Last week an iTunes TV show menu suddenly started showing up on international Apple TVs, didn't work, and subsequently disappeared. This week iTunes Match suddenly started showing up for international iTunes users, didn't work, and Apple subsequently offered refunds to those who'd tried to purchase it.
So, we'd suggest waiting until a) Apple makes an official announcement about iTunes Match in your country, or b) significant reports come in of it actually working, before c) you give them any money for it.
Whether or not Apple is planning to officially launch iTunes TV shows and iTunes Match in more regions and someone accidentally lent on the big red "launch" lever at iCloud central a tad early -- twice -- or there's some stranger problem going on is uncertain.
International licensing agreements are complex. Cloud services are complex. But false starts and pull backs seem decidedly un-Apple-like.
Here's hoping iTunes gets their international launches back in order, and officially out the door, asap. If you saw either the here-today-gone-tomorrow TV show menu on Apple TV, or tried and failed to buy iTunes Match outside the US and Brazil, let us know in the comments below.
Reader comments
Apple accidentally launching, revoking international iTunes TV, iTunes Match services
I paid for the service last night through the Canadian Store. The funds were taken, but no service. However, I have yet to see a refund to my account.
Bummer.
Same here. Sigh.
Subscribed in UK and got receipt from iTunes store, Match appeared briefly in my iTunes sidebar but only led to Genius. Error message advised to log out and log in again - this removed reference to Match. I'm now trying to get the money back via Express Lane help.
Nearly the same experience here in UK. I logged a service request with Apple and had email back apologising and informing me of refund. iTunes Match now shows 'Renew" on my iTunes Account page.
seriously - this all happened when Steve died. Remember how their website went down (apple's) due to excess traffic after a product launch? how come this was avoided while steve was alive?
did his staff honestly only do whatever he said and not ever think on their own with successful results (therefore one possible explanation of the problems since his death)? And if so, can't they just start pretending they hear his voice commanding them in their heads and go on about making some successful product launches rather than all of these unimportant but decidedly un-apple-esque glitches?
just my 2 cents worth.
As anybody who tried to order an iPhone 4 online on launch day can tell you, it wasn't.
What a mess. I can understand someone messing up and publishing a link for a few minutes, but several DAYS? And nobody there noticed?
If it was not Apple, this post would be full terms like "pathetic", "disorganized" etc. Once again they get a free pass and we get a list of suggestions like it was our fault to assume that a link on Apple's page was supposed to be official enough.
Registered on UK store. Raised query with Apple support who said it should be working and sent me link to iTunes Match support page.
Match has now disappeared from UK store so I have emailed support and asked for a refund and I will subscribe when it is operational.
Now running iTunes Match in the UK
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