next time I have to replace a computer, HD or OS (unless I remember to deauthorize, of course).

That just seems like a very un-Apple-like way of handing things.

MotionMan

 

[Phynaz]

That's the way with Mac users isn't it - never Apple, always someone else because Apple is perfect.

What? I don't have a Mac. Tone down the trolling.

 

[Rakehellion]

What? I don't have a Mac. Tone down the trolling.

He hates Macs and Mac users but for some reason regularly posts in a forum dedicated to them.

 

[MotionMan]

He hates Macs and Mac users but for some reason regularly posts in a forum dedicated to them.

Sounds like some of the typical reactions of one suffering from jealousy.

MotionMan

 

[Oyeve]

Does apple/itunes still limit you to total all computer deactivation once a year or has that changed?

 

[MotionMan]

Does apple/itunes still limit you to total all computer deactivation once a year or has that changed?

You can deauthorize all of your authorized computers only once a year.

I am not sure if there is any limitation as to how often you can deauthorize/authorize an individual computer.

MotionMan

 

[rsutoratosu]

I have the same issue, i have 8 laptops, and sometimes I grab the nearest one.. sucks, i think you can also call them to deauthorize it..

 

[raf051888]

The last time I had this issue, I had to email iTunes support. Check out the section on de-authorizing all computers.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1420