Apple Changes Its iTunes

(CBS)  CBS News tech analyst Larry Magid reports that Apple has devised a solution to complaints over pop-up ads in its new version of iTunes.

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The blogs were buzzing last week with complaints about a new "feature" in Apple's iTunes software that some considered to be a violation of users' privacy, but the feature has been modified to mollify the protests.

Last week Apple issued a new version (6.02) of iTunes that includes a "MiniStore" that recommends songs or videos for users to purchase based on items in their library. When you clicked on an item in your library, the "store" would display a list of similar selections that you might consider purchasing.

In some ways, it is similar to the way Amazon.com and other online merchants display suggestions based on your buying habits but with iTunes, the recommendations would pop up even if you didn't buy the songs from Apple but copied them, for example, from a CD. What's more there were no disclosures from Apple about this new service or its possible privacy implications.

Once this feature became evident, a number of bloggers, including Mac book author Kirk McElhearn cried foul. Some called the new version "Spytunes." McElhearn wrote in his blog last week "Apple has overstepped its limits, and this spyware (because it sends information to a server) and adware (because it displays information to attempt to sell you products) is a very serious breach of the trust I have long had in Apple's products."

Now McElhearn is once again singing Apple's praises, congratulating the company for doing "the right thing" by prominently disclosing the new feature, turning it off by default and making it very easy for users to turn it on or off.

The update and disclosure automatically appears when you load in iTunes 6.02. You don't have to upload a new version.

In an interview, Apple, spokesman Tom Neumayr said (reading a prepared statement), "We've listened to our users and made access to the MniStore an opt-in feature." He said that "Apple does not keep any information related to the content related to the content of all users music library."

The operative word is "keep."

While Apple says it doesn't keep information, it certainly does collect it. Now, when you load iTunes you see a statement that says "The iTunes MiniStore allows you to discover new music and videos right from your iTunes Library. As you select items in your Library, the information about that item is sent to Apple (emphasis added) and the MiniStore will show you related songs or videos …"

The service then invites you to "turn on MiniStore" and shows you clearly how to turn it off.

Hats off to Apple for responding so quickly to the criticism and crafting a solution that is clear and unambiguous. Rather than relying on legalese or one of those disclosure contracts that people never read, but just click on, Apple says what it wants to do upfront and gives users the option to opt-in or retain the status quo.
By Larry Magid