Johannesburg – Those people that upgraded to or downloaded the latest version of Apple’s iTunes software on Thursday would have been pleasantly surprised to see that South Africa now has its own iTunes store.
Pre-empting the release of the long-anticipated iPhone on local shores, the local iTunes “app” store currently only offers the software for the iPhone and iPod Touch. No music or video content is available through the store.
While some applications are available for free download, others vary in price between US$0.99 and US$9.99.
The applications available through the “app” store are tiny, purpose built pieces of software resembling the widgets and gadgets available on-line for both Windows- and Macintosh-based computers.
The variety of iPhone applications is vast, spanning calculators, instant-messaging clients, information managers, sales-force automation tools, social-networking widgets and games like MooCowMusic’s Band, which is a collection of virtual instruments that’s allows the user to create his or her own music.
Since the iPhone’s arrival date has not yet been confirmed by Vodacom, who through its relationship with Vodafone has secured the rights to make the iPhone available on its packages in South Africa, the usefulness of the store is limited to owners of the iPod Touch for the moment.
While the opening this South African iTunes “app” store will no doubt continue fuelling the hype and the excitement already in the market, the mere fact that an iTunes presence now exists in South Africa suggests that Apple might be poised to bring a full-service iTunes store to South Africa in the months to come.
I think chances of music sales to SA through iTunes are very, very, very slim.
You think? I think it’s going to have a massive influence on the music industry locally! There are so many savvy people in South Africa, this sort of service is just waiting to boom!
yeah man no music/videos/series
its the basic package. and afaik there is no plans in the works for them to be here.
just apps
Nah, there’s music isn’t there?
great to see the App store here – tho despite some gems like Apple’s “remote”, the offering is still thin compared to the US Store – no Games?! c’mon ppl…. it looks like iTunes Music will still be some way away – but, I agree, we have a start… a *real* Apple online retail store would be most welcome of all *dreams on* :P
No games is really sucky. The app store is pretty lame without that. I want Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart!!
hi Chris
what is the downfall inopening an account with an iTunes store?
@wayne – Why would there be a downfall?
Does anyone know why there are no games? Or when they will add this?
AFAIK there are not and will not be any other downloads because of licensing issues with the draconian laws in the states.
soz bud. why dont u just install them urself. Internet + data cable = free shit
Well where can I download it then? I don’t wanne jailbreak my phone! Can I still dl games then?
There should be games, otherwise take a look at http://www.iphoneapplications.co.za – there are some games on that website..
Cool, thanks for the website. Why should there be games? Do you have in your app store?
There were some games added into the system..
still no games on the SA app store, even after the iPhone launch on Friday :( you’ll need a US iTunes account, requiring a US credit card, to download them from the US app store… kinda irritating that Apple still advertises the 2.1 software upgrade on the SA app store home page with the promise “Add games and more” (!?)
Michael, do you think they will add it soon???
really hope so! but, i guess, “Steve only knows” ;p
Hi Chris M, the website don’t work. It opens the download in iTunes and then complains about the country.. :-(
You can change the country at the bottom, there are instructions on the FAQ page..
What country should I change it to? I tried changing it to USA, but it then complains that my iTunes account isn’t registered for that country..?
yeah they use IP tracking so if you are not int he states u cannot set the states as ur country.
try using a proxy service to fooling the system into thinking that you are in the states…
or
toss ur iphone outa the window… claim it back from insurance and get a windows mobile smart phone were there is none of this bullshit “locked” and only download via itunes store.
this will be the downfall of the iphone and where the gphone will win
it’s actually based on your credit card billing address – a m8 of mine from the US is still able to access/buy from the US store while in SA…
Ruark, I disagree with you. Maybe for me and you its fun to surf and and download all kinds of stuff, but for the masses its about easy of use and quality. And thats what the appstore provides. My GF haven’t installed a single application on any phone before, (I even had to load her Mxit for her!) But in the 2 days she had her iPhone she has already installed a dozen of apps, since its easy to install and there is no crap in the app store.
each to his own i suppose…
tho there is ‘crap’ in the iphone store like that $999 “im loaded” app. :P
@ michael well that doesnt help the avrg south african in SA loggin into the itunes store? idk as i mentioned im not a iphone fanboi but thats what i think i know.
anyway. good luck
@Marinus – Was she installing paid for applications or free applications?
I’m just curious?
@Ruark – Nice to see you floating around in here mate!
Mostly free apps, but a few $0.99 and $1.99 ones as well.. ;-)
Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it. I’m keen on developing a couple silly applications myself, just seeing if people are willing to pay for them :)
Well I was thinking about that myself. If you sell 100 000 copies of a $0.99 app, you can make R800 000. I think the trick comes in to get an cool idea for something original that people would want. And thats what I don’t have.. :-(
Ye mate, it’s hard to think of awesome ideas. Are you a developer?
Well, yea. I work with Oracle development tools. I was actually thinking if I can’t write something cool thats Oracle related..
Ah, perhaps we should chat, I have a couple ideas, I’ll pop you a mail when I have a chance :)
Cool, look forward to it..
http://www.eliteblogger.net/iphone-vs-istone/
this made me laugh re the iphone (soz totally offtopic but yeah)
Wotalottacrap – we cant even get album art in SA with itunes – not to mention buying music. When will this change?
Download free apps from the US store… this works:
http://forums.mactalk.com.au/20/45826-how-get-us-itunes-account-free.html
Red Crayon, I havent tried this yet, but if it works it would be super cool! Thanks!
ruark, quite funny yea. But now I wanne pose another question.. Maybe its just me but the lack of changeable memory cards and changeable battery on the iPhone that everyone is complaining about I think is really no problem at all! The iPhone is like a laptop, and seriously now how many people do you know that have actually upgraded their laptop HDD? I don’t even know anyone who has bought their phone a bigger memory card than the one it shipped with. You can still save things on your computer is you run out of space?? The same with the replaceable battery. Why would I wanne do that? Maybe its just cos I never had problems with any phones battery.. Are these really such big issues? (The lack of video and mms I don’t understand too)
I say its easier to jailbreak your iphone using quickpwng if you in windows or pwnage if you using a mac os x, then add a new source through cydia (To install Mipatch)…..
Add cydia.hackulo.us in sources (cydia) then save ….. now you can search for the mipatch file to allow you to play cracked ipas on your iphone / ipod touch. This only works for 2.1 and 2.2 firmware. Its easier then the old ssh method (FOR PIECE OF MIND INSTALL A FREE APPLICATION OFF ITUNES BEFOIRE SYNCING A CRACKED APP).
you can also use any sim using yellows0w
Now tell me mozn9per, for someone who isn’t technical, you think they’ll understand what you wrote?
What’s the flippin’ point if there’s no music???
Applications?
I wonder if people know that they can operate their business from their iphone handsets. fom marketing to administration. It is laptop in your hand. All you need a person to train you or a book to train yourself how to mix match according to your business needs
Hi. I have just recently purchased a ipod touch in the states and i will be returning to South africa in a few weeks. I wanted to know if i loaded music off itunes here in USA if i would be able to stil connect to the itunes store in SA? Would really apreciate some insight on the topic.
Janene,
You would only be able to download music from itunes if your credit card is linked to a US billing address.
It’s hell annoying, as some of the other guys mentioned it is due laws that do not permit this.
Niel
You can open a US account and buy gift vouchers on e-bay. Here’s how: http://marinussnyman.blogspot.com/2008/10/create-us-itunes-account-from-south.html
Interesting, has anyone else made any progress on this?
There are no games on the South African app store due to a ridiculous South African law that requires games to be reviewed by the Film and Publication board before they can be sold to the general public – this costs a fair bit – around R5k I believe. So, don’t expect games to appear on the South African app store any time soon (or ever, unless this law changes).
Can someone help me out pls, Vodacom shrugged their shoulders when i queried this. I created an account (actually two) in App’s Store so that i could download Mxit…they sent the verification link to my email, clicked on it and it went to the itunes website (so i take it my account was verified?) After that i tried downloading mxit but it came up wioth two errors…1 being “your account has not been verified” and 2 being “Itunes store is not supported in this country”. Vodacom says i must take it instore but i dont have the time! Pls help…
Has anyone tried to mail or phone the Film and Publication board? I’ve had not reply in three weeks after several mails to them. Phone calls don’t get you anywhere. Apple developers also don’t have much comment other than the fact that they have to apply to categorize their games under the entertainment category (so SA can access it).
Nokia OVI is selling games (arcade, strategy etc). So why can’t Apple SA? I suspect its not simply legislation, but market share. Nokia is big, Apple not.
Recent discussions with the SA Film and Publication Board lead me to believe that they only rate “computer games” which is outside of the “mobile games” domain. Is this how Nokia does it? “The FPB’s task is mainly to classify films, videos, DVDs, computer games and certain publications for their suitable age viewership, and to provide you with enough information to make informed choices…” – I have confirmed this with the FPB itself and the above statement is from their website. So no legal barriers to sell games in SA?
I have a serious problem with Apple being in South African and selling their products, but not being able to offer their customers the full range of benefits. It is like selling a car which is supposed to have leather seats. When a customer buys it, he gets a car without leather seats because they are not allowed to fit them here in SA. Itouch, like Ipod, for example is primary a music application as it stores you music library and offers you music on-the-go. For consumers buying an Itouch and accepting the limitation that he/she cannot dowload itunes from a music store anywhere, boils down to some serious consumer right violation (i.m.o.).
I understand your frustration, yet your logic does not take the whole picture into account. There is currently only 1 manufacturer that has a music store in South Africa. (Nokia) Thus, by your suggestion, Nokia should be the only company in South Africa to sell mp3 players??
Marinus, MP3′s or MP3 players are not the subject under discussion here. You can easily and without restriction purchase MP3′s from all over the Internet. The itunes music files (MPEG 4 and available @ 256 kbps) are technically far superior to MP3′s (MPEG 3) though and as far as I know, Apple is the sole distributor of this variant. Not sure in what format Nokia sells their music. It would seem that the only way to buy itune music (if you live in SA) is to bend the rules, cheat a bit and open a US based account.
Just a technical correction or two re my last post above. MP3 is a reference to MPEG 1, Layer 3, the tried-and-tested format available from most music sites on the Internet (Amazon, Kalahari, Napster, etc.). This format is nowadays also available at 256 kbps (even at 320 kbps from a few selected sites). Apple (iTunes) uses the AAC MP4 format and it is indeed a proprietary format. AAC is technically superior to MP3 at any given rate (kbps) – refer to Wikipidia’s article on AAC, or MP3 vs MP4. This explains my earlier example of a manufacturer offering a car with leather seats and then, once somebody has bought the car, discloses to the buyer that no, sorry, no leather seats here in SA…