Slashdot Mirror


Vista - iPod Killer?

JMB wrote us with a dire warning, as reported by the San Jose Mercury News. Apple is cautioning its Windows-using iTunes customers to steer clear of Vista until the next iTunes update. The reason for this is a bit puzzling. Apparently, if you try to 'safely remove' your iPod from a Vista-installed PC, there's a chance you may corrupt the little music player. They also claim that songs may not play, and contacts may not sync with the device. Apple went so far as to release a detailed support document on the subject, which assures users that a new Vista-compatible version of the software will be available in a few weeks. Is this just some very creative FUD? If it is not who do you think is 'at fault' here, Microsoft or Apple?

22 of 557 comments (clear)

  1. It's apples fault by wardk · · Score: 5, Funny

    for not being able to predict what parts Microsoft would focus on breaking

    1. Re:It's apples fault by 4iedBandit · · Score: 5, Funny

      There has been a fairly stable api in vista for the last 6 months and even before that there were little changes for the last year. Apple just decided not to fix thier software for whatever reason and now they are trying to make Vista look bad instead of taking the blame for being slow to support windows users.

      And Microsoft has never purposefully designed their OS to interfere with another competitors product.

      --
      "The avalanch has already started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote." -Kosh
    2. Re:It's apples fault by NoMaster · · Score: 3, Funny

      Why can't the iPod find the files on its own? I might be out somewhere and not have the software. The fact is that the IPOD works that way to give apple control over the content people put on the device.
      You're right. It's so totally unlike the iRiver H10, which only requires you to be running WinXP & WMP10*!

      (* US models only, I know - but even on the non-US firmwares you still need to use the iRiver Plus app or a 3rd-party loader if you want to search, browse by artist, etc...)

      --
      What part of "a well regulated militia" do you not understand?
  2. Interesting... by alshithead · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least they must have some clue about fixes for the issues. It looks like they have a pretty good idea of where Vista breaks iTunes

    Now, let me climb into my tinfoil bunker...

    The evil that is Microsoft has intentionally released Vista just to break iTunes and promote their own music player!

    --
    I reserve the right to think for myself. Others' opinions are optional. Puppy on lap = typos...not illiteracy.
    1. Re:Interesting... by Kemeno · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...except Microsoft's own music player doesn't work with Vista either.

    2. Re:Interesting... by Shippy · · Score: 3, Funny

      Seriously, Microsoft internally is so disorganised and bloated by managers you wouldnt believe, I know because I WORK THERE EVERY DAY. Me, too. :)

      --
      -Shippy
  3. oh no by macadamia_harold · · Score: 3, Funny

    Apparently, if you try to 'safely remove' your iPod from a Vista-installed PC, there's a chance you may corrupt the little music player.

    I shudder to think what would happen if you unsafely remove it. Especially from a Sony laptop.

    1. Re:oh no by kfg · · Score: 5, Funny

      I shudder to think what would happen if you unsafely remove it. Especially from a Sony laptop.

      You've got 10 seconds to throw it after you pull the pin.

      KFG

    2. Re:oh no by Alsee · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...and you've got 30 seconds to throw if you don't pull the pin.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    3. Re:oh no by RebelWithoutAClue · · Score: 2, Funny

      You've got 10 seconds to throw it ... The laptop or the iPod ?
      --
      "However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results" - Winston Churchill
  4. I dunno.. by benc · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look, I think Microsoft's products emanate directly from Satan's butthole, just like the rest of you. I also secretly hump the boxes from which my purchased Apple products emerge. However, doesn't it seem like Apple probably had more than enough time to get this working on the beta versions, assuming this isn't some new, last-second bug?

    That said, the Zune doesn't even work on Vista yet, as another commenter already pointed out.... Still, I'm inclined to blame Apple on this one.

    --
    toot toot
  5. Bill Gates response by edwardpickman · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Oopsy, my bad. I just don't know how that could have happened since our Zune player works perfectly. I'm sure we can get the issue resolved by service pack 4."

  6. Re:Move along, nothing to see by oddaddresstrap · · Score: 5, Funny

    Aren't workarounds a violation of the Vista EULA?

  7. pay attention! by Hallowed · · Score: 5, Funny

    What, didn't you notice that Vista said "Permanently Remove Hardware" instead of "Safely Remove Hardware"? It's not a bug, it's a feature!

    --

    1. When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is no longer your friend.

    2. Do not eat iPod shuffle.

  8. Re:Safari and hotmail by Tragek · · Score: 2, Funny

    " the infamous Microsoft hack that screwed with Netscape back in the 90s"

    You mean IE?

  9. Re:Who to blame? by Nimey · · Score: 5, Funny

    just make sure your access LED stops flickering before you yank your stick out.
    I have nothing to add.
    --
    Hail Eris, full of mischief...

    E pluribus sanguinem
  10. Re:Who to blame? by hoggoth · · Score: 4, Funny

    That reminds me of the good old days playing Castle Wolfenstein (1, not 3D) on my Apple II.
    I played with one finger hooked under the floppy drive door. If Shultz popped up and shot me I could flip the drive open faster than it would write my death to the drive. Nowadays of course most games let you save your state and don't remove your saves if you get killed.

    --
    - For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat /dev/random (may take some time)
  11. Re:Tagged appleduh by dangitman · · Score: 5, Funny

    What could MS have possibly done between RC2 and release to break the iPod?

    Added more kittens?

    --
    ... and then they built the supercollider.
  12. Re:dundant by SlowMovingTarget · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...Apple's obvious attempt to make Vista look bad...
    That would seem to be redundant effort as Microsoft has already bundled that feature with the OS; it's called "downsampling." Ooooh! I smell a new anti-trust suit.
  13. Re:Tagged appleduh by The+Dobber · · Score: 5, Funny


    Couldn't afford either, huh?

  14. Actually, 2MB chips are pretty cheap right now by EXMSFT · · Score: 3, Funny

    The hard part is finding them in the antique shop.

  15. Re:Tagged appleduh by DuckDodgers · · Score: 2, Funny

    Boy, I bet you convert 1 or 2 people to using Linux every day.