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WTFOTM

2010-04-22 00:32:37.202304+00 by Dan Lyke 5 comments

So I downloaded a few books from http://www.ePubBud.com . I drag 'em, one at a time, to the iTunes icon (because dragging them to the window doesn't work, and because multiple drag doesn't work). I see them in my books, click sync, and they don't end up on the iPad. Then I scroll to the top of that section, notice that there's an unchecked checkbox next to "Sync Books". Okay, check it, click "Sync", get:

Are you sure you want to sync books? All existing songs, movies and TV shows on the iPad "Dan Lyke's iPad" will be removed.

Huh?

[ related topics: Books Technology and Culture Movies Work, productivity and environment Television ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2010-04-22 01:20:47.778897+00 by: ebradway

It's how Apple defines usability:

"Make actions, like deleting all paid content, so easy that it's hard not to."

Followed by:

"Make restoring content much harder than just buying it again from the iTunes Store."

Apple is simply taking the media industry's method of changing distribution media every decade or so (i.e., albums to cassette tapes to CDs) to a new level of revenue-generating ease. That's how they've become the largest music retailer on the planet - not because people buy more music from them - but because the keep buying the same music over and over!

#Comment Re: made: 2010-04-22 17:39:04.63859+00 by: markd

The iTunes UI is horrible, and generally gets worse with each new device and version.

Typically the "sync all X" checkboxes refer to "sync all paid content for X, obliterating any customizations". I just drag things to the device icon from the Finder, and/or "choose a subset to sync", and then clickyclicky everything, paid or not.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-04-22 20:32:20.577552+00 by: petronius

It means synching your life with Chairman Steve's plots for world domination, which seems right on schedule.

Didja ever notice how Apple gets away with this stuff, while Microsoft is the only one dragged into the European Court of Fading Imperial Pretensions to explain himself?

#Comment Re: made: 2010-04-22 20:59:31.574137+00 by: Dan Lyke

Apple gets away with it 'cause they're not a big enough target. I think they will be before too long.

This device scares me, frankly, but I'm also pretty sure that it doesn't scare most of the rest of the world. Fighting it means holding back the tide, developing for it means opportunity.

#Comment Re: made: 2010-04-22 21:34:14.622882+00 by: Shawn

Yeah. I get messages like this all the time with my iPod Touch and Apple TV - especially during the recent migration of my iTunes installation to a better PC. I don't have a solution for you, but I have learned that more so even than Microsoft, not doing thing the Apple expected/prescribed way brings much pain and discomfort.