John’s Blog

ringtone robber barons

Pogue writes what I’ve been thinking. It takes a fair bit to get consumer-me worked up (like the $200 price drop on the iPhone doesn’t bother me a bit), but I think paying more for songs you already own to be turned into a ringtone is just an incredible ripoff. Bah.

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Vilmos Vincze 11 months ago 1 point
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John, what surprises me how Steve's audience applauded hearing this insanity. What surprises me more how in the Apple-concerned press so few opinions have been like yours. I do admire Apple but this idea is just what you call it, an incredible ripoff. My small $280 Nokia lets me set any kind of noise stored in its memory as a ringtone. Any song or recording in any file format, that I can freely move from my computer to the phone. I think Steve will have to see oceans of hacks and mountains of competition to change this bloody attitude. But let's see what the future holds for the iPhone in Europe...
On the other hand I would be happy to spend some bucks on music at iTunes. But I live in Hungary, which is an EU-country, but in Apple's funny case some basic EU-values (free flow of people, labor, goods and money) do not work here. I am not allowed to buy songs unless there is an iTunes store dedicated to my country. But why isn't there a single EU-iTunes-Store?? I know, Steve claims it's just because of the music labels...
But what comes in November, when T-Mobile starts to sell the iPhone in Hungary? How shall I convert songs - purchased thru iTunes - into ringtones for some more tax?
All the best,
Vilmos

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dAlen 9 months ago 1 point
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Vilmos,

Apple is not against Hungary...the reason you cant use iTunes is rather simple.

Hungary is in the E.U., but its NOT in the euro zone.
This is a key factor. Your not really (for all intents and purposes) in the E.U. until you get that euro. Which with the current rate of things, it may never get here. (Slovenia has beaten Hungary, Malta gets it in January...anyway.)

Im an American living here in Hungary, and it was a bit of a change, obviously, when I first moved here. (getting used to things I couldnt due in Hungary because of their 'non' eurozone status. But better than when I was here 10 years ago.)

As for the iphone in Hungary...that will be interesting. Saw it on istyle listed with a price. With Vodophone tying T-Mobile up in court in Germany, who knows when Hungary might get it.

Peace

dAlen

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OM 9 months ago 1 point
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dAlen,

That is ridiculous, Hungary is absolutely in the EU - completely. Being a part of the Eurozone has nothing to do with being part of the EU - it does not endow the countries in the zone with any extra legal power - it is just an area with a single currency.

There is no point in discussing the legal aspects of Europe here, Vilmos is correct.

The UK is not in the Eurozone. It has an iTunes Store. The Eurozone does not have a single iTunes store.

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dAlen 3 months ago 1 point
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Sorry OM,

But it does matter.
See the U.K. has a real economy...Hungary does not.
So what I said holds perfectly true - and as you see Apples not being present just lends proof to what I say.

Hungary in the E.U. is not full E.U.
I hear what your saying, but realistically only this past Jan were the borders dropped so that people could travel without passports between countries. (But wait you were in the E.U. before then!)

Point is look pat the labels to the truth.
Being in the E.U. did not bring borderless crossing overnight nor does it bring you Europes currency.

The reason this is important is because of Hungarys crappy economy (and this is in the words of Hungarians themselves, not mine) which is dependent on the Euro, unlike the U.K. who has a strong economy already.

Other thing is when I first moved here, things like making copies of DVDs you owned was legal, etc.
(I know the issues around that, but the point is that piracy was as rampant here as in China per say. Did Apple think that it was economically viable for them to have such a business. Well times are changing and it appears it may be getting ripe for apple to come.)

Dont get me wrong, it has been a bit of a culture shock for me over the past 3 years. (Also living country side away from an international community.)

But before you cry "we are E.U.", please look past labels to facts. Again, only recently could you go to Austria without needing a passport.
And you still dont hold European currency (Euro).

Some people are more integrated in the E.U. than others. I hope you can see the point and not say, "we are as much in the E.U. as everyone else, the others are treaties, etc."

If your stuck in that mentality, what can I do.
Your point of view wont bring apple any faster.

Im just trying to help explain why it isnt here...and so far the way I put it has proven to be true. ;)

Where is your iphone?

The best to you

Peace

dAlen

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