Is this taking advantage of the consumer?

I have spent hundreds of dollars on iTunes songs. I have asked Apple to 'reactivate songs' twice out of the three times now, and each time I've lost my music is purely because of Apple's software. Why can't we redownload previously purchased songs for free, like we can for applications?
The first time Apple 'reactivated' my purchases, was when I reformatted my computer. I admit, I didn't have them all backed up, so it was my fault. I didn't know I would have to -rebuy- albums, if this or anything possibly related happened again, at the time. But then again, it's not like it's obvious.
The second time Apple 'reactivated' my purchased items, and made them downloadable for me, was when I bought some albums from my iPhone, turned on my computer to sync, and bam. My entire library was clear. This was random, and when I enquired to Apple about it, I was told it was my fault, as I didn't "back up my library" or purchases I didn't have time to sync. This was the second of the three times Apple will reactivate my downloads.
Now, my current scenario is as follows. So, IOS 5 has been released, and I naturally decided I would want to upgrade my outdated software. To do so, I would need to update my iTunes. I attempted to do so, before the installation was abruptly halted with an error message. I figured that it would be more likely to work if I uninstalled iTunes, and re-downloaded the latest version. To my surprise, it still wouldn't install. I had bought two albums prior to this, and of which I don't want to lose (total: $32.20), due to Apple's dodgy software. I am considering reformatting my computer, so I can get IOS 5, and have iTunes working again. However, I also wish to not have to re-buy previously bought items, or use my third and final "download reactivation".
I am under the impression that this is taking advantage of the cobsumer, because we'd need to purchase what we've purchased. Doesn't make that much sense to me. I think it'd be better if iTunes allowed us to redownload all purchased songs/apps by using the "Check for available downloads" option.
I can't help but think it's a profit-oriented scheme, designed to maximise profits; people re-buying bought items, as iTunes is dodgy, and they can't re-download them for free.
Thanks.

...Why can't we redownload previously purchased songs for free, like we can for applications?
...because we'd need to purchase what we've purchased.
Music is licensed differently than apps.
If you lost a CD, the record company or the retailer where you bought it doesn't owe you a free replacement. It would be your responsibility to care for your CDs or replace them.
I can't help but think it's a profit-oriented scheme, designed to maximise profits
Well, yes. Apple is a business. Making a profit is their goal.

Similar Messages

I had planned on taking advantage of the Unlimited Data Loophole but... (VZW REP PLEASE READ)

I had planned on taking advantage of the Unlimited Data Loophole by upgrading a phone that was originally on a tiered plan then activating the iPhone 5 on that plan I would then have taken the iPhone 5 and and then activated it on a number that is currently a 4G unlimited plan. I would then reactivate the original iPhone 4S that was on tiered data plan.
I was advised by a VerizonWireless customer service rep over the phone a few months ago on how to do this process. I later called back after the iPhone 5 was released and verified that this process would work so I could keep my unlimited data plan while upgrading on the the Tiered Data Plan Number.
That was then and this is now...
Recently I had a failure of the 4G unlimited data handset and decided expedite the process as much as possible trying accomplish this process ASAP. I was told that the process mentioned above was phased out and one could only upgrade an unlimited plan to an iPhone 5 by paying full price for the handset and then activating the iPhone on the current unlimited data number. I told the rep on the phone at this time that I was advised that I could take advantage of the Data Loophole via the process mentioned above and it should have been annotated on the customer service record as a reference of the conversation. However was adamant that this process was phased out and was no longer possible. I told him that I felt he was wrong but I had no one else to got to. This is my second and largest problem... I can't find anyone that will stand up for what I have been told or that can fully commit to what they are saying.
So now I've been on a mission.
I needed to find some resource that stated that I could order the iPhone 5 on a Tiered Data Number, activate it and then move the iPhone 5 to the unlimited data plan number. Everywhere I looked I found that it appeared that the most recent conversation I had with the VZW rep was correct and if I wanted the iPhone 5 on my unlimited plan I would have to pay nearly $1000 (64GB version with Taxes and a case) for the opportunity to use the iPhone 5 in an unlimited manner.
Today I ponied up and a gave up the big bucks because I did the math and figured so long as I was not I was not giving up unlimited plan and I could keep the pricing I was able to get that plan at I would receive a return on additional costs in less than 2 years. Very shortly my plan will go from 4 billed numbers (3 handesets and one tablet) to 2 billed numbers.
This evening while researching another subject (Google Voice Mail on iPhone) I came across a VZW rep advising on how to do the exact process I wanted to do in beginning rather than paying the almost $1000.
=============================
IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I READ THIS 4 DAYS AFTER BEING TOLD THAT IT ABSOLUTELY WAS NO LONGER TRUE...
https://community.verizonwireless.com/message/888309#888309
Re: Data loophole?
Verizon Wireless Customer Support Oct 18, 2012 4:22 AM (in response to mitt02)
I bet you're excited to get your brand new iPhone 5. I'm jealous! I want one too.
If you ordered the phone on one of your lines that is on the tiered data you can activate it on that line and then switch it to your line with the unlimited data plan. This will allow you to keep the unlimited data plan because you are not upgrading and accepting a discount on the line with the unlimited data plan. The only way you would lose the unlimited data plan is by upgrading the line with the unlimited data plan and accepting a discount on the device.
Hope this answers your question.
John B
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport
===============================
I am so confused and frustrated. I can I believe? Who in Verizon stands up for what they say? Who actually "knows" what works and what doesn't work?
Even the process I went through this morning was a debacle, The Store manager and his "Very Experienced Customer Representative" told me that the full retail process would not allow me to keep my data plan. One of them was giddy after it worked and the other was disappointed. The good part about it is that I was told that I could cancel the order at no cost to me so long as it hasn't shipped.
So back to my 1st 2 questions
1) Will the original process work? (Activate on Tiered data plan handset and then move it to a set had the 4G unlimited so long as there is an upgrade available?
2) Who will put their JANE OR JOHN HANCOCK on the correct process and make sure that I am nit being taken advantage of?
I work for a very large corporation that has a very large contract with VZW with great discounts. They don't discount everything and I could have probably went to our VZW corporate rep but I want to deal with the same people the rest of my family talks to.
JOHN B? Can you advise me? I pay VZW big bucks and I don't complain too often and I am hoping that I can be treated as we as I treat mu customer and get a truth that the organization as a whole will stand behind.
Sorry that it is so long but If you only knew the number of conversations and the amount or reading and the outright bull I had to ingest to get this far.
Thanks
BR549
Jr Samples
PS...
P.S. Anyone have Google Voice Mail on the iPhone? I love the transrcibed SMS text messages relating to the actual voice mail message and an email with .wav files that I can forward or respond via email if needed. If not I would have to give it up (pluse I have a GREAT secondary telephone number I would hate to give up.
Also can my National Unlimited plan set have the 4G hotspot feature added to it? Is it still 2GB for $20?
Thanks again
Jr

After further telephonic conversations with VZW it was again verified that what the rep that told me previously, that it was IMPOSSIBLE to use this UNLIMITED DATA loophole happened to be 100% WRONG/FALSE/LIES/MISUNDERSTOOD/STUPID/UNEDUCATED/MISREPRESENTED.
THE UNLIMITED DATA LOOPHOLE WORKS AT THIS TIME, SO LONG AS YOU MEET THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
[ (A) = 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN ]
[ (B) = TIERED DATA PLAN PLAN ]
You already have a family plan with at least 1 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A) or You have an individual account with a 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A). It makes a difference as to how you go about it but the result is the same.
You have a TIERED DATA PLAN number that has an immediate upgrade available (B) or your account has a number with an immediate upgrade available that can be transferred that number with the TIERED DATA PLAN (B), you would transfer that upgrade to the TIERED DATA PLAN number to begin the process.
You will then purchase an upgrade iPhone 5 on the TIERED DATA PLAN account (B) AT THE DISCOUNTED RATE.
ONCE THE NEW UPGRADED iPHONE 5 ARRIVES AND HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE FORMERLY TIERED DATA PLAN NUMBER (B) IT MUST BE LEFT THERE FOR A 24 HOUR PERIOD. I have learned that this period is required but many others have been able to get away with less than 24 hours, however this is another VZW gotcha. YOU DO NOT WANT ANYMORE VZW GOTCHAs.
After the 24 hour period is over the original handset (or any other applicable handset for that account) (B) can be assigned BACK to the TIERED DATA PLAN number (B) and the iPHONE 5 can then be moved to the 4G UNLIMITED PLAN number (A).
So long as you acquired the iPHONE 5 via a separate transaction, yours or someone else's TIERED DATA PLAN (B) account, you should have had no effect on your current 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A).
I found out that without a doubt, in spite of what others have said (AT THIS TIME), this will work.
Once you are successful, you will learn that however much time you had on your 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A) account you will still have. THIS IS TRUE EVEN IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR YOUR iPHONE 5 AND ADD IT TO YOUR 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A). This is in spite of any previous ** you may have been advised of during conversations or correspondence with any of the uneducated phone or store customer service personnel).
AGAIN... YOU WILL STILL BE UNDER A PLAN THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREVIOUS UPGRADE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO WITH OR TO THE 4G UNLIMITED DATA handset.
If you have a 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN (A) and you have any wishes of adding the HOTSPOT feature, you must do this prior to the conversion (adding the iPHONE 5). Once the iPHONE 5 has been assigned, the selection of a HOTSPOT will either not be present in your "MYVERIZON" area or greyed out for the VZW personnel and no longer selectable. The removal of this option is another impetus by VERIZON to cancel your 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN and move to a TIERED DATA PLAN. If you cancel your HOTSPOT feature you will NEVER GET IT BACK unless you change plans.
The VZW telephonic Customer Service Personnel may even see an UNLIMITED HOTSPOT DATA PLAN for your current service while you may/will only see a 3G 2GB version in your MYVERIZON account area. They can select this UNLIMITED HOTSPOT FEATURE. YOU CAN NOT.
The UNLIMIITED HOTSPOT feature is $30 and the 2GB HOTSPOT FEATURE is $20 per month. Since I am cancelling the service on my XOOM tablet of 3GB for $35 per month which one do you think I took?
==========================================================
THIS IS ALL TRUE AS OF TODAY FOR MY SITUATION, HOWEVER YMMV.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT IT ALL WORKS OUT AS VZW PROMISED. PLEASE CHECK BACK AS I WILL UPDATE THIS THREAD IF ALLOWED.
==========================================================
HAS ANYONE NOTICED THAT THE ONLINE VZW Customer Service Personnel have flocked to this thread to help me out?
While in conversations or correspondence with VZW personnel DO NOT USE THE WORD "UPGRADE" in association with your 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN. INSTEAD, USE THE WORD "CONVERSION" WHEN TRYING THIS PROCESS. Otherwise you may cause their brains to jump track and you could lose your 4G UNLIMITED DATA PLAN.
============================================================
Thanks to those of you that have attempted to respond and inform in a helpful manner. I am not a VZW hater, I hate when any company attempts to bait and switch, fails to be clear or uses tactics to confuse it's customer base to have them subscribe to services or features that have short introductory periods or the company "reserves the right to change" and does so very quickly once they have acquired the numbers they have been looking for.
I am hoping that one day I can make the statement that deceptive sales practices are UNAMERICAN.
I WOULD LIKE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES TO BECOME A CORNERSTONE TO THAT STATEMENT.
HOWEVER I FEEL THAT AMERICA HAS A LONG WAYS TO GO!
THANK THE PEOPLE THAT TREAT YOU RIGHT!
Lastly, I was very lucky to make contact with an extremely knowledgeable, confident, competent and well spoken VZW Customer Service Person. After her extraordinary efforts in attempting to satisfy my issues and wishes I made the effort to thank her and made sure that she would be recognized among her peers. Before we terminated the call I asked to speak to her supervisor and advise of him my satisfaction. I advised that I work for VZW's competition and it is when I meet up with people like her that I work harder to keep my customers happy and keep my customers my customers.
When you have someone that makes the extra effort to fix your issue or finds a way to give you what you thought you bought please find a way to give them kudos or recognition beyond a simple online or telephone survey or a plain old "thanks".
It was not too many years ago that many businesses thought the intangible product, customer service, as being as important as all the other tangibles they sold. This is no longer true in most respects. Some businesses are coming around but very, very slowly.
WE AS CONSUMERS MUST DEMAND GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE or it will forever be shoddy. We must demand knowledge, effort, personnel we can understand, representatives of the company that have a stake in the organization and are not just some off shore or distant contractor that may serve customers from multiple companies in the same hour.
Still... make sure you say thank you for good service. Say thank you not only to the person that gave it to you but to the corporate infrastructure as a whole. Our businesses need to stop letting the stockholders decide how long a company survives in the marketplace. Too often companies decide keep their budgets down by slashing or limiting customer service as a first strike.
Yes, we all know that price rules in many cases, BUT THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY REQUIRES KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE to advise it's customers of their options and help them make it work like the commercials or advertisements show they would.
Even the stockholders fail to remember or choose to understand that ultimately it is the customer that signs their paychecks.
Jr.

Taking advantage of the fast linux OS - linux and java

Hello Java Experts;
I read a very interesting article in the news this week about the linux advantage.
A german bank had 32 unix servers. Each at a cost of $50,000 dollars.Together these servers took 17 hours to crunch a calculation.
That bank replaced those 32 unix servers with 40 linux servers at a cost of $3,000 dollars per server. The calculations were done in 11 minutes instead. They were therefore able to move around 10s of millions of dollars that much faster as a result. - basically it allowed them to take 10s of millions of dollars out of reserves that much faster.
Now , does anyone know that story ?
And does anyone know how the linux server cost that much ?
I'm under the impression it is simply because a less expensive piece of hard ware was required -- does anyone know what that hardware was? I believe SUn boxes were running unix previously.
I hear these kinds of stories all time time. I heard that a mainframe running linux is as fast as 10 mainframes. and ibm uses that advantage to sell to clients.
Anyhow -- does anyone have a similar story about running java code on linux as opposed to unix ? or is this type of performance boost limited to certain types of applications.
stephen

This likely has nothing to do with the Linux operating system being any faster than the Unix operating system. I actually read the same article in the paper, and it simply means that by migrating to a free OS that runs on standard PCs, they saw a great performance benefit at a minimal price. I think this is simply attributed to their installing Linux on brand new 2ghz PCs, and their old Unix systems likely being confined to a Sun Solaris box, or another proprietary computer systems. PCs have grown by leaps and bounds, and likely their servers were quite old and had much less processing power than the standard desktop PCs linux allowed them to port to. I personally use RedHat linux 7.3 as my operating system of choice, however it's not because it has any speed benefits over windows.
-Jason Thomas.

In order to take advantage of the iPhone trade in, do I need to have met my upgrade eldigbility date, or do I just need to re-sign up for a new 2 year plan with the new iPhone 6?

In order to take advantage of the iPhone trade in, do I need to have met my upgrade eldigbility date, or do I just need to re-sign up for a new 2 year plan with the new iPhone 6?

thanks, a HUGE suggestion for you: Please add that to the restrictions of the trade-in details online, it mentions that nowhere and is VERY deceptive. Since at least 90% of 5c and 5s users are under a 2 year contract and both phones have been out just a year, there will be a majority of bitter customers who fell for the ad and will be taking advantage of the buy out options the other carriers are offering.

Has anyone else used the Consumer Guarantees Act for a repair? (New Zealand)

My iPod nano stopped working one day and keeps constantly restarting and telling me I have to restore with iTunes. I did restore multiple times but the issue was never solved. I tried doing a hard reset and also putting the iPod into disk mode and restoring again, but that didn't work either. I went to an Apple reseller (no Apple stores in New Zealand sadly) and they said that it looks like a hardware problem, and repairing will cost around $100 (NZD) along with a $39 assessment charge, since my warranty expired in January. I decided that's not worth it since buying a new iPod costs only slightly more.
But I was just wondering, would this be covered under the Consumer Guarantees Act?
Thanks in advance!

My iPod nano stopped working one day and keeps constantly restarting and telling me I have to restore with iTunes. I did restore multiple times but the issue was never solved. I tried doing a hard reset and also putting the iPod into disk mode and restoring again, but that didn't work either. I went to an Apple reseller (no Apple stores in New Zealand sadly) and they said that it looks like a hardware problem, and repairing will cost around $100 (NZD) along with a $39 assessment charge, since my warranty expired in January. I decided that's not worth it since buying a new iPod costs only slightly more.
But I was just wondering, would this be covered under the Consumer Guarantees Act?
Thanks in advance!

HT4972 Why will apple not allow an ISO update above 5.1 on a first generation I-Pad? I am finding a lot of apps requiring 6.0. If this is a way of getting more money out of the consumer, it angers me greatly!

I am very angry that my I- Pad first generation will not update to ISO 6.1. Is this Apple's attempt to get more money from the consumer? I am finding a lot of apps require the 6.0 and will not load. I am a retired senior and purchasing a new I- Pad is not a priority. Because of this Apple may lose my future business.

Tell Apple, not us... http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I just purchased an extreme. I have an express. The sales guy recommended setting up a hot spot with the express and use the extreme as a base station. What does he mean and how do I do this? What are the advantages?

I just purchased an extreme. I have an express. The sales guy recommended setting up a hot spot with the express and use the extreme as a base station. What does he mean and how do I do this? What are the advantages? How do I set this up?????

I think he means to set up the main extreme as the main router or "main base station", and then use the express to "extend" the network.
You can look up the manual for your express here for more details:
http://support.apple.com/manuals/
Extend the range of your network by adding AirPort Express to your existing AirPortExtreme or AirPort Express wireless network (this is called a Wireless DistributionSystem, or WDS). "
Extending the Range of an Existing AirPort Extreme or
AirPort Express Network
You can extend the range of an existing AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express wirelessnetwork by setting it up in a WDS. Wireless computers can connect to the network andshare the Internet connection, share files, and play network games. If you connect yourAirPort Express to your home stereo, computers on your wireless network can useAirTunes to play music on the stereo from iTunes. If you connect a USB printer to yourAirPort Express, all of the computers on the network can print to it.
n Open the AirPort Setup Assistant on a Macintosh, or the AirPort Express Assistant on acomputer using Windows XP. Follow the onscreen instructions to extend the range ofyour AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express network.
Note: Extending the range of a network using WDS may reduce overall networkperformance.

HT4946 I am trying to update my Ipad 1 but it is taking hours on the backup - why would this be, how can I make it faster so I can get the latest IOS update?

I am trying to update my Ipad 1 but it is taking hours on the backup, what can I do to make this faster?

I'm thinking that you have a corrupt backup. You can try this if you want to give it a shot.
Without connecting the iPad to the computer, launch iTunes. Go to Edit>Preferences>Devices. See how many backups you have for the iPad. If you have multiple backups, delete all but one. Click on the backup in the window and then click on Delete.
Quit iTunes, connect the iPad and then try again.

I created an iMovie. When I try to export it crashes. Can any one walk me through the problem. In 3 hours, my mom's 80th b'day is taking place and this was one of the gifts.

I created an iMovie. When I try to export it crashes. Can any one walk me through the problem. In 3 hours, my mom's 80th b'day is taking place and this was one of the gifts.

All of the Spry files are missing and the basic_fs.css. It's a long list. If you use Chrome or Safari, you can view source (Safari) or Inspect Element (Chrome) and under Resources you will see the missing files highlighted.

I want to take advantage of the trade in offer ($200), however do I have to do this on the website or can i go into a store to preorder? If i proceed with online how will i get the $200 promotional trade in vaule?

I want to take advantage of the trade in offer ($200), however do I have to do this on the website or can i go into a store to preorder? If i proceed with online how will i get the $200 promotional trade in vaule? Also I have 3 active lines, and 2 out of the 3 lines want to use this. Is this allowed, or is it one line per acocunt? Does our plan change as well, or does it stay the same?

canyouhearmenowNOT,
Let's make sure you have the correct information! You go to our trade-in website http://bit.ly/GGnDDC before 9/30/2014. You will fill out the information to start the process. Once you get your new device you will ship back your current device. After that you will get a gift card for your trade in 4-6 weeks.
RobinD_VZW
Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

Hello, my iphone 5s fell, thereafter i tried taking a picture, the camera app just shows a black screen and hangs, the front camera works on other apps but the rear camera is not working, all other apps work perfectly well, how do i resolve this

Hello, my iphone 5s fell, thereafter i tried taking a picture, the camera app just shows a black screen and hangs, the front camera works on other apps (such as facetime and skype) but the rear camera is not working, all other apps work perfectly well, how do i resolve this

Double tap Home button and delete Camera app from multitask-list.
Do a
Reset: Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears. Note: You will not lose any data
If problem persist, make an appointment with genius bar for evaluation.

Why does COMCAST work so hard to prevent me from taking advantage of MOCA/XB3?

I apologize in advance for the length of this post and its frustrated tone but I've spent so much time and effort trying to accomplish something that should have been quite straightforward with COMCAST but which has left me with a very biter taste in my mouth. I hope to get the attention of other concerned COMCAST customers in similar situations and the ears of people at COMCAST who can make a difference and change their current misguided policies and business models around MOCA. I also vent because of the long standing vexing problem of not being able to get the full use of the XFinity Internet I've been paying for every month for the last thirten years despite the recent availability of standardized network distribution technology in the form of MOCA 2.0 which is advertised by COMCAST as a feature of multiple versions of their latest Wireless Internet Gateways which customers are paying for but yet unable to utilize. See: http://www.cedmagazine.com/news/2013/04/comcast-bows-faster-gateway-doubles-speeds-on-2-data-tiers In a blog post on Comcast’s site, Rob Slinkard, senior vice president, product management, communications and data services, wrote that while data tiers have increased their speeds over the years, thanks in part to DOCSIS 3.0 deployments, in-home wireless gateways aren’t always capable of passing those faster speeds around a home. Coupled with the plethora of devices in subscribers homes, an inefficient wireless gateway can be a chokepoint in subscribers’ home networks.
“Today we are launching a new device that solves this problem and creates the fastest in-home wireless network available anywhere in the U.S.,” Slinkard wrote. “The new Xfinity Wireless Gateway includes the 5.0 GHz radio frequency. This new frequency is being used by many of the latest consumer electronic products (like the iPhone 5, iPad 4 and Kindle Fire HD) and results in better speed and performance from connected devices.
“It also has been built to a new standard (MoCA 2.0), which allows the device to leverage a home’s existing coaxial cable network to create a faster and more efficient network of connected devices within the home.” It has been several years since I started this troublesome journey to extend WiFi/Internet access to my living room. My Comcast cable modem/eMTA and wireless gateway is installed upstairs on one side of my home and no matter what Wireless AP device or technology I use I cannot get a strong WiFi signal downstairs especially in my living room, kitchen and dining room where a majority of my Internet access takes place. In particular, my phones and tablets sometimes drop off the WiFi network due to dead-zones and I'm unable to successfully stream any movies at even a low 2-3Mbits on my media center or streaming devices, sometimes even for home movies stored on my personal server upstairs which is connected directly to the COMCAST Wireless gateway at Gigabit speeds. Over the years, I've spent hundreds of dollars on various WiFi access points, extenders, multiple powerline adapters etc.. all to no benefit. Unfortunately my decade-old home was not built with structured wiring and the AC power lines must be too noisy for powerline AV to work any better than WiFi and so I'm stuck with at most 1-3 Mbps of sustained bandwidth from my living room to both my personal media server upstairs and the Internet. This low speed, unreliable Internet access in the center of my home entertainment area is completely unacceptable to me. Then I learnt this year from Comcast's own press releases like the one quoted above in cedmagazine that their newest Wireless gateways (Cisco DPC3939 or Technicolor TC8706C) are equipped with MOCA 2.0. MOCA is designed exactly for the kind of network distribution problem that I have. MOCA takes the Internet/Ethernet and sends it over the already laid down cable/coaxial lines in your home at high speed using the unused bandwidth available on the coax wires. It is standardized and is pretty much plug and play if you have the devices. In theory with MOCA anyone can have a fully networked high speed broadband home relying on just the coaxial wiring that most homes already have. After years of changing my WiFi access points multiple times looking for better coverage, I finally decided to try the COMCAST all-in-one Wireless Internet Gateway and eMTA (Technicolor wireless Gateway 1) but after lots of troubles with poor signal reception, frequent disconnection/drops and faulty DNS configuration that cannot be changed by the end-user, I decided to request a change to the more capable XB3 Wireless Gateway 2 with MOCA 2.0 whole-house networking features. I started a web chat with the Comcast technical representative that worked in the department for gateway replacement. I told her about my WiFi distribution problem and that I already had the Technicolor Gateway and that I needed to get Gateway 2 -- the so-called XB3. She was very quick to tell me that she knew *exactly* what I wanted and had dealt with this before. I went into detail about MOCA, about the lack of MOCA 2.0 adapters available to purchase by consumers and that she should make sure that my replacement XB3 kit came with the necessary MOCA -> Ethernet adapter or MOCA WiFi AP that I would need to extend the Comcast Internet service to my living room. She acknowledged everything, said she was creating notes about MOCA adapter for the dept that would ship out the XB3. I couldn't believe how easy it was to order the XB3 and required MOCA adapter/WiFi AP. I was so pleasantly suprised and impressed by the customer service I thought I had received from Comcast. I made sure to give her the best review scores when the chat was complete and a Comcast survey was presented to me. Later I received a FedEx shipment notice and a few days later I was shocked when I opened the package to see that I had been shipped the exact same Technicolor (non-MOCA) single band WiFi gateway (Gateway 1) which I already had and which I had specifically told the customer support agent that I did not want again. I was shocked at the deception and false promises that I had received from this Comcast customer support specialist. Even though the entire chat conversation was recorded, she had no problem lying to me directly that she was sending me an XB3 when she clearly had no intention of doing so. I later took this unwanted Technicolor Wireless Gateway 1 back to the Comcast store in Auburn WA and there the customer service representative argued with me over and over about MOCA and it was clear that he had no idea what MOCA was or why it is such a boon to anyone who has problems getting WiFi coverage in a home. He also stated that he knew nothing about XB3 boxes and that the Comcast store did not have any and that he couldn't find any information about XB3 in his computer. He also gave me a Motorola HD PVR which he said was newer than the really ancient one I had but which still had component outputs for my older TV unlike the X1 (to my knowledge). A few weeks later, I went back again to the same store and requested an XB3 Wireless gateway 2. This time the customer service agent I spoke to seemed to have some idea that MOCA existed (she said she had it installed in her home) but then insisted that I could not get an XB3 with MOCA *unless* I also ordered an X1 Comcast HD PVR. Also she said that it required professional installation and I would be charged for that even though all I wanted in the first place was just the XB3 MOCA Gateway. I asked her if the XB3 kit came with a MOCA -> Ethernet adapter or MOCA WiFi AP for the living room and then it became clear that she really either did not understand the use of MOCA for network distribution or she was playing dumb. She kept on insisting that Comcast does *NOT* provide any MOCA adapters or WiFi access points to use with the XB3 to extend the home network. Frustrated, I kept on asking her why there was a required bundling of MOCA Wireless gateway with a specific model of COMCAST DVR that I didn't want and she just insisted that was the way things had to be done. I also explained to her that I had an older Plasma TV without HDMI inputs. She finally went to talk to her supervisor and came out with a XB3 and an X1 HD DVR. I didn't want the X1 but I was very eager to get a chance to use MOCA to allow me to use my Comcast Xfinity Internet reliably downstairs. I figured that perhaps the the new X1 PVR had a built-in MOCA client and an Ethernet port with which I could use to plug in my own WiFi access point and thus have both 100% signal strength downstairs as well as high bandwidth hardwired network link backhaul upstairs back to the XB3. Last night, I finally installed the XBR3 after multiple false starts with the device sometimes refusing to complete activation or losing complete connectivity to my hardwired PC, turned on MOCA (which was disabled by default) and then tried to install the X1 DVR but suddenly discovered at 1AM in the morning that the X1 really didn't have any component outputs. There was no way to hook it up to my TV. Anyway, I wanted so badly to get MOCA as a network extender working that didn't care at that point about the TV and just wanted to make sure that the MOCA worked. The XB3 upstairs said that it detected 2 MOCA devices in my home, everything looks good although it would have been nicer if the XB3 detailed what devices were connected via MOCA and perhaps what version of MOCA they were using. Anyway, since I could not see the X1 screen on my TV or perform any setup I may have needed to do to setup MOCA on the X1, I gave up with that and tried the older non-X1 Motorola DVR (DCX3501M/MOR200BN) which some googling showed that it too actually supported MOCA (see http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/motorola-rolls-out-the-latest-hd-dvr-the-dcx3501-m/) as well though it was not an X1 model. I setup the Motorola DVR and after it was activated, I plugged the media center into the the back of the Motorola DVR's ethernet port. The media center showed that it was trying to acquire an IP address but no matter what it could not succeed. I called up COMCAST technical support again. It was 1:30AM. As usual the technical customer service representative had no idea what MOCA was and couldn't even clarify if it was possible to connect my streaming media device into the back of the Motorola DVR using an Ethernet cable and get Internet access that way via MOCA. In all my encounters with COMCAST support personel so far I've noticed that they all claim to know what MOCA is but yet keep on saying things that demonstrate clearly that they have no idea what it it is, how it works, why a consumer would want to use it for network distribution and most shockingly have no idea whether or how MOCA home networking is supported by Comcast products. This representative insisted over and over that I needed to setup a truck roll appointment for a technician to help me troubleshoot my MOCA/DVR issue but yet she would not clarify the simple question about whether COMCAST supported the use of the Ethernet port on the Motorola DVR to provide Internet access to begin with and she was not willing to pass me on to a support person who knew what MOCA was and how it was supported by COMCAST. What was the point of staying at home to wait for a technician to troubleshoot a device scenario that may not even be supported by COMCAST to begin with? Are all these COMCAST technical support representatives not even trained on the products that COMCAST is selling/installing in our homes? Why are they all clueless about MOCA technology even though COMCAST itself touts this feature in every press release about their new Wireless Gateways? The very unhelpful customer service agent rudely transfered me to another number without any warning, the number had a recorded message saying nobody was available and then hung up on me. Now, that is the kind of customer service I'm used to from COMCAST. I spent the next 30 minutes googling Comcast X1 DVR to figure out if any of the new ones supported component outputs and ended up learning more than I wanted to about Comcast RNG reference designs, X1/X2 software and finally the important fact that the Comcast X1 HD DVR has two variants manufactured by two seperate companies PACE and ARRIS and that one of the variants by PACE has on-board component outputs. That is the X1 DVR that the local Auburn store support person should have given me after I had told her that I did not have HDMI inputs on my TV. It was 2:30am. This morning I called up COMCAST technical support again and the representative I spoke to was quite helpful at first with helping to determine that my Auburn COMCAST store had a dozen+ units of the X1 DVR with component outputs. He also gave me a free 90days HBO due to all the time I've wasted driving back and forths to the Comcast store and getting/returning products, which was nice although I usually don't watch premium cable channels or much TV anyway; but still an appreciated gesture. Now that I was going to get an X1 DVR that would work with my TV and which I had reason to believe had on-board MOCA for Internet access, I asked the tech support representative if COMCAST did not sell or rent a MOCA 2.0 -> Ethernet adapter or WiFi AP, how was I going to use this X1 to extend the Internet downstairs for my mobile devices and to my TV for streaming movies? That simple question seemed to unnerve him for some reason. Once I got into this questioning about MOCA it was deja-vu all over again. He claimed to fully understand MOCA, claimed that the X1 used it to access applications and the Internet but insisted that I need to have a truck-roll again to my home from the Wifi experts to "troubleshoot" my WiFi distribution problem. Geez. I'd already been through these unreasonable conversations before multiple times! I tried to explain that I did not want or need any truck roll (more importantly, I'm not taking a day off work to wait for a house visit). I didn't need someone to troubleshoot something if the support personal himself doesn't even know if it is supported to begin with. While trying to explain that all I was asking for was an answer if the X1 exposed the Internet via it's rear Ethernet port or how otherwise I was supposed to access the Internet via the MOCA coax outlet, the line was dropped. Again, the typical COMCAST customer support. I've done a lot more research on MOCA and COMCAST and my thinking now is that the possible reason why COMCAST goes out of its way to make it very difficult for consumers to deploy MOCA whole house networking using its gear and why every single one of their representatives I've spoken to about MOCA home networking have acted very antagonistic towards that topic is because COMCAST does *NOT* want customers to learn about or utilize MOCA for whole house networking unless they are using a locked-in MOCA that works only with COMCAST proprietary video on demand, DVR/Cloud-DVR and other closed ecosystem multimedia entertainment products. Basically, a COMCAST customer who can have easy high speed broadband wired and wireless access in every room of their house via MOCA 2.0 is also a customer that may be tempted to start using over-the-top Internet television, streaming and entertainment services such as Amazon Instant Video, Dramatize, DramaFever, Crackle, HBO, Hulu, myTV, NetD, Netflix, NowTV, Qello, RPI TV, WhereverTV and Chromecast that are not controlled by COMCAST and which COMCAST makes no extra money off of you when you do it in every room of your home due to the power of MOCA and the accessibility of COAX conenctors in most rooms of most homes. Basically COMCAST touts MOCA 2.0 and puts it into their latest Wireless gateways, DVRs and set top boxes not to help their customers easily have high speed whole house inter-networking but ONLY for the purpose of exploiting your in-home COAX wiring for their closed multimedia services like AnyRoom DVR etc.. That is why they allow their X1 and other DVRs and set top boxes to access the Internet via MOCA but then disable the rear ethernet ports so that your own entertainment streaming devices cannot also make use of the fast broadband connection. That is also why some of the COMCAST employees I've tried to get help from have stated in no uncertain terms that COMCAST will not sell or rent to me any device that allows my own devices to access the high speed MOCA 2.0 broadband connection that I pay for every month with my Xfinity Triple Play and Wireless Gateway rental fees. Look right here where COMCAST explains the benefits of the two main Wireless Gateways it rents to customers: http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/internet/wireless-gateway-compare/For the Wireless Gateway 2 which I'm currently renting from them, COMCAST clearly marks out that this Gateway offers "MOCA". COMCAST then explains what MOCA is:
"MoCA: Multimedia over Coax Alliance. MoCA is a universal standard for home networking over the in-home coaxial cable. MoCA can be used to extend the Wi-Fi range of the Wireless Gateway 2, using a Wireless Ethernet Coax Bridge (WEC." Note though that COMCAST refuses to sell or rent you that Wireless Ethernet Coax Bridge to make use of your spanking new MOCA. At least that is what several COMCAST technical and support persons have told me. That document above though, is a COMCAST document aimed at current and future customers and it clearly explains the benefits of MOCA. But yet I'm supposed to believe that out of the six or so COMCAST technical and customer support personel I've spoken to about MOCA not a single one of them knows about this obvious purpose of MOCA and that they all refuse to rent or sell me equipment that allows my own devices to use the high speed MOCA broadband Internet that their own devices such as the X1 can access inside my home? I'm also supposed to believe that it is a coincidence that COMCAST spends the time, effort and cost to build in MOCA 2.0 into their DVRs and settop boxes but then blocks access to make use of it via the Ethernet ports on all their MOCA capable set top boxes and DVRs? These devices are all rented by COMCAST and they charge hefty monthly bills for it but then they disable my full use of the technology which I've already paid for? Finally, I wanted to find a store where I could buy my own MOCA 2.0 Wireless Ethernet Coax Bridge or MOCA compatible Wireless Access point in order to bypass COMCAST's blatent attempt to monopolize MOCA wholehouse broadband for just its own entertainment services. I couldn't find any ! It turns out that not a single manufacturer of MOCA 2.0 products (head-unit or adapters) will agree to sell any directly to a consumer - all of them will only sell to large ISPs and Cable companies like COMCAST. This makes absolutely no sense for such an important consumer technlogy. Imagine if all the Wifi AP and Cable Modem companies decided that you would not be able to buy their products and they would only sell to giant monopolistic companies like COMCAST that require that you indefinitely rent these devices and also insists on crippling them as well to remove basic functionality that the manufacturers had already built in for the benefit of the end-user? But then I thought back to the commotion a few months ago where people were buying the Cisco DPC3939 (ie, XB3) Wireless Gateway with MOCA 2.0 and having it activated without having to pay the ridiculous unending COMCAST rental fees and how quickly COMCAST acted to ban activation of Cisco DPC3939's that were purchased outright by customers by suggesting without any proof given whatsoever that the customers must have purchased "stolen" goods. How much does COMCAST make from overcharging so many customers for so long for "HD" DVRs (separate charge for DVR, separate charge for HD ability in 2014??), settop boxes, cable modems, eMTA etc..? I calculate that almost since the entire time I've been signed up to Comcast for Television in 2004, I've paid them at least $200/year for the right to use a slow, buggy and primitive 1080i 4:3 aspect ratio HD DVR with 250GB hard drive. Over ten years, I've paid COMCAST more than $2,000 for a device that I still don't own and has never offered anything to me but which I was forced to rent and use because COMCAST fought and lobbied during the late 90s and early 2000's to ensure that other companies could not make and sell consumer purchasable devices that were able to access the cable content I had already paid COMCAST for. Today, a 1 Terabyte hard drive along with a compact system able to both play & stream 4K UHD TV, install apps, play games and designed much better than anything that has ever come out of COMCAST costs about $200 to $300 in total at retail. COMCAST and other cable companies ensured that the burden of CableCard and restrictive licensing and usage rights and the complexity of the associated industry crypto regulations would kill off innovative products like Microsoft Windows Media Center which despite all its great features was unable to access Digital cable channel content especially as COMCAST started vigerously encrypting every single channel on their lineup -- even the usually free-to-air channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS etc.. Never mind the extra $5 to $10 they charged you a month to "rent" a single cable card that allowed you to only watch or record one Digital cable channel even though their own Cable company DVRs and set top boxes did not require the additional rental of cablecards to access digital cable via two or even five channels. This was all to cripple competing 3rd party devices while giving an unfair advantage to their own crippled products. I've come to believe that the situation with the inexplicable crippling of MOCA by COMCAST is no different. COMCAST is going out of its way to lock out 3rd party television-like services, devices and streaming applications from using the whole house MOCA 2.0 broadband Internet that is made possible by their XB3 Wireless Gateway and the coax cables that *I* paid to be put into my own home even if it means cruelly denying *all* their customers a very elegant and cost effective solution to the common problem of poor WiFi Internet coverage in homes. Finally, as the last persuasive piece of evidence supporting this belief that COMCAST is actively working to prevent its customers from using MOCA 2.0 because it does not want them to have the *choice* and *opportunity* to access reliable Internet TV-like multimedia not purchased from or controlled by COMCAST, I refer you to the absurd mandatory bundling of the COMCAST XB3 MOCA 2.0 Wireless Gateway with the COMCAST MOCA 2.0 X1 DVR and Cloud based Entertainment device. Clearly COMCAST wants you to pay for and rent their own substandard Television streaming/DVR device even if you don't want it and prefer to use something else with better design, reliability, quality and content. They want to tax you every month for using the Coaxial cables that you paid for in your own home. It seems to me now that COMCAST believes that the great advance of MOCA 2.0 is soley a benefit for their bottom line a sole benefit to themselves of extending their broadband high speed Internet access monopoly into the market for streaming/online video services even if it is at the expense of providing a quality whole-house Internet service and associated devices and accessories that meet the needs of their numerous customers.

Among the alternatives not mentioned... Using a TiVo DVR, rather than the X1; a Roamio Plus or Pro would solve both the concern over the quality of the DVR, as well as providing the MoCA bridge capability the poster so desperately wanted the X1 DVR to provide. (Although the TiVo's support only MoCA 1.1.) Just get a third-party MoCA adapter for the distant location. Why the hang-up on having a device provided by Comcast? This seems especially ironic given the opinions expressed regarding payments over time to Comcast. If a MoCA 2.0 bridge was the requirement, they don't exist outside providers. So couldn't the poster have simply requested a replacement XB3 from the local office and configured it down to only providing MoCA bridging -- and perhaps as a wireless access point? Comcast would bill him the monthly rate for the extra device, but such is the state of MoCA 2.0. Much of the OP sounds like frustration over devices providing capabilities the poster *thinks* they should have.

Gregory Johnson, Director of the Consumer Defense Resource Group, responds to the recent iPhone price drop.

Gregory Johnson, Director of the Consumer Defense Resource Group, responds to the recent iPhone price drop.
In a strange turn of events this week, some consumers are upset now because as of Wednesday (Sept. 5) Apple lowered the retail price of their iPhone by $200. The 8GB iPhone is now $400 rather than $600. Customers raised such an outcry that Steve Jobs has published an open letter in response.
Apple and other companies are continually coming out with new products that usually offer more speed, more storage, more features, and cost less than previous models. Nobody has ever complained -- until now. Why haven't people complained in the past when Apple has had significant price drops and major upgrades on their other products? There wasn't a revolt then. There were no mobs of angry customers demanding rebates.
My first CD drive was a 2X speed external drive that required a special interface card in the computer. It cost $1,200 and today better drives are available for about $30. My first scanner was a very slow and big unit costing over $1,000. Today, better scanners are available for under $100. My first computer cost more than $2,000 and had a 20MB hard drive. With 8GB of storage, the iPhone should cost about $800,000. So, $600 didn’t seem too expensive.
I bought my iPhone for $600 knowing that by next year they would probably drop to about $300 or $400. I didn't think there would be a mid-year drop, but so what. I knew the trajectory of technology progress would mean that a better phone will be available in 6 to 9 months at probably a lower price -- more apps, faster, more features, more memory. It's a given. You buy something this month. Next month it will be obsolete. That's just the way it is. Perhaps Apple should put a disclaimer on their website stating: "Warning: Our products will increasingly become faster, cooler, more innovative, and offer greater value for the dollar as time goes on. Get used to it."
Apple is progressing so quickly now, beyond any other technology innovation company, that this kind of thing is likely to happen again in the future with some other product of theirs. Are people going to complain each time? Must the company give out rebates each time? This all seems so silly. It’s no longer possible to compare Apple to other companies with regard to their ability to implement product improvements. It’s like dog years versus human years. Two months in Apple’s world of product development is equal to about 6 to 9 months for most manufacturers. I know it is difficult, but people need to get used to that.
To the complainers out there, I have a few questions. Would you like Apple to be less innovative? Would you like Apple to not give you more value and voluntarily drop their prices by hundreds of dollars? Is that what you want? Don't get upset at Apple just because they are pushing the envelope of technical innovation and value from one month to the next. What if Apple released an 8-core computer this summer and then by fall they announced their new 16-core computer? This is the kind of development and progress pace we need to start expecting from Apple. The migration to Intel processors went much faster than anticipated.
Some research suggests that the iPhone cost of materials are about $300. So, there had been some complaints that Apple is price gouging by selling the iPhone for twice that amount. What people don’t understand is that there are other costs in building a piece of technology and running a business beyond the electronic components that go into them. The actual cost per 8GB iPhone is probably about $550. When Apple sells them for $400 each, I calculate they are taking a loss on the phone of about $150 per phone. Why would a company do this? There is something called a “lost leader” in retail sales. It’s a product you sell below your cost in an effort to rapidly expand your customer base. I’m guessing this is what Apple is doing by offering the iPhone at such an amazingly low price.
I'm planning to purchase an Apple notebook sometime soon. I'm not in a hurry, so I'm waiting until they announce the next major upgrade to their notebook line. I'm guessing it will be this fall. If I really was in a rush to get a notebook, I'd get one now, and then be a little disappointed when the new ones are announced -- but I wouldn’t be surprised. Instead, I'm waiting. I'd like to see built-in broadband cards (cellular data access) and LED back lighting in the 17-inch notebook. Perhaps larger hard drives and faster processors would be nice. It would be wonderful if it had an optical glass touch screen like the iPhone.
This latest uproar reminds me of the consumer complaints about iPods scratching. For decades, portable handheld computing devices have been available. They get scratched, and nobody says anything. Anyone concerned about their device scratching can purchase a protective cover. Then Apple comes along and offers their product. Suddenly consumers are in an uproar about it scratching and there is a class action lawsuit. It doesn’t seem fair that the most progressive and innovative company out there is the one that gets beaten up by consumers the most.
My comprehensive review of the iPhone can be found here:
http://web.mac.com/resourcesforlife/journal/writings/Entries/2007/8/18iPhoneReview.html
The Consumer Defense Resource Group is online here:
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/groups/cdrg/
The above article can be found here:
http://web.mac.com/resourcesforlife/journal/writings/Entries/2007/9/7iPhone_Price_Drops_-_ConsumersUpset.html

Junk Mail Designer wrote:
I'm not biting.
I've read too many reports in the media from people more highly credentialed than Mr. Johnson to the contrary.
The analogies and comparisons are still way off. Production didn't get cheaper, the phone didn't get upgraded, no carrier's are subsidizing, retailer's are not discounting. Never has the MSRP of CD-ROMs, nor cellphones, nor HDTV's dropped this quickly in history.
I'm tired and going to bed. But here's your assignment. Apple's price decrease rate is 33.3% in 67 days. What would a $10,000 item cost at that rate in one year?
Actually product advancement and innovation are very much the central issue here. Apple has effectively "upgraded" the 4GB unit to 8GB and reduced the price by $100. It's all in how you look at it.
The real issue of innovation and development has yet to be seen, but the recent price drop is an indicator that Apple already has something "in the shoot" to be released soon.
I was thinking it might take a year for a new version of the iPhone to be announced. Yet, with the recent price drop, it seems they may be lowering the price on the original unit to make room for a new one. Which is my point exactly. Apple is so fast at innovating that they already have something new to release (that's my prediction).
They can't release something new and sell the old units if the "something new" and the "something old" are at the same price. It makes sense that the 8GB unit would drop to $400 and the new one will be $600.

How to treat error handling in the consumer loop in the queue message handler structure?

Hi,
I'd like to know how to stop the producer loop(event loop) in the QMH structure when the error happened in the consumer loop.
I've construct a demo code by myself as the attached image, but it's a pity that I have to create a recdundant indicator "End" to trigger the value change event to stop the program. This is not a good way to do it. Could someone give me some better idea how to deal with it? Very appreciated to you sharing ideas.

Concerning your doubts about the "traditional" implementation of this pattern, I hear you. As I have written many times before, its main benefit is that it is easy to explain in a training class. It unfortunately has a lot of drawbacks.
Tim's suggestion about User Events, is a good one. But to use it to the best advantage, you will need to get away from having everything on one block diagram. If you think about it there is no real need for the two loops to be on the same block diagram and a lot of really good reasons for them not to be. For example, if they are in separate VIs, they can both be event driven and any communication problems between loops evaporates.
Its also more modular, easier to maintain, more reusable, etc...
Check the link in my signature.
Mike...
Certified Professional Instructor
Certified LabVIEW Architect
LabVIEW Champion
"... after all, He's not a tame lion..."
Be thinking ahead and mark your dance card for NI Week 2015 now: TS 6139 - Object Oriented First Steps

I have a mid2009 MacBook Pro for which I have been using a USB WD HD for Time Machine. I'd like to get a wireless HD and start a new Time Machine backup for this Mac and retire the 5 year old WD drive. Can I start over?

I have a mid2009 MacBook Pro running Mavericks for which I have been using a USB WD HD for Time Machine. I'd like to get a wireless HD and start a new Time Machine backup for this Mac and retire the 5 year old WD drive. Can I start over?

no archive/ backup is perfect, HD clones can be set to make incremental additions, same as time machine however, though they are more time involved in doing so.
See the + and - of all data backup/ archives below and "spread it around".... or the "dont put your eggs all in one basket" philosophy.
Peace
Data Storage Platforms; their Drawbacks & Advantages
#1. Time Machine / Time Capsule
Drawbacks:
1. Time Machine is not bootable, if your internal drive fails, you cannot access files or boot from TM directly from the dead computer.
2. Time machine is controlled by complex software, and while you can delve into the TM backup database for specific file(s) extraction, this is not ideal or desirable.
3. Time machine can and does have the potential for many error codes in which data corruption can occur and your important backup files may not be saved correctly, at all, or even damaged. This extra link of failure in placing software between your data and its recovery is a point of risk and failure. A HD clone is not subject to these errors.
4. Time machine mirrors your internal HD, in which cases of data corruption, this corruption can immediately spread to the backup as the two are linked. TM is perpetually connected (or often) to your computer, and corruption spread to corruption, without isolation, which TM lacks (usually), migrating errors or corruption is either automatic or extremely easy to unwittingly do.
5. Time Machine does not keep endless copies of changed or deleted data, and you are often not notified when it deletes them; likewise you may accidently delete files off your computer and this accident is mirrored on TM.
6. Restoring from TM is quite time intensive.
7. TM is a backup and not a data archive, and therefore by definition a low-level security of vital/important data.
8. TM working premise is a “black box” backup of OS, APPS, settings, and vital data that nearly 100% of users never verify until an emergency hits or their computers internal SSD or HD that is corrupt or dead and this is an extremely bad working premise on vital data.
9. Given that data created and stored is growing exponentially, the fact that TM operates as a “store-it-all” backup nexus makes TM inherently incapable to easily backup massive amounts of data, nor is doing so a good idea.
10. TM working premise is a backup of a users system and active working data, and NOT massive amounts of static data, yet most users never take this into consideration, making TM a high-risk locus of data “bloat”.
11. In the case of Time Capsule, wifi data storage is a less than ideal premise given possible wireless data corruption.
12. TM like all HD-based data is subject to ferromagnetic and mechanical failure.
13. *Level-1 security of your vital data.
Advantages:
1. TM is very easy to use either in automatic mode or in 1-click backups.
2. TM is a perfect novice level simplex backup single-layer security save against internal HD failure or corruption.
3. TM can easily provide a seamless no-gap policy of active data that is often not easily capable in HD clones or HD archives (only if the user is lazy is making data saves).
#2. HD archives
Drawbacks:
1. Like all HD-based data is subject to ferromagnetic and mechanical failure.
2. Unless the user ritually copies working active data to HD external archives, then there is a time-gap of potential missing data; as such users must be proactive in archiving data that is being worked on or recently saved or created.
Advantages:
1. Fills the gap left in a week or 2-week-old HD clone, as an example.
2. Simplex no-software data storage that is isolated and autonomous from the computer (in most cases).
3. HD archives are the best idealized storage source for storing huge and multi-terabytes of data.
4. Best-idealized 1st platform redundancy for data protection.
5. *Perfect primary tier and level-2 security of your vital data.
#3. HD clones (see below for full advantages / drawbacks)
Drawbacks:
1. HD clones can be incrementally updated to hourly or daily, however this is time consuming and HD clones are, often, a week or more old, in which case data between today and the most fresh HD clone can and would be lost (however this gap is filled by use of HD archives listed above or by a TM backup).
2. Like all HD-based data is subject to ferromagnetic and mechanical failure.
Advantages:
1. HD clones are the best, quickest way to get back to 100% full operation in mere seconds.
2. Once a HD clone is created, the creation software (Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper) is no longer needed whatsoever, and unlike TM, which requires complex software for its operational transference of data, a HD clone is its own bootable entity.
3. HD clones are unconnected and isolated from recent corruption.
4. HD clones allow a “portable copy” of your computer that you can likewise connect to another same Mac and have all your APPS and data at hand, which is extremely useful.
5. Rather than, as many users do, thinking of a HD clone as a “complimentary backup” to the use of TM, a HD clone is superior to TM both in ease of returning to 100% quickly, and its autonomous nature; while each has its place, TM can and does fill the gap in, say, a 2 week old clone. As an analogy, the HD clone itself is the brick wall of protection, whereas TM can be thought of as the mortar, which will fill any cracks in data on a week, 2-week, or 1-month old HD clone.
6. Best-idealized 2nd platform redundancy for data protection, and 1st level for system restore of your computers internal HD. (Time machine being 2nd level for system restore of the computer’s internal HD).
7. *Level-2 security of your vital data.
HD cloning software options:
1. SuperDuper HD cloning software APP (free)
2. Carbon Copy Cloner APP (will copy the recovery partition as well)
3. Disk utility HD bootable clone.
#4. Online archives
Drawbacks:
1. Subject to server failure or due to non-payment of your hosting account, it can be suspended.
2. Subject, due to lack of security on your part, to being attacked and hacked/erased.
Advantages:
1. In case of house fire, etc. your data is safe.
2. In travels, and propagating files to friends and likewise, a mere link by email is all that is needed and no large media needs to be sent across the net.
3. Online archives are the perfect and best-idealized 3rd platform redundancy for data protection.
4. Supremely useful in data isolation from backups and local archives in being online and offsite for long-distance security in isolation.
5. *Level-1.5 security of your vital data.
#5. DVD professional archival media
Drawbacks:
1. DVD single-layer disks are limited to 4.7Gigabytes of data.
2. DVD media are, given rough handling, prone to scratches and light-degradation if not stored correctly.
Advantages:
1. Archival DVD professional blank media is rated for in excess of 100+ years.
2. DVD is not subject to mechanical breakdown.
3. DVD archival media is not subject to ferromagnetic degradation.
4. DVD archival media correctly sleeved and stored is currently a supreme storage method of archiving vital data.
5. DVD media is once written and therefore free of data corruption if the write is correct.
6. DVD media is the perfect ideal for “freezing” and isolating old copies of data for reference in case newer generations of data become corrupted and an older copy is needed to revert to.
7. Best-idealized 4th platform redundancy for data protection.
8. *Level-3 (highest) security of your vital data.
[*Level-4 data security under development as once-written metallic plates and synthetic sapphire and likewise ultra-long-term data storage]
#6. Cloud based storage
Drawbacks:
1. Cloud storage can only be quasi-possessed.
2. No genuine true security and privacy of data.
3. Should never be considered for vital data storage or especially long-term.
4. *Level-0 security of your vital data.
Advantages:
1. Quick, easy and cheap storage location for simplex files for transfer to keep on hand and yet off the computer.
2. Easy source for small-file data sharing.

Is this taking advantage of the consumer?

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