Week One - iTunes Hell

I haven't used iTunes for about four years, and used to use it a bit with my G2 iPod, which still runs (although the battery is well knackered). I had forgotten how much it really sucked.

Being outside the US really sucks with the iTunes store. There are ways around it but some web sites don't make it very clear exactly how. Here are some key pointers:
- You MUST have a US based account, or you are almost knackered.
- You cannot use a non US credit card or iTunes gift card on a US based account.
- You can purchase with a non-US account, some items, but it is limited.
- You can't purchase ANYTHING from your iPad if you are outside the US. And it KNOWS you aren't in the US. I don't think there is anything you can do about it but wait.
- If you end up with two accounts, like I did, be very careful about synchronising. I can only synchronise safely if I am logged out of both accounts (safety tip, you are better off actually logging out, exiting iTunes, and restarting before syncing, just to be safe). If I am logged in with US one, it removes apps I downloaded with non-US account and vice versa.
- I hear that some people by US iTunes cards from or through friends and use them, that could work. They also by US prepaid credit cards the same way, this does save quite a lot of hassle.

As for iTunes itself, at least eBooks (ePubs) and videos can be dragged on without purchasing them. However, PDFs are a problem. I have loaded iPDF and that works, okayish, but you have to grab everything directly from the internet, which is not very convenient for eBooks you already have or manuals you like to refer to now and again (like for my watch when daylight saving happens - it is quite tricky, don't laugh, the analogue bit needs about 10 key presses). I am going to try Goodreader, but haven't yet.

I wish I could just drag and drop using Windows Explorer, it would be a hell of a lot more convenient.