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iTunes is the worst, part 1

 

Dear Apple,

You have the most harrowing payment/login process I have ever seen. I wanted to buy an app on the ipad. Here is what I had to do:

  1. Search for the app in the app store.
  2. Find it and Buy.
  3. Log into my account (with an annoying password, since you require capitals and numbers.)
  4. Log into my account again. ...! Yes, the prompt came up again. No error that I entered it wrong, just have to do it a second time.
  5. Get an error that my payment is wrong, but that I can't update it here, I have to update it "in the itunes store on the computer".
  6. Try to go to itunes store on the computer, and search for my account, but can't find it.
  7. Eventually realize that it means the store within the iTunes program, not a web site like one would expect. Using a store within a walled-off program rather than the web makes me feel like I'm back on AOL in 1995.
  8. Open itunes, wait for it to sync again.
  9. Go to the iTunes store.
  10. Switch to "ipad"
  11. Search for the same app again.
  12. Attempt to buy it.
  13. Have to log into my account.
  14. Answer 2 security questions.
  15. Get the error that my payment info is outdated (Don't know why; it's paypal, which is still working fine for me everywhere else.)
  16. Enter new payment info (I choose a credit card instead.)
  17. Enter my name and full address.
  18. Go back to the ipad, go back to app store, attempt to download the app again.
  19. LOG INTO MY ACCOUNT
  20. Answer 2 security questions.
  21. Enter new payment info, including my full name and address AGAIN.
  22. The app downloads.

Why do I need to log into my account every time I download an app, even though it's my own iPad or iPhone?
Why do I need to log in even if an app is free?

Apple, listen.
Most of your items for sale are $1.99.
YOU JUST DON'T NEED THIS MUCH SECURITY.

I know you can afford to hire someone to fix this.

 

Sincerely,

Jesse

 

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