Apple Temporarily Halts New iTunes Match Subscriptions in New International Markets

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

My guess is that, in at least 18-months time, iTunes Match will become a free feature and an integral catalyst for Apple reducing onboard memory on their iOS devices.

It's ridiculously obvious. Make a tidy profit while some initial press/hype exists, then make it a "killer feature" by the time OS 10.8 comes out.

 

[cloud 9]

Let me guess, this is Samsungs fault?

In 6 months Samsung will get their 'iCloud' calling it also 'iCloud' because the name is just too common sense and claiming patent infringement <_<

 

[daneoni]

They seem to be really struggling (again). I've been matching one song for about 30mins now

 

[Antares]

Did anyone else find themselves wanting to click that "OK" button, instinctively, even though its just a picture?

iTunes match was obviously overloaded with people joining. Apple wasn't ready capacitywise. Would their servers be in Europe or US (for the overseas service)?

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

They seem to be really struggling. I've been matching one song for about 30mins now

Click 'Stop' and start over. This happened to me last night, so I tried the former solution and it worked... Now my artwork/remaining songs are uploading between 5 and 30 seconds each

 

[daneoni]

Click 'Stop' and start over. This happened to me last night, so I tried the former solution and it worked... Now my artwork/remaining songs are uploading between 5 and 30 seconds each

I have. Still gets stuck at the same stage. Even tried signing out/in. Quitting and restarting. Same dice.

 

[AustinIllini]

Plus an extra BONUS…no musicians are ever paid!

Irrelevant. Musicians make little money on .mp3 files and album sales.

 

[Scarpad]

I'm in the U.S. and I've temporarily shut off the service, until it gets a bit more seasoned, the inability to properly display artwork, and to properly sync the library just limited its usefullness for me.

 

[GenesisST]

Glad I subscribed this morning. Now, I'll proudly beta test it for other Canadians. :-S

 

[unobtainium]

So if your Hard Drive were to fail or you were to purchase a new machine, you will easily and quickly be able to get your music back (rather than have to re-import your entire cd collection).

But since iTunes Match doesn't back up your TV shows or movies, you'll still lose those if your HD crashes, and if it wasn't originally purchased from iTunes you'll need to back up your library yourself.

Here's a question I have: say I subscribe for a year and my library is matched and upgrade to the iTunes versions of songs...when my subscription lapses will I still be able to use iTunes in the Cloud to download those songs that were already matched when I was subscribed?

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

In 6 months Samsung will get their 'iCloud' calling it also 'iCloud' because the name is just too common sense and claiming patent infringement <_<

Or they could get Dropbox and rename it iCloud.

 

[saving107]

I have: say I subscribe for a year and my library is matched and upgrade to the iTunes versions of songs...when my subscription lapses will I still be able to use iTunes in the Cloud to download those songs that were already matched when I was subscribed?

Apple hasn't said and this service just started, so we'll have to wait until next year to find out. But my guess is no because that tab in iTunes is for the ability to re-download Purchased songs.

 

[jayfehr]

I have. Still gets stuck at the same stage. Even tried signing out/in. Quitting and restarting. Same dice.

I had a similar issue, I just made a copy of it on the desktop, deleted it in iTunes, and did the stop/start thing. I haven't had a chance to put it back yet, I'll do that tonight.

Also thought I would share some stats from my experience:

Total songs: 4909
Purchased: 1082 (22%)
Matched: 3314 (68%)
Uploaded: 513 (10%)
Upgraded to iTunes quality 256kbps from lower bitrate: 1955 (40%)

 

[Broph]

They're not letting any more subscribers in New Zealand.

 

[jpford]

I've had problems since last night here in the UK. Managed to sign up with Apple ID and promptly got an email to say they had taken my money. Got the error message that most people got last night.

This morning I managed to start the setup process. Managed to get home at lunch time to check progress. It was up to step 3 but was in the process of uploading about 6500 tracks it couldn't match.

Left it running and then when I got back from work this evening it still had about 2500 tracks to upload.

Now, late evening nearly 24 hours later it has reverted to step 2 and every time I restart it gets stuck at the same point every time.

Apple are clearly having major problems, probably due to demand but you really would think they would be setup for this and be ready to resolve problems quickly.

Steve Jobs must be spinning in his grave!

 

[dmblue]

signed up last night in canada.. other than it taking some time to upload and a handful duplicate tracks.. it is working GREAT.

this just made my iTunes experience 20x better.

 

[kurosov]

Well i'll be waiting till christmas to get the service using the iTunes Vouchers i'll no doubt get in cards.

 

[alexph]

How about PLEASE check back later. They could at least be polite about it.

Ha... couldn't agree more - probably a harassed programmer desperate to get the message up

----------

My match has stalled on Step 2 - cant get it to upload final 22 songs no matter what I do. have deleted a few with error, other than that no apparently problems with my library so i guess it must be Apple's server system.

Not very impressed - if they dont fix this pdq will be asking for my money back or an extension to my subscription

 

[jroadley]

UK user.

Signed up 9pm last night.... Didn't get in until 11pm - started matching and uploading stuff (bootlegs etc)

Then throughout the day - iTunes match process has jumped between Step 2 & 3

Has yet to complete... What a load of tosh.

That said, did listen to loads of stuff on iPhone at work today.

 

[ATMB]

Obviously, Italy is not included in iTunes Match international launch.

Italian lobbies always distinguish themselves when talking about progress.

 

[WeegieMac]

Damn, new subs halted just in time for me getting home from work and settling down in front of the Mac, lol.

 

[timd.mackey]

I just tried to close the error window in the screenshot *facepalm*

 

[Glideslope]

This is the opposite of a screw-up. Apple is taking charge in ensuring that quality of use is not degraded for people who have already purchased the service. Demand is greater than what Apple expected so they'll be opening the gates slowly to allow them to meet demand without crashing the whole thing.

Thank you. There is hope in here yet.

 

[CrackedButter]

Vote up if you think Tim shouts louder than Steve!

 

[G4DP]

This is the opposite of a screw-up. Apple is taking charge in ensuring that quality of use is not degraded for people who have already purchased the service. Demand is greater than what Apple expected so they'll be opening the gates slowly to allow them to meet demand without crashing the whole thing.

What are you on?

Apple launch yet another online service, with yet another half arsed approach to being ready. Apple know how many people have iTunes, they know how many people have iTunes Store accounts, there is no reason for them to 'under estimate' demand.