Beginning of iTunes problems?

[mdwsta4]

I'm still using iTunes 12.6.3.6 on High Sierra because I like downloading all my updates ONCE instead of on every single device. Apple Books recently showed in need of an update in iTunes, but when I try to download the update, I receive the following error:

Anyone else seen this? I can no longer seem to find it in the App Store and my devices don't show it needing an update. Looks like I may finally update OS when Catalina comes out, but I really do wish they kept the App Store update feature around. I simply don't understand how it's easier to download the same thing across multiple devices. It just doesn't make sense.

 

[bluespark]

I don't understand this post. You posted under the Mac App Store forum, but you seem to be looking for an iOS app (rather than Books, which is part of MacOS). Maybe you meant to go do the iOS apps forum?

Beyond that if your devices "don't show it needing an update" then you're already set on those, so it's not clear why you are looking for an update to begin with. Also, why would you ever have to "download the same thing across multiple devices" unless you set your preferences that way? Most people automatically update on all iOS devices and thus never do what you are describing.

 

[NoBoMac]

Since you can't find it in the iOS App Store, guessing nothing to do with Catalina EoL of iTunes, especially since not out of beta.

Not using that version of iTunes, and see Books in my iOS App Store, so, wild guess, signed out of Apple ID? Country code changed (might try "changing" that, even if already showing correct country)?

Might try downloading the demo version of iMazing and see if their App Store download stuff works. If so, something in iTunes might be corrupt (ie. may need to uninstall and reinstall the old iTunes).

 

[mdwsta4]

I don't understand this post. You posted under the Mac App Store forum, but you seem to be looking for an iOS app (rather than Books, which is part of MacOS). Maybe you meant to go do the iOS apps forum?

Beyond that if your devices "don't show it needing an update" then you're already set on those, so it's not clear why you are looking for an update to begin with. Also, why would you ever have to "download the same thing across multiple devices" unless you set your preferences that way? Most people automatically update on all iOS devices and thus never do what you are describing.

The error is through iTunes which is part of Mac OSX, not iOS.

Do you have any data that *most* people have automatic updates on? *most* of those people are probably the same ones that never delete a photo from their entire library or backup their phones. Plenty of people do not. You may not want to download a specific update. Regardless, that still means if you have the same app on multiple devices, the same app is being downloaded multiple times whereas before the last iTunes update, you could download the update (once) then sync all your devices.

I'm not *looking* for an update, the app appeared in iTunes as having an update. The error message comes up when I attempt to download the app.

Since you can't find it in the iOS App Store, guessing nothing to do with Catalina EoL of iTunes, especially since not out of beta.

Not using that version of iTunes, and see Books in my iOS App Store, so, wild guess, signed out of Apple ID? Country code changed (might try "changing" that, even if already showing correct country)?

Might try downloading the demo version of iMazing and see if their App Store download stuff works. If so, something in iTunes might be corrupt (ie. may need to uninstall and reinstall the old iTunes).

Not having issues downloading any other apps. I apologize, I should have clarified; Books does not show in the iTunes Store on Mac OSX. It does appear on all of my iOS devices.

I have considered iMazing, just didn't want to pay for something that iTunes has always done for free.

 

[sracer]

I'm still using iTunes 12.6.3.6 on High Sierra because I like downloading all my updates ONCE instead of on every single device. Apple Books recently showed in need of an update in iTunes, but when I try to download the update, I receive the following error:

Anyone else seen this? I can no longer seem to find it in the App Store and my devices don't show it needing an update. Looks like I may finally update OS when Catalina comes out, but I really do wish they kept the App Store update feature around. I simply don't understand how it's easier to download the same thing across multiple devices. It just doesn't make sense.

I got the same message and I'm using the last version of iTunes that supports iOS app downloads. It looks like Apple is going to force downloading apps directly on the devices.

 

[mdwsta4]

I got the same message and I'm using the last version of iTunes that supports iOS app downloads. It looks like Apple is going to force downloading apps directly on the devices.

Glad someone understands what I’m trying to say! Thank you. Did you get the same error with Books or another app?

 

[sracer]

Glad someone understands what I’m trying to say! Thank you. Did you get the same error with Books or another app?

I got the same error with Books. And because Books won't update, it doesn't appear possible to check for updates to other apps.

I tried moving the Books 4.17.ipa file out from its original location and iTunes was able to check all apps for updates. 20 apps needed to be updated. When it attempted to update Books, it returned the same message.

But I ended up in the same situation after that. Still couldn't check for updates because Books was pending.

I then remembered that mac OS keeps track of a file's location when you "move" it. iTunes saw its new location and that it needed updating. I then "copied" the .ipa to a temp space and "deleted" the original. iTunes still thought that Books was available even though the .ipa was not found. I deleted Books from the apps "Library" view and when I went to check for updates, it was able to correctly check for updates.

It seems like this is a simple way to force people off of any version of iTunes that supports app downloads. If they limit it to leveraging Books.ipa only, then it won't be too bad, but I suspect that as the release of iOS 13 and mac OS Catalina get closer to general availability, we may see more and more apps triggering the same warning.

 

[NoBoMac]

It seems like this is a simple way to force people off of any version of iTunes that supports app downloads. If they limit it to leveraging Books.ipa only, then it won't be too bad, but I suspect that as the release of iOS 13 and mac OS Catalina get closer to general availability, we may see more and more apps triggering the same warning.

This. But guessing some technical reason vs wanting to force off legacy iTunes users.

What with Catalina being able to run iOS apps, and Apple claiming iOS apps will be half the size they are today, speculation, Apple will be doing some serious app slicing per platform, so, will need to use platform "proper" App Store to get app for that device type.

 

[sracer]

This. But guessing some technical reason vs wanting to force off legacy iTunes users.

What with Catalina being able to run iOS apps, and Apple claiming iOS apps will be half the size they are today, speculation, Apple will be doing some serious app slicing per platform, so, will need to use platform "proper" App Store to get app for that device type.

That is a reasonable conclusion. Apple has officially removed app downloads from within iTunes over a year ago. They only relented for enterprise implementations. The version of iTunes that I and some others are using was never intended to be for individuals.

We (using that version of iTunes) are the only ones seeing this Books error popup. This is Apple's way of reminding us, "hey, don't get too cozy using this version of iTunes. It was always only to be a temporary measure."

 

[bluespark]

The error is through iTunes which is part of Mac OSX, not iOS.

Do you have any data that *most* people have automatic updates on? *most* of those people are probably the same ones that never delete a photo from their entire library or backup their phones. Plenty of people do not. You may not want to download a specific update. Regardless, that still means if you have the same app on multiple devices, the same app is being downloaded multiple times whereas before the last iTunes update, you could download the update (once) then sync all your devices.

I'm not *looking* for an update, the app appeared in iTunes as having an update. The error message comes up when I attempt to download the app.

Look, I was legitimately trying to understand what you were asking so I (or others, if they found your post as confusing as I did) might be able to offer a suggestion. Guess I won’t bother.

Also, when I said “most,” I meant it. Find your own data.