Consumerist

Steve Job’s keynote speech at Macworld has sent a flood of questions to our tipline asking for help switching to Cingular, the only carrier with the much-anticipated iPhone. The iPhone will ship in June, so you have several months to get ready for the switch, if that’s what you’re determined to do. Your immediate goal should be to get yourself on a month-to-month contract.

lawsuits

iTunes Lawsuit: iPod Software is “Crippleware”

By Meg Marco 1.4.07

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has posted a PDF of the complaint in the iTunes/iPod lawsuit. Here are some choice quotes:

apple

Dude Fixes His iBook By Lighting it On Fire

By Meg Marco 1.3.07

DIY Obsolete iBook Logic Board Repair [Geek Technique via Make]

apple

Is iTunes an Illegal Monopoly?

By Meg Marco 1.3.07

Has Apple done this? Have they placed “unneeded and unjustifiable” restrictions on iTunes music? Have these restrictions kept you from or convinced you not to use iTunes? Let’s hear about it in the comments. The lawsuit seeks to “an injunction that would force Apple to make the iPod compatible with other online music and video purchased elsewhere.” What do you think? —MEGHANN MARCO

apple

Genius Bar Might Be Staffed By Douchebags, But Apple Executive Customer Service Works

By consumerist.com 1.2.07

apple

Consumers Buy Only 23 Songs Per iPod

By Meg Marco 12.26.06

USA Today has an analysis of the supposed iTunes meltdown that was widely reported at the beginning of the month. The author thinks the trouble isn’t with iTunes, it’s with DRM. “Since iPods went on sale people are consistently buying about 20 iTunes per iPod. There’s been a small uptick to 23 lately, but that’s it.”

confusing

Apple: Sorry About South Park

By Meg Marco 12.21.06

Apple is trying to set things right with customers who complained after they bought a “South Park Season Pass” that was only good for half the season. According to MacNN, “Comedy Central had decided to ‘split’ the season into two halves for $11.99 each, confusing many customers who thought they were purchasing the entire South Park season.” Apple changed the name of the download to reflect the two halfs of the season, and is offering customers who purchased the first half under the confusing title the opportunity to download part B for free. Let us know how that turns out. —MEGHANN MARCO

apple

Help! Apple Denied My Class-Actioned iPod Battery Claim!

By consumerist.com 12.20.06

Apple hates fixing their bust-ass iPod batteries for free, even if a class action suit tells them to, but there may be a workaround.

ideas

What To Do With A Broken iPod

By Meg Marco 12.20.06

They even have next day repair and data recovery. Because a broken iPod deserves a second chance. Sniff. Does anyone have any non-repair ideas for broken iPod fun? Hockey puck?—MEGHANN MARCO

apple

Powerbook Explodes After Comcast Plugs In Wrong Cable

By consumerist.com 12.18.06

A Comcast customer’s Powerbook exploded after a Comcast tech plugged coax, connected to her computer through her modem, to an electrical wire.

secrets

Best Blank DVDs

By Meg Marco 12.8.06

Are brand-name items any better than no-name ones? It’s a question that shoppers have been asking themselves since before the markets were super. DigitalFAQ.com has endeavored to enlighten us as to the ways of the blank DVD. Where do they come from? Who makes them? Why are they purple?

helping is fun

Reader’s iPod Returned From Shop After Consumerist Intervention

By consumerist.com 12.2.06

After asking The Consumerist for help, reader Lisa received an iPod back from iPod Mechanic yesterday, seven months after she first sent hers in for repairs.

the children!