Apple shuts down stock tracking site, have to find your new Apple device the old fashioned way

By Richard Devine
published

With stocks of recent Apple devices at launch – iPhone 5s we're looking at you – being questionable, one talented soul developed a website that would help you keep track on stocks of the devices wherever you were. Seems Apple isn't too happy about it, and has sent a takedown notice to Apple-Tracker.com. The site's owner has posted a simple message:

I've deciced to turn off the site. I'm not doing this because I want to, but rather because I received a DMCA takedown notice (you can see the full text below) from Apple. I'm not really interested in picking a fight with apple so..... I guess it time to just say good bye.

The full takedown notice has also been posted, and while it maybe isn't totally surprising this happened eventually, it does leave anyone who used the service faced with the same thing as the rest of us come launch day. And with the Retina iPad mini launch just around the corner, looks like it'll be the old fashioned ways we'll be resorting to.

Anyone used this site since its launch? What was your experience and will you be missing it come Retina iPad mini day?

Source: Apple-Tracker via The Verge

Richard Devine
Richard Devine

Editor at iMore, part time racing driver, full time British guy. Follow him on Twitter and Google+

26 Comments
  • This is really unfortunate. I was lucky enough to acquire my iphone 5s this way. The fastest way to get your hands on a 5s now is eBay Sent from the iMore App
  • On eBay at an insane markup or get into a bidding war. This was definitely a d*ck move by Apple. Knowing when products are in stock doesn't hurt anyone.
  • Depends on which color you want. I've seen the space grey models go for a lower price. Gold on the other hand... Sent from the iMore App
  • I was able to find a 5S at my local Apple Store this way too, so I'm pretty upset with Apple over this. It's not like it was hurting Apple's business or anything. Unfortunately I had to take the 5S back (the person I bought it for ended up not wanting it, go figure), but that's a different story altogether.
  • I knew it. Apple is really trying to keep these phones on lock and key. I'm guessing it's because of the Touch ID being an ethical issue.
  • What are in the world are you talking about. There are no ethical issues behind a fingerprint scanner
  • I couldn't follow this either.
  • They just can't hand out these phones like candy. I mean, you're putting your fingerprint on it. Imagine if schools made you fingerprint your kids. Why wouldn't the NSA take advantage of it? Especially if Apple is planning on making it do more than just unlocking the phone.
  • Your comments here are uneducated in regards to TouchID tech and have absolutely nothing to do with the topic of the article.
  • Yes it does. Because Apple is making sure that you can't know where all the iPhone 5s's are. Even if a person wanted to buy one in another area, they can't. Plus, your iPhone knows everything about you. We know it's got all those special setups to make sure it is secure, but it's already been hacked. It knows who your family and friends are, it knows where you live, it knows when your birthday is, and now it knows your fingerprint.
  • Nope. Still not making sense.
  • Apple received more than 3,000 government requests seeking information on accounts.
  • Please stoop, your comments are getting more and more ignorant and rambling. Have you been drinking?
  • Haha. My thoughts exactly. Not a single coherent thought from Auturi.
  • Haha. Being drunk seems most logical. Nothing he's said has anything to do with monitoring which stores have inventory
  • Too bad mouthbreathers use Apple products too. Such a shame.
  • You DO realize that you don't have to use the fingerprint scanner, don't you? You can just use the phone the same way you'd have used an iPhone 4 or 5... Alternatively, one can not use Apple products at all...
  • Oh how Microsoftish of Apple, but then again, what's new...
  • I had recently started using the app quite a bit. It was a great tool that allowed you to know which stores gave you the best chance of being able to obtain the iPhone that you wanted.
  • Typical... Sent from the iMore App
  • Maybe use the term "inventory" rather than "stock" nest time you are referring the the units available for sale. I thought you were referring the the Apple NYSE list "equity". Sent from the iMore App
  • http://tech191.wordpress.com/
  • Thanks Apple. Back to your sucking days I see. Maybe it's time to consider a 7" Kindle HDX because it's probably going to be impossible to find the new iPad Mini when it ships.
  • Well, that explains why the web app isn't working anymore. Not cool, Apple. Not cool. There is a workaround for this, tho. Remember the instructions they had at the bottom? I saved them because I suspected that Apple might do something like this and take that site down. Here they are: "The iPhone 5S I want is green, now what?
    OK, here’s what to do….
    Do NOT call the store (they’ll probably tell you that they don’t have any)
    Do NOT go into the store (they’ll also tell you that they don’t have any)
    Go to the Apple website at store.apple.com
    Configure the iPhone 5S as shown here
    Choose “Check availability” (it’s in the bottom of the Summary box on the right side of the screen)
    Enter your zip code
    Select the store that has it available (you may have to click next on the bottom of the list of stores)
    Press the blue “Select Store” button
    Press the green “Continue” button (also in the summary box)
    Continue the checkout process as normal
    Make sure that it still shows available when completing your purchase." Of course I can't bring back that handy chart showing all the locations where they've got 5Ss available in your area, but just follow this and you'll be fine.
  • Heaven forbid anyone help Apple sell more phones.
  • You'd think you'd want customers to easily be able to find and buy your products...