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Apple’s annual Back to School promotion to start tomorrow

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<a href="http://www.aredesignawards.com/award_winner_detail.cfm?key=2009129">Retro Apple Store Back to School display</a>

As we reported two weeks ago, Apple’s annual Back to School promotion will begin tomorrow, according to sources. The program will be similar to last year’s offering, which provided $100 Mac App Store gift cards alongside Mac purchases and $50 cards with iPhone and iPad purchases. Apple will be re-decorating its stores overnight with a new education theme to go along with the new promotion. Earlier today, Apple unveiled upcoming iTunes U updates for the iPad, and the timing seems like anything but a coincidence.


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Jason Mraz to perform at new Tokyo Apple Store to promote upcoming album

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Musician Jason Mraz, who is mostly known for his single “I’m Yours,” will be performing at Apple’s new store in Omotesando, Tokyo, according to a note posted on the store’s webpage. Mraz will be performing from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM local time on July 1st in order to promote his upcoming album called “YES!” The album is available for pre-order on the iTunes Store for $10.99 and various singles from the album are already available for immediate download. Apple frequently has musical guests at its stores and events, but Mraz’s appearance will be one of the more notable performances at an Apple Store in recent years.


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How-to: Request an iTunes purchase refund if you have a legitimate reason

refund bannerWhen you purchase an item from the App Store or iTunes, it is possible to obtain a refund on items purchased within the past 90 days if you have a legitimate reason. For example, you might buy the live version of a song when you meant to get the studio version. It is certainly possible to download the wrong app inadvertently, especially on an iOS device.

In this article, I will outline the process of how report a problem (and request a refund) with items purchased in the App Store or iTunes.


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Users finding first-generation Apple TVs unable to connect to iTunes Store

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Some users of the first version of Apple’s set-top box are reporting that their devices are suddenly unable to connect to the iTunes Store, according to a 19-page discussion thread (via MacRumors) on Apple’s support website. A backend change is likely responsible for this problem, though Apple hasn’t yet clarified whether this is a permanent change or a temporary glitch.

The issue was first reported three days ago, with new reports coming in every day since. Thus far no one has been able to find a remedy. At least one user in the thread notes that his Apple TV is working fine while connected to the internet via an Ethernet cable, but it seems such successes are few and far between.

Second- and third-generation devices (the small block “hockey puck” models) seem to be unaffected. This outage follows a similarly mysterious drop in FaceTime connectivity for users of iOS 6.


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Apple confirms some users experiencing iTunes Store outage

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Some users may be experiencing difficulty making purchases on the iTunes Store, according to Apple’s system status page. We’ve heard mentions of issues beginning this morning, and Apple reports trouble starting around 1:30 PM EST. Game Center and FaceTime also experienced issues this afternoon, though the former may be somewhat difficult to notice.

https://twitter.com/iTunes/status/385474005626785792

Apple’s iMessage service has been suffering turbulence for days now, which is not reflected on the system status page as it may be limited to iOS 7 users. Apple told the WSJ it is working on a fix for its iMessage issues in a future software update and recommends a workaround in the meantime.
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iOS 7 How-to: Redeem iTunes gift cards with your device’s camera

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iTunes gift cards are a great gift for iOS Device users. They can be used to purchase content from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore. However, entering in the string of characters to redeem the gift card balance has typically been a pain with the touch keyboards on iPads, iPhone, and iPod touches. Like iTunes 11 on the Mac, iOS 7 moves to solve this problem. You can now use your device’s camera to scan in the code.

Go to the main/featured page in whichever store you choose and to get to the redemption screen, scroll all the way down, and press on redeem:


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New norm? iTunes Store purchasing issue affecting 20% of users this morning [update: back up]

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Apple has updated its System Status page to show that 20% of users have been unable to make purchases since 6am this morning. Sadly, this outage is starting to become the norm as just last week the iTunes Store and other iCloud services were experiencing issues for certain users. In addition, Apple released new versions of iOS 7iTunes 11, and iTunes 11.1 beta to fix issues with iTunes in the Cloud that would not display purchases properly for some users.

Last week, Apple also sent out a botched update to Find my iPhone that left non-developers unable to log in to the app for several hours.

Downtime and server issues are to be expected with any large system – even Google.com went offline for just two minutes a couple of weeks ago – but there seems to be a growing amount of downtime reported on the System Status page. Nevertheless, it is good to see Apple being transparent with the issues.

We’ll update this page once the iTunes Store becomes fully functional again.

Update: The iTunes Store issues were resolved at 9:26 AM this morning, three and half hours after the problems began.

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$50 Apple iTunes Card for $35 shipped (Update: over)

From 9to5Toys.com:

$T2eC16VHJGQFFhp+l9UYBSEpu5PDvg~~60_57Update: This one is over. Don’t forget to follow 9to5Toys.com on FacebookTwitterGoogle PlusEmail, RSS to get the latest deals as fast as possible.

Gift Card Mall via eBay is offering a $50 Apple iTunes Gift Card for $35 with free shipping/no tax/limit 4. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen for an iTunes card of this value ever.

Give the gift of one-stop entertainment. Each card includes a code redeemable for music, movies, TV shows, games, apps, and more on the iTunes Store, the iBookstore, the App Store, and the Mac App Store. Recipients can access their content on an iPod, iPad, or iPhone, and watch or listen on a computer – Mac or PC.

We all buy a lot of media through iTunes and App Stores. I easily spend $200/year. Now I just saved $60 easily.
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Apple offering rare iTunes movie collection sale (starting $10): Die Hard, LOTR, Godfather, Matrix, X-Men, Harry Potter, more

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From 9to5Toys.com: iTumes-movie-sale Apple is offering a rare sale on iTunes movie bundles yielding the lowest prices we’ve seen on digital downloads of 25 popular movie collections. Save even more by snagging a 20% off $60 iTunes gift card at ebay: $48. Bundles are available in SD/HD and start at $9.99 making a lot of these “buy one get two free” pricing (US Only). (Update: We’re hearing Apple is changing prices on many of these) Here’s the full list via:

SERIES MOVIES PRICE NOTES
Arthur 2 $9.99 Yes, you’re stuck with Russell Brand
Hangover 2 $9.99 Does not include 3
Mean Girls/Clueless 2 $9.99  
Sherlock Holmes 2 $9.99  
Titans 2 $9.99 No Denzel in these
Charlie’s Angels 2 $12.99  
Night at the Museum 2 $12.99  
Scarface/Casino 2 $12.99  
Taken 2 $12.99  
Alvin & The Chipmunks 3 $17.99  
Austin Powers 3 $17.99  
Blade 3 $17.99  
A Cinderella Story 3 $17.99  
Ice Age 3 $17.99  
Lord of the Rings 3 $17.99 Not extended editions
The Matrix 3 $17.99  
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 $17.99 The ones from the ’90s
Back to the Future 3 $19.99  
The Godfather 3 $19.99* Coppola restoration
Jurassic Park 3 $19.99  
Lethal Weapon 4 $19.99  
Spider-Man 3 $19.99  
X-Men 4 $24.99 Trilogy + Wolverine Origins
Bourne Collection 4 $29.99  
Underworld 4 $29.99  
Die Hard 5 $39.99  
Star Trek 10 $49.99 Includes I to X
Harry Potter 8 $59.99  



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Florida lawyer sues Apple over extra $1 charge for HD movie on non-HD device

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lawsuit

In what must rank as one of the more frivolous of the many lawsuits brought against Apple, a Florida lawyer has filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple for charging him an extra dollar for an HD movie which he rented from  the iTunes Store in 2010 using a non-HD device (presumably an iPhone 3 or 3GS), reports TUAW.

A Florida lawyer has filed a class action lawsuit against the company after he rented the more expensive HD copy of Adam Sandler’s Big Daddy from the iTunes store in 2010, only to find the standard-definition version delivered to his non-HD device … 
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Apple notifies iTunes users of $100M in-app purchase settlement details, $5 credit to those inappropriately charged under $30

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Parents of kids who racked up hundreds of even thousands of dollars in in-app purchases can now begin to seek compensation for their bills.

The “Apple In-App Purchase Litigation Administrator” just sent out an email with information regarding the settlement and deadlines for submitting payment requests.

In short, those with charges under $30 will receive a $5 iTunes gift card. Cash refunds will be distributed to those with bills exceeding that amount.

Here’s the email in its entirety:


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Apple releases iTunes 11.0.4 with fixes for syncing, iTunes Store bugs

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This morning, Apple has released iTunes 11.0.4 with a focus on bug fixes. Notably, according to the release notes, a bug that would force iTunes to quit when syncing moves between wired and wireless states has been fixed.

Additionally, a bug that forces users to repeatedly sign-in to the iTunes Store has also been squashed. The update is available via the Mac App Store’s Software Update function.

Last month, Apple updated iTunes with a new Mini-Player design and other improved music sorting and playback views. A bug fix release for Aperture for Mac has also been issued.


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Weekend 9to5Toys roundup: $875 MacBook Air, $1,150 iMac, 15% off iTunes gift card, $179 Nest thermostat, much more

From 9to5Toys.com:

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9to5Toys scours the net each day to bring our US readers the best deals in consumer electronics. Below are the absolute hottest deals going on right now. Most of these promotions are only available for a limited time, so be sure to lock in these savings if you see something you like.  Check back often as we are constantly posting new deals.

Also bookmark 9to5Toys.com/Daily-deals for 35+ of the top daily deals across most of the biggest shopping sites in the US including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and many more.

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Ending today: Best Buy is taking $125 off the price of MacBook Airs for the next three days to celebrate Mother’s Day. That yields some of the lowest prices we’ve seen. The retailler knocks off $100 across the board, then using code MOM25 knocks off another $25.

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Amazon has stepped up and is offering a staggering $150 off three out of four standard configuration iMacs (21″ & 27″).  This discount is yielding the lowest prices we have ever seen on these super-skinny iMacs.  Don’t wait too long to pull the trigger, this is an unadvertised sale that Amazon could pull the plug on at any moment.

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The current generation MacBook Air, iMac and Retina MacBook Pro do not include a CD/DVD optical drive, but you can pickup a discounted Apple Superdrive right now for just $69 (Reg. $79).

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Ending todayBest Buy is offering a $100 iTunes gift card for just $85.  That is a total savings of 15% off future purchases of Apps Music, Movies and any other content on the the App Store, iTunes, Mac App Store and iBook Store.  This is the first iTunes deal we’ve seen in nearly 2 months and a perfect opportunity to surprise Mom on Mother’s Day

Other great deals on stuff we love:

Apple’s ‘break-even’ iTunes business now estimated to make $2B a year

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Asymco’s Horace Dediu has estimated that Apple’s iTunes business, initially intended only to cover its costs as a way of driving hardware sales, now earns the company annual profits of a cool $2 billion.

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What started as just a music store now sells music, video, books, iOS software, and Mac software. Revenues have grown five-fold in 7 years, with total sales approaching $5 billion a quarter and notching up an estimated 23 billion transactions a year.


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Apple launches Apple TV in India for Rs 8,295 ($150)

Apple-TV-India

Screen Shot 2013-02-19 at 9.44.29 AMAfter officially bringing iTunes music and movies to India alongside a huge international rollout in December, Apple appears to have now launched Apple TV in the country. The Apple TV product page on Apple’s India website was first spotted by BGR India, but Apple has yet to issue an official press release announcing the product launch. The product page doesn’t include a “buy” button, and some reports claim stock has not yet made it to Apple resellers in the country. BGR first posted a screenshot of Apple’s site showing an Rs 7,900 price tag, but Apple’s website now shows a price of Rs 8295 (as pictured to the right). That’s roughly $150 USD and slightly higher than first rumored. As pictured above, the product page also highlights a number of Bollywood films and other local content in addition to The Wall Street Journal, YouTube, Vimeo, and MLB.TV.

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Apple TV launches in South Africa this Friday, Jan.18

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Core Group, Apple’s official distributor in South Africa, just announced details for the launch date and pricing of Apple TV in the country. According to a statement by the company (via mybroadband.co.za), Apple TV will finally launch through select retailers starting Jan. 18. The launch follows Apple’s official opening of iTunes Store and iPhone 5 in South Africa alongside 50+ other countries last month.

Core Group suggested Apple TV will retail for R1099 (roughly $125 USD) but also noted, “resellers are entirely free to determine the actual prices at which products will be sold.” Customers in South Africa will be able to get their hands on Apple TV through the following Apple Premium Resellers and authorized dealers:

Apple Premium Resellers:

  • iStore
  • Digicape

Selected Apple Authorised Retailers:

  • Incredible Connection
  • Dion Wired
  • Makro
  • Hi-Fi Corporation
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More 20% off iTunes gift cards. Pay with Paypal tax free or pick up at Best Buy

From 9to5Toys.com:

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If you are still trying to get in on the 20% off iTunes gift cards, two new options sprung up over the break.  GiftCardMall via Ebay Daily Deal offers a $50 iTunes gift card for $40 with tax only in Colorado, today only. Without tax, that’s the lowest price we’ve seen to date on an iTunes gift card. You can also pay via Paypal.

For its Rewardzone customers (free Sign-up), Best Buy also offers 20% off iTunes gift cards from $15-$100 yielding prices of $12-$80. This deal is valid thru the 29th and is available with free shipping online or in-stores for pick up. Not into the Rewardzone? Best Buy will still give you 15% off.

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Printable/Email-able gift cards for Christmas shopping slackers everywhere

So you waited too long and you need a last second gift for that last person on your shopping list? No problem Apple fan! We’ve got some great options for you.

1. Head over to the iTunes store and either email or Print a gift card in $10, $15, $25, $50 or $100 denominations. Or save a few bucks at Walmart/Sams Club.

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2. Amazon has a load of Printable and email-able gift options including embedding your own photos and videos for a personal touch. You can even send gifts over Facebook if that is your thing. Amazon carries lots of Apple products and peripherals which your giftees will love. Best Buy offers the same services.

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15% off iTunes gift cards

From 9to5Toys.com:

Update: Best Buy is now down to 15%. Still worth your time.

Best-Buy-iTunes-cards-deal

Today only, Best Buy knocks 20% off the price of physical iTunes gift cards across the board from $15 -$100 (including the very handy $10 three-pack). iTunes gift cards are good for music, videos, iBooks, movies, and iOS/Mac Apps.  They can be ordered site-to-store for pick-up up until 3PM on Dec 24th or ship for free if you don’t need them by Christmas.

If you are looking to buy an email-redeemable iTunes credit, Walmart still sells a $50 emailled iTunes credit for $40, though readers sometimes complain about Walmart’s reliability.

Obviously, these make great last minute gifts/stocking stuffers and are an easy way to get 20% off all of your Apple media.

Amazon also offers gift cards that can be sent via email, Facebook or printed out in any denomination.


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$50 iTunes gift card for $40 delivered through email

From 9to5Toys.com:

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For a limited time, Walmart is offering the $50 iTunes gift card for $40. That’s 20 percent off and the lowest price we’ve seen for these. The card comes immediately through email, and it counts toward free shipping on other items. It can be purchased for use in the US iTunes Store on iBooks, Mac and iOS Apps, Music, Videos, Movies and more.

Limit two per customer. International readers have mixed results when purchasing these. You usually need US-based credit cards.

You can save even more on your iTunes purchases by using this discounted gift card to purchase heavily discounted apps.  9to5toys has been tracking some of the best iPhone and iPad app deals for the holiday season.  Most notably:

EA Games iOS holiday sale, over 50 iPhone & iPad titles starting from just 99 cents

iPhone & iPad game, Infinity Blade II, temporarily $2.99 (Reg. $6.99)

iPhone & iPad game, Infinity Blade, temporarily 99 cents (Reg. $5.99)

iPhone & iPad app, Skyfire Web Browser (iOS Flash media player), now on sale

iPhone & iPad game, The Dark Knight Rises, temporarily 99 cents (Reg. $6.99)

iPad game, SHIFT 2 Unleashed, temporarily free (Reg. $4.99)


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Starbucks and Apple offering $30 gift card combo to benefit AIDS research foundation

Starbucks introduced a new Starbucks iTunes (RED) eGift basket this holiday season, with help of Apple, to give back to the world. The gift basket is complete with a $15 Starbucks gift card and $15 iTunes gift card. For every combo sold, Starbucks and Apple will donate 5 percent of each purchase (75 cents) to the Global Fund AIDS research foundation. The gift basket can be purchased on Starbuck’s website, where you can also choose to gift it directly to someone. This isn’t the first time Apple partnered with (RED), as it has launched several special edition iPods to compliment the foundation over the years. The same goes for Starbucks, which revealed today it gave $11 million to the Global Fund since December 2008. Pretty nice gift, if you ask me. Who doesn’t like music, coffee, and helping a good cause?

Via: The Loop

Source: Starbucks
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Best Buy ratchets up the Apple sales with dedicated Apple ad against increased pricing competition [video]

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEKer84625Q]

The above ad has entered heavy rotation this weekend, while Best Buy has new deals on Apple- and Apple-related products (including $25 off $250+ purchases):

Best Buy takes 15 percent off all iTunes Gift Cards, both physical and digital, with free shipping.

Best Buy also continues to have significant discounts on iPod Touches, Nanos and Shuffles, as well as the rest of Apple products (including refurbished Airports starting at $39).

The competition is also moving, as MacMall continues to have big savings with its Cyber Monday sale and impressive “Door busters”:

11.6″ MacBook Air dual-core Intel Core i5 1.7GHz, 4GB & 64GB Flash Storage $849.99 ($150 off)
13.3″ MacBook Air dual-core Intel Core i5 1.8GHz, 4GB & 128GB Flash Storage $1,019.99 ($180 off)
iPad 2 16GB Wifi: $329 ($70 off and the lowest price we’ve ever seen new)

…while Amazon continues to match many competitive prices.

Of note, MacConnection’s Tech Holiday sale has some pretty remarkable prices, including: MacBook Airs starting at $699Retina MacBook Pros starting at $1,559  ($140 off Apple’s Price), and Mac Minis starting at $549.

As always, check our Apple product pages for the latest best prices on iPadsiPad MinisiPod TouchNanoShuffleMacBook ProsAirsiMacsMac Minis, and Apple TVs. More of our holiday shopping coverage below:
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AC/DC’s complete catalog now available on iTunes, iTunes Match down

Apple has finally reached a deal with Columbia Records to bring the entire AC/DC catalog to iTunes stores worldwide. As part of the catalog, there will now be 16 studio albums available from the band ranging from 1976 to 2008, four live albums, and three compilation albums. Apple will also make “The Collection” available that includes all 16 studio albums for $99. If you want absolutely everything (studio albums, live albums, etc.), you can also buy “The Complete Collection” for $149.

Unfortunately, just as Apple is rolling out some additions to the iTunes store, many users are experiencing some down time with iTunes Match. Apple’s system status page reported that all services are online, but we are still receiving tips from many readers unable to access content through the service.

Apple’s full press release is below:

AC/DC Now on iTunes

AC/DC’s Complete Catalog Available Digitally for the First Time; All Tracks Mastered for iTunes

NEW YORK & CUPERTINO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Columbia Records and Apple® today announced that AC/DC’s entire catalog is now available digitally for the first time exclusively on the iTunes Store® worldwide (www.itunes.com). From their 1976 debut High Voltage to seminal classic Back In Black and 2008 smash hit Black Ice, every one of AC/DC’s 16 studio albums, along with four live albums and three compilation albums, are available for the first time ever on the iTunes Store. All tracks are Mastered for iTunes®, and fans have the ability to download full albums or simply purchase their favorite individual songs. Fans can also choose from two specially packaged digital compilations: The Complete Collection, the complete iTunes-exclusive AC/DC catalog; and The Collection, which includes all 16 studio albums.

AC/DC’s thunderous and primal rock and roll has excited fans for generations with their raw and rebellious brand of music, which also resonates with millions of new fans discovering AC/DC everyday. Their growing legion of fans will now experience the intensity of AC/DC’s music in a way it has never been heard before. AC/DC’s music has been Mastered for iTunes, ensuring the music is delivered to listeners with increased audio fidelity, more closely replicating what the artists, recording engineers and producers intended.

The full catalog which has all been Mastered for iTunes includes:

Collections
The Collection (all studio albums for $99.99)
The Complete Collection (all studio albums, live albums and box sets for $149.99)

16 Studio Albums
High Voltage (1976)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Let There Be Rock (1977)
Powerage (1978)
Highway To Hell (1979)
Back In Black (1980)
For Those About To Rock We Salute You (1981)
Flick Of The Switch (1983)
74 Jailbreak (1984)
Fly On The Wall (1985)
Who Made Who (1986)
Blow Up Your Video (1988)
The Razors Edge (1990)
Ballbreaker (1995)
Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
Black Ice (2008)

4 Live Albums
If You Want Blood You’ve Got It (1978)
Live (1992)
Live (2 Volume Collector’s Edition) (1992)
Live At River Plate (2012)

3 Compilation Albums
Bonfire (1997)
Backtracks audio (2009)
Iron Man 2 soundtrack (2010)

The iTunes Store is the world’s most popular music store with a catalog of over 26 million songs and over 20 billion songs downloaded, and is available in 63 countries. The iTunes Store is the best way for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod®, Mac® and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music online. All music on the iTunes Store comes in iTunes Plus®, Apple’s DRM-free format with high-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings. iTunes in the Cloud lets you download your previously purchased iTunes music to all your iOS devices at no additional cost, and new music purchases can be downloaded automatically to all your devices.

Columbia Records is one of the most respected and successful record labels in the world, and is home to established superstars and exciting new talent. Columbia Records is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website (www.apple.com/pr), or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

© 2012 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iTunes Store, iTunes, iPhone, iPad, iPod and iTunes Plus are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Apple bars German eBook purchases with discounted iTunes cards following pressure from German bookseller association

We are all familiar with various retailers offering discounted iTunes cards by now. We told you just yesterday that Walmart is offering downloadable $100 iTunes/App Store gift cards for just $80. The redeem code associated with these cards is usually good for the purchase of all content from the stores including songs, movies, TV shows, apps, games, books, etc. However, according to a report from German website ifun.de, Apple is no longer allowing discounted iTunes cards to be used toward the purchase of books in the country due to pressure from a German bookseller association:

Apple says, discounted iTunes gift cards are not valid for ebooks anymore in Germany…Background is a law, that forces retailers to offer books at same price in Germany. This is to protect small book shops. Booksellers association sent Apple a c&d letter last week, to end selling ebooks for discounted iTunes credit… Announcing an actual gift card discount, German supermarket REWE notices, that discounted iTunes cards can’t be used to buy books at the iTunes Store.

Apple has bigger things to worry about at home with a trial in the U.S. Department of Justice’s ongoing eBook antitrust suit currently scheduled for June 2013. Most recently, Apple claimed previous settlements with three book publishers involved in the case were unlawful and requested the settlements be rejected or delayed until after trial. It is possible Apple’s decision to stop allowing discounted iTunes cards to be used for book purchases will eventually extend to other markets.

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