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Firmware 2.0 and the iTunes App Store experience in India

I finally have the firmware 2.0 running on my iPod Touch. You will get a new Applications tab in iTunes 7.7 when you connect the updated iPod Touch to your machine. Here you can choose to synchronize all the Applications in your library to your iPod, or just select the ones you like.

You get the Applications tab when you connect iPod Touch with firmware 2.0

I chose to sync all applications that I had downloaded yesterday. Once the synchronization finished, the apps were visible on the iPod Touch’s home screen from where I could tap and start using them.

Your apps show up on your home screen

The experience of using the App Store from the device itself is pretty seamless too. You choose the app you like and go to its detailed description. You then tap the small blue button with the price of the app on it, which turns into a green BUY NOW button. Tapping it prompts you for your iTunes Store credentials and once the purchase goes through, the app is placed on your home screen.

Tap the price once to get the green BUY NOW button

Tap BUY NOW to finish purchasing

A small progress-bar shows its download and installation status and within minutes the app is ready for use!

An app being downloaded

An app being installed

The process is identical for installing free apps (instead of the price you tap on the FREE button which turns into a green INSTALL button).

A word of caution here – if you are already signed in, and you tap the BUY NOW button, the purchase will be automatically made – you won’t be prompted again for a confirmation – so be careful about what you tap!

The absence of the regular iTunes Store rankles on iPod Touch too. If you click on the iTunes icon on your iPod Touch all you’ll get is this message:

The iTunes Store is not supported in this country

I worry that the App Store might be a tough sell in India. The concept of having to pay for an app on a phone/music player just doesn’t fly here. I hope the ease and polish of Apple’s implementation (and of the apps themselves!) changes that and paves way for the iTunes Store proper.

This entry was posted Saturday, July 12th, 2008 at 1:46 am and is filed under Tips. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Hi,

    I purchased iPhone 3G from Chandigarh - India and now when ever I try to click on "iTune", it give me this error "iTunes Store is not supported in this country".

    Can any one tell me how I can make the appropriate setting and make it working.

    Thanks

    Amod Sinha
  • Sahaj
    Hey , am planning 2 buy a new touch from Singapore ?
    will it have the new 2.0 software ??
    if not can i purchase it here in India ??? will the App store be supported in India ?
    Thanx
  • Hi Sahaj, It should but I think it depends on when you plan to buy it. Check at the shop first - they might have old inventory without the 2.0 firmware. Anyway you can always spend another 10$ (~450 Rs.) and purchase the firmware later.

    Yes, the App Store works in India which is what this post was all about :). If you need more details, please read: http://www.imacusers.com/itunes-77-app-store-in...

    Hope this helps!
  • Gaurav
    Hey deepak,cn u pleeees clear a doubt of mine??
    If I plan to buy a ipod touch from the US or Canada,will it have any limitations in India??
    Will i face any region problems like the iPhone,like one has to unlock it/jailbreak it for it to work in India.
    Or do you suggest that I buy an ipod Touch from India itself....
  • You'll be fine if you buy it in US or Canada. No unlock/jailbreak needed for using it in India.
  • Gaurav
    thanx a lot
  • Sahaj
    Hey , thnx a lot !!
  • Thanks for a detailed post. I too upgraded my iPod Touch and the process was glitch free. As you rightly said, the concept of paying for apps in India will take time to be accepted. I hope the music store when launched makes use of the vast content in India. Even in the US and other markets, I guess the Free Apps rule the roost.
  • I really hope we get a music store too! Agreed people don't pay here easily, but right now the industry is losing out on people who want to pay as well. The brick-and-mortar music stores have poor selection and rarely have what you are looking for, leaving one quite frustrated.
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