Common courtesy is very important for all application developers to follow especially when they are dealing with users settings. Especially for common file formats, where the user has probably already set up their preferences how they like. And most importantly to not piss off your install base.

As you might have gathered from the title Apple has screwed up in this area yet again. In their never ending battle to try and forcibly get an install base, from some of their crappiest application. The Apple developers must taken the same “Our shit doesn’t stink”-attitude as many of their users, and started taking over the preferences on the users machine with out asking.

Like any good .NET developer I had the XML file format being opened by Visual Studio, it has a nice viewing, and editing interface that is hard to beat. Today I saw their was a QuickTime update while watching the Facebook Conferences presentation in anticipation of my previous post today. So as I decided to do the update, what a nightmare that has turned out to be. First of all it was 70 MB download, because Apple also decided that iTunes and Safari needed to be downloaded with Quicktime, and bundled them all together. Then it decides to take over all my documents in my system, including HTML, XML, and a bunch of other web related documents. See below.

Then to boot their XML “Rendering” sucks.

Hey news flash Steve Jobs this is how a real browser renders XML, and does a damn fine job at it.

At least if you are going to take over my system, and forcibly put your software on my computer, the very least you could do is not make it suck. Is that too much to ask.

Steve Jobs has to learn that Windows users don’t put up with the same amount of shit as Apples users do, because one we don’t bow down at the alter of Steve Jobs, and two we have other options. I am not going to let Steve Jobs take a steaming pile of shit on my PC, change all the settings, install one of the worst browsers on earth, and then forgive him. He is going to have to do something grand with Safari to get it back on my PC.

I am really pissed that I now have to uninstall a program that I never wanted installed in the first place, and then go through the registry and clean up after an Apple Developer that couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag.

Maybe they should spend less time trying to achieve an ACID3 milestone that won’t be standard for another couple of years and work on the basics that IE for the better part of a decade now.

Tags: Apple, IE, iTunes, QuickTime, Safari, XML

Posted in Personal, Rant | | | View blog reactions | 3 Comments »

Hi loyal readers,

I have to apologize, I have been a really bad blogger lately. I have neglected my blog because of a new job and a brand new Web 2.0 site that I am about to release. At the end of the month I will make an announcement about this project and all the new technologies that many of you have probably heard of but few have implemented. But until then please keep visiting and I really enjoy your comments on the following popular postings:

• Setting Up iTunes on Windows Vista 64-bit
• Apple wants Vista to Run Un-Secured to install iTunes

Thanks,
Nick

Tags: Apple, iTunes, Microsoft, Windows Vista

Posted in Programming, Rant | | | View blog reactions | 1 Comment »

Last week Apple released iTunes Plus. Which is a higher quality download with no DRM for $1.29 US. However many people in the blogo-sphere have interpreted DRM-Free as being privacy in your purchase. However this is totally wrong way of looking at DRM:

Digital rights management (DRM) is an umbrella term referring to technologies used by publishers or copyright owners to control access to or usage of digital data or hardware, and to restrictions associated with a specific instance of a digital work or device. The term is often confused with copy protection and technical protection measures, which refer to technologies that control or restrict the use and access of digital content on electronic devices with such technologies installed, acting as components of a DRM design.

In fact DRM-Free is exactly what it means you are free to do with the song what you like but your purchase is still registered as being your purchase. A better way to think of Apple iTunes Plus program is the same way you think of the DMV, you are free to use your car however you want, no body is restricting you from loaning your car to your friend or where you can drive it and how far. Even though your car is your property free and clear of any rules, you still have to license the car, and register the VIN with the DMV. Also the license plate on the car is only checked if you are committing a crime. In the same respects Apple is no longer telling you how many times you can burn your song, or how many iPods it can be placed on, or who you can lend the song too, but the registration of the song still needs to be licensed with iTunes. They are only going to check the license if you are committing a crime with the song such as violating the EULA, which I am pretty sure includes posting to a P2P site.

So before everybody starts getting hot under the collar about your information showing up in the song you licensed from iTunes and EMI, just sit back and think for a second, about how much this doesn’t effect you. Essentially the song is there for you to share with all your friends just like a CD or anything else, however if you start posting the song publicly which is the same as playing a CD in a large venue you have violated the license agreement of your purchase and you should pay the price.

I personally congratulate Apple for taking this critical step for having a DRM free world.

Tags: Apple, DRM, iPod, iTunes

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I am happy to announce that Apple iTunes 7.2 has been released and this is the first release since Windows Vista was released 6 months ago that worked through Apples normal install process with out any problems. I just wanted to keep everybody updated since I have talked about the problems of installing iTunes on Windows Vista x64 in the past.

If you want any more information about this release, please view Mac Rumors.

Tags: Apple, iTunes, Microsoft, Windows Vista

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Well it’s been a whole 8 days since the last Apple iTunes release 7.1 where Apple wanted us Windows Vista users to be unsecured so they could install the iTunes software. Now the latest version of Apple iTunes has been release, version 7.1.1, and it has the exact same problem except now they changed the error message.
From:

—————————
iTunes + QuickTime
—————————
iTunes could not be installed because Visual Basic Script (VBScript) is not installed or has been disabled. Make sure VBScript is installed, turn off script blocking in anti-virus and personal firewall software, re-register VBScript, and then install iTunes.
—————————
OK
—————————

To:

—————————
iTunes + QuickTime
—————————
The installer has encountered an unexpected error installing this package. This may indicate a problem with this package. The error code is 2738.
—————————
OK
—————————

Unfortunately for Apple changing the error message doesn’t mean you have fixed your past problem. If you check out Apple Support #304405, you see that Apple outlines the same steps I have provided in my previous post. So it is mostly definitely the same issue.

Note To Steve Jobs: Get off your butts and hire some Windows Developers, or fire the current Windows Developers because they aren’t worth their weight in beans. I really don’t understand how they have usability engineers and designers working on the un-packaging process of the Apple products in order to maximize the quality that goes in to every hardware device. How about having some of that rub off on your un-packaging of software?

Tags: Apple, iTunes, Microsoft, Windows Vista

Posted in Programming, Rant | | | View blog reactions | 2 Comments »

This morning I wrote about the problems I had installing the newly released iTunes for Windows Vista Ultimate x64. I just recently found a solution to the problem error that iTunes was giving me when I tried to install it this morning. The error was:

iTunes could not be installed because Visual Basic Script (VBScript) is not installed or has been disabled. Make sure VBScript is installed, turn off script blocking in anti-virus and personal firewall software, re-register VBScript, and then install iTunes.

And the solution is to simple register the vbscript.dll. To do this you just need to follow the next 3 steps:

1. Open up the Command Prompt as an Administrator (Go to All Programs > Accessories and Right Click on Command Prompt and then choose Run as administrator)
2. Type cd C:\Windows\SysWOW64
3. Type regsvr32 vbscript.dll (This registers VB Script with your computer.)
4. Now install iTunes as you normally would by double clicking on the install program and wait for iTunes to finish installing.
5. Type regsvr32 /u vbscript.dll (This unregisters VB Script with your computer.)

If the above didn’t work for you, you may be using a 32-bit version of Windows. Please check out the Apple Support #304405, which will walk you through the process to enabled VBScript on Windows 32-bit.

Please read more if you would like to hear my rant against Apple and the security vulnerability this opens up in the Windows Operating System. On a side note Apple should be congratulated, I guess, for fixing a bug I documented almost 3 months ago when trying to install iTunes on Vista x64.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Apple, iPhone, iTunes

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Well its offical Apple iTunes 7.1 was just recently released. This is the quote from the Apple Site on the release:

About iTunes 7.1 for Windows
iTunes is the world’s best way to organize and enjoy your personal digital music and video collection with your Mac. iTunes is also the easiest way to sync music, videos, and more with your iPod.With iTunes, easily create a digital music and video collection by importing your personal music CDs or downloading your favorite songs and videos from the iTunes Store. Create your own playlists, perfect for any mood or occasion. Burn playlists to CDs and play them on your home stereo, or sync iPod with iTunes and enjoy your collection in your car or on the go.

What’s New in this Version
Using iTunes 7.1, you can now enjoy your favorite iTunes movies, TV shows, music, and more from the comfort of your living room with Apple TV. iTunes 7.1 also supports a new full screen Cover Flow and improved sorting options to let you decide how iTunes should sort your favorite artists, albums, and songs.

You may remember my previous article talking about how to install iTunes 7.0.x on Windows Vista x64. Well I am getting ready to install iTunes 7.1 on my machine and will provide an update on the progress. Hopefully Apple has done a good job at getting iTunes to work with Windows Vista x64.

Update: (8:00 am) I have tried installing Apple iTunes 7.1 on my Windows Vista Ultimate x64 and it failed dismally. Gave me some error that said Apple iTunes installer could not run VBScript for the installer. I don’t really understand why iTunes is using VBScript, because this is moving backwards from every other MSI installer, and this is actually the first program that I have had problems installing since upgrading to Windows Vista back at the end of November 2006. I really have a feeling this has to do with Apple programmers not understand Windows MSI Installer. Why can’t Apple hire Windows Application developers like Microsoft hires Mac Application developers for its Office Suite. I will post another update as soon as I find a solution.

Update: (2:01 pm) Apparently Apple requires you to enabled VB Script which was disabled by Microsoft by default because of potential use by internet worms and trojan viruses. I have created a step-by-step guide to walk users through the process of enabled VB Script and then disabling it after the iTunes install is done. Apparently Apple is not the only vendor having problems with the disabling of the scripting languages in Vista, I have seen reports that Adobe Photoshop CS3 is having trouble installing because JScript is disabled. I am willing to put up with this for now, because it was a good move on Microsoft’s part because of the harm the scripting languages have caused in the past.

Tags: Adobe, Apple, iTunes, Microsoft, Windows Vista

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It seems like the multi-billion dollar children are at it again. The bitter rivalry between these two companies ceases to amaze me. Apparently none of Apples products are ready for Windows Vista according to a Yahoo News article.

According to a document that Apple has posted on its Web site, none of the software that it’s made available for the Windows environment has been updated for Vista compatibility.

That includes not only iTunes but QuickTime, Airport For Windows, Bonjour For Windows, iDisk utility, and AppleWorks for Windows. All of those applications or utilities are listed by Apple as compatible with Windows XP and earlier versions of Windows, but not Vista.

It would seem that Apple is either very lazy or has alternate motives for not supporting Windows Vista. While I believe it was the latter, to try and push the consumers buying new computers at this time of year over to an Apple so that the buyers can still use their beloved iPod. Apple can give a bunch of BS about how they haven’t had time to update the software because Windows Vista was just released, but that is just another false truth. Windows Vista was first released to developers and corporations as a final and stable operating system back in the later part of November. In addition it had a stable API for months before that. So Apple has had a good 6 months to actually work on getting their products ready for Windows Vista.

Credit should be given to AppleDefects.com for tipping me off to this article.

Tags: Apple, iPod, iTunes, Microsoft, Windows Vista

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Many of my co-workers and friends have been having trouble setting up iTunes on Windows Vista 64-bit. So I thought I would put together a quick reference sheet that will make it easier, since Apple hasn’t quite got their act together yet.

Background on Windows 64-bit
In the 64-bit versions of Windows there are two locations for programs to be stored by default.

• Program Files - All the 64-bit applications that can run with out any assistance from the 32-bit emulator.
• Program Files (x86) - All the 32-bit applications that need the 32-bit emulator to help then run under the 64-bit versions Windows.

Problem
When installing the latest version of iTunes (7.0.2) on Windows Vista 64-bit the install of the QuickTime software completes successfully, however when the iTunes software tries to install the application it produces an error message saying that it cannot find the QuickTime installation.

This is happening because QuickTime software is getting installed in the Program Files (x86) since it is not a 64-bit application. And the iTunes application specifically looks for it in the Program Files directory. I don’t know why the Apple iTunes programmers thought hard coding a path was a good idea, because they definitely could have looked up the install directory in the Windows Registry. As every programmer knows and has been slapped on the wrist by a more experienced programmer you should never hard code possible variations to your program. Especially if it is a hard drive path, because a non-standard install of QuickTime would lead to the same problem.

Solution
Basically the solution is very easy and involves a new feature in Windows Vista called a symbolic link.

1. Open up the Command Prompt as an Administrator (Go to All Programs > Accessories and Right Click on Command Prompt and then choose Run as administrator)
2. Create a QuickTime folder in both Program Files (x86)
   mkdir "c:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime"
3. Now we create a symbolic link to the Program Files directory
   mklink /d "c:\Program Files\QuickTime" "c:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime"
4. Now install iTunes as you normally would by double clicking on the install program.

If all the steps were followed from above you will have no problem getting iTunes to install correctly on Windows Vista 64-bit.

Update: If you are still having trouble you are probably experiencing the VB Script issue, where Apple wants you to run in an unsecured mode to install iTunes. I have outlined the steps to install iTunes in the following article.

Update (2007-7-12): I have been getting many thanks for this article as well as my other iTunes articles relating to Vista. If you would really like to do something for me, please visit one of the sponsors to the right or the left. They are how I support this site and keep it running.

Update (2008-1-21): One of the commenter’s below, found out that if you download iTunes from your Internet Explorer 64-bit version you get a version of iTunes that is 64-bit compatible. Now if Apple would only notify its users of this. Or fix their downloading software, or even the iTunes installer, to better detect Windows Vista 64-bit everybody would be in perfect shape. This is still a problem that could be easily avoided by Apple.

Tags: 64-bit, Apple, iTunes, Microsoft, Windows Vista

Posted in How To, Programming, Rant | | | View blog reactions | 60 Comments »