Archive for August, 2007

Finally! TV Shows On UK iTunes Store!

But there’s a catch once again…

Even though it has been evident throughout Apple’s history, it has never before angered me as much as it has now.
I speak of the over inflated prices, compared to the USA, that Apple put on their products, both physical and digital.

I accepted the price of the iPod in the UK being what it was because it wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t as if I was paying double - same goes for the Macs I bought.

My main complaint is that for the price of a full Season of a TV show on the iTunes store is £32.99 (using Lost as an example). I would be able to buy the DVD box set for around that price, and get a good looking case, a dvd full of extras, and actually have something to show for my money.

All I get if I buy it through iTunes is the video itself. I could get that of the same (or better) quality for free. I guess that can be said for almost all digital and physical media though.

What really gets me though is that the music on the iTunes store doesn’t have the same problem. A full album on iTunes is around £7.99. That’s far better than buying the CD in the shops, which can be in excess of £15 - and it’s not like you get extras when you buy an album on CD (special editions excluded).

Here’s a copy of the feedback form I sent to Apple:

Finally, it’s been a long time coming, but TV shows are now available on the iTunes store. For that, I and many, many other people are extremely grateful. There’s only one problem.

How can you justify the prices, Apple?
Take the popular Lost TV Series as an example. Customers can purchase it from the US iTunes Store for $34.99 (USD), which equates to £17.35 (GBP). Yet Apple insist on charging £32.99 (GBP), which equates to $66.55 (USD).

Why are UK customers subjected to almost double the price for a TV Series than what is payed in the US? Why ignore the exchange rate when selling content to overseas customers? The rate is currently $2.07 to £1.00.

The prices are far too inflated, and there is no justifiable reason for them being so.
I suggest, Apple, that if you wish to keep your customers interested, lower your prices.
It’s no wonder piracy is so high these days…

I’m not sure whether or not they’ll listen, but it seems that I’m not the only one narked off about the prices.

Apple + EA Do It Again

I’m not sure whether it’s EA’s or Apple’s fault - so I’ll go with both.

The games that EA promised in July finally made their way onto the online Apple Store… but only in the USA. The games are nowhere to be seen on the UK online Apple Store.

The one thing I’ve really been waiting for from Apple + EA and they messed it up again! What is it about Apple and not letting anyone outside the USA have any fun?? First the iTunes store and now this! All we want is to be able to enjoy the Apple experience without having to emigrate!

America needs to wake up and acknowledge that it isn’t the only country in the world.

Looking For Group: Slaughter Your World

Disney songs are ten times better when you rip them apart in a parody. :D

Transformers, Robots In Disguise!

Optimus Prime:

“… EBAY!!”

‘Nuff Said….

Chav = Bad. Drink + Chav = Bad.

For those readers that don’t know what a Chav is, allow me to describe.

A Chav (sometimes acronymed as Counsel House And Violent), is a person of little brain. I referr you to my satyrical piece entitled How To Ruin A Good Night Out. A Chav will almost always be the root of any disturbance in the public, whether it be a Pub, a street corner, or even in non-public areas such as your own home.

For a more in-depth analysis of a Chav, please consult the Chav Wiki.

(This may get complicated, try to keep up.)

At the best of times, my family is pretty hard to keep track of. My mother has a hard time staying with one partner for a prolonged period of time (my opinion, but the truth). The most recent partner my mother is with has a daughter, roughly 19 - 22 years old. She has a boyfriend who is 19 who shall hereon in be referred to as Jim.

Jim is a boxer. He boxes for Wales. Jim is a classic example of a Chav. From the moment I saw him, I knew he was going to be some kind of trouble. My mother’s partner’s daughter (getting complicated already) and her boyfriend, Jim, were invited to a small get-together for a meal and some drinks at home.

Referring to the title, any equation with Chav in it will equate to Bad. It’s like multiplying by zero. A Chav can cause trouble regardless of their level of intoxication. The only problem is that the amount of trouble caused appears to double or even triple when you add drink into the equation.

I was sat in my room, enjoying an episode of Grownups on BBC’s website, when I heard shouts, screams and bangs from downstairs. This was just as the night was drawing to a close. all problems happen when people are about to leave, why? Because that’s the point at which they’re most intoxicated.

As I went down to see what the hell was going on, I was met with my mum, her partner, my brother, my brothers girlfriend, and Jim-The-Chav’s girlfriend trying to split up my other brother and Jim from beating the living crap out of each other.

After successfully breaking them up, and among the ensuing shouting and crying, i discerned the truth as to what had happened.

My mum’s partner had asked his daughter to leave because it was getting late and they had to go to work in the morning. Any normal person would have obliged and taken the suggestion to heart and left. But his daughter made a scene, she didn’t have money for a taxi or something - and then (from what I was able to gather) Jim, Mr. Ultimate-Boxer-Chav-Man, thought my brother was mocking him ( ? ) and flew at him, all fists blazing.
My brother’s girlfriend stepped in to stop Jim, and he punched her in the face, TWICE. Not once, by accident, as he was aiming for my brother, but twice as in “I’m a big hard man I beat up girlies”. Of course, my brother lost it and flew at him, because you just don’t hit girls, it’s not what you do, no matter what happens.

It was at this point that I had had enough and called the Police, who turned up in time to be able to intercept Jim as he was leaving. I’m not clear what they said to him, but it was probably something along the lines of “go home”.

So anyway, things had calmed down and the Police were clued in as to what had transpired. The only thing is that they wouldn’t take statements from the people involved because they were intoxicated. Fine. My brother offered to go down to the station tomorrow and give a statement. No chance. According to the Officer, the next available date that my brother would be able to make a statement would be next week.
Personally I think that’s a load of bull. The Officer most likely just didn’t want the paperwork.

I guess the only good thing the Welsh Police force are doing these days is employing extremely good looking female officers.