iPad Registration / User accounts and privacy

Mike_73 · 06-16-2010, 12:37 PM

I rather prefer to keep my private details to myself.
This is one reason I never like products that call for user accounts. Sure, in some cases there's no way around a user account (like with e-mail), but such providers don't allways ask for private data. And, I can choose which provider I want.

Ok, here I go. I could imagine buying an ipad. I could imagine to get contents from my PC to an ipad. I could also imagine to have an account with apple but I wouldn't want apple to have my personal data.
I know there are gift cards I can buy in stores, but still, I have to create an account, and I'd bet they want to know who I am.

Don't get me wrong. There's nothing I need to hide, but still, the ipad seems the device which resembles the "smallest" package compared to windows based slates and I simply like the design, so I would currently prefer an ipad over another slate running windows (which I would prefer compared to apples OS's, just because I know what it can and cannot do).

So is there a way to use an ipad in a expedient way without getting an account? I mean how to get free apps and such without an account? If free means I have to give them my private data, then I'd say it's not free, right?

HarryT · 06-16-2010, 12:39 PM

No, there's no way to get even free apps without an Apple Store account.

Mike_73 · 06-16-2010, 03:56 PM

What about fake names for an account and then using gift cards? Would that work?
I'm not sure if that were "legal" but on the other side, if you purchase an ipad (I assume if I would do that, I would legally own the hardware, not just some kind of license to use it, right???), shouldn't one be able to use the product without giving up their own privacy.

I mean what does anyone care which book I read, which free app I use, ....?

Ok, put it this way. When was the last time you had to register or create an account at your local grocery store for buying tomatoes when you paid cash???

scottjl · 06-16-2010, 04:06 PM

yes. you could probably get away with creating an account with fake information, as long as you don't use a credit card (unless you had one in your fake name). could apple detect you? as long as you don't screw up somehow. what's the worst they can do? close out your account and you'd lose access to your music/books/media. would you have any recourse? doubt it.

kjk · 06-16-2010, 04:09 PM

Mike, try this: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2534

athlonkmf · 06-16-2010, 04:42 PM

well, I know a certain mr B. Gates living in a Delaware MS store has been buying a lot of iPad apps lately....

Mike_73 · 06-16-2010, 04:55 PM

Thanks for the help here. I've checked the help page on creating a user account and I like the "none" payment option

I don't bother if they have my name, but I don't need any e-mail from apple on my private e-mail account, neither do I need mail from 3rd parties. And I also don't want to be bothered via snail mail.

As for MS, I did buy a Zune at the time the 1st gen Zunes were discounted down to $70 (that was right before I had to leave the US and go back to Germany).
MS has a really nice store similar to itunes, but you don't have to use it. All games and FW updates were available without even creating an account. So, even if bitching about MS seems ok from time to time (mostly about woes with nonworking hardware or worse implementation of UI compared to apple), this is one thing for which I really like MS.

Thanks again for the help.

06-16-2010, 12:37 PM	#1
Mike_73 Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 1323 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, iPad 16GB Wifi, Kindle Voyage, Nexus 6, Razr HD	Registration / User accounts and privacy I rather prefer to keep my private details to myself. This is one reason I never like products that call for user accounts. Sure, in some cases there's no way around a user account (like with e-mail), but such providers don't allways ask for private data. And, I can choose which provider I want. Ok, here I go. I could imagine buying an ipad. I could imagine to get contents from my PC to an ipad. I could also imagine to have an account with apple but I wouldn't want apple to have my personal data. I know there are gift cards I can buy in stores, but still, I have to create an account, and I'd bet they want to know who I am. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing I need to hide, but still, the ipad seems the device which resembles the "smallest" package compared to windows based slates and I simply like the design, so I would currently prefer an ipad over another slate running windows (which I would prefer compared to apples OS's, just because I know what it can and cannot do). So is there a way to use an ipad in a expedient way without getting an account? I mean how to get free apps and such without an account? If free means I have to give them my private data, then I'd say it's not free, right?

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06-16-2010, 12:39 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, there's no way to get even free apps without an Apple Store account.

06-16-2010, 03:56 PM	#3
Mike_73 Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 1323 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, iPad 16GB Wifi, Kindle Voyage, Nexus 6, Razr HD	What about fake names for an account and then using gift cards? Would that work? I'm not sure if that were "legal" but on the other side, if you purchase an ipad (I assume if I would do that, I would legally own the hardware, not just some kind of license to use it, right???), shouldn't one be able to use the product without giving up their own privacy. I mean what does anyone care which book I read, which free app I use, ....? Ok, put it this way. When was the last time you had to register or create an account at your local grocery store for buying tomatoes when you paid cash???

06-16-2010, 04:06 PM	#4
scottjl Reader of Books Posts: 1,632 Karma: 2697 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: none	yes. you could probably get away with creating an account with fake information, as long as you don't use a credit card (unless you had one in your fake name). could apple detect you? as long as you don't screw up somehow. what's the worst they can do? close out your account and you'd lose access to your music/books/media. would you have any recourse? doubt it.

06-16-2010, 04:09 PM	#5
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	Mike, try this: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2534

06-16-2010, 04:42 PM	#6
athlonkmf Guru Posts: 714 Karma: 1014039 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500, Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3, Sony PRS350, iPad 64GB	well, I know a certain mr B. Gates living in a Delaware MS store has been buying a lot of iPad apps lately....

06-16-2010, 04:55 PM	#7
Mike_73 Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 1323 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, iPad 16GB Wifi, Kindle Voyage, Nexus 6, Razr HD	Thanks for the help here. I've checked the help page on creating a user account and I like the "none" payment option I don't bother if they have my name, but I don't need any e-mail from apple on my private e-mail account, neither do I need mail from 3rd parties. And I also don't want to be bothered via snail mail. As for MS, I did buy a Zune at the time the 1st gen Zunes were discounted down to $70 (that was right before I had to leave the US and go back to Germany). MS has a really nice store similar to itunes, but you don't have to use it. All games and FW updates were available without even creating an account. So, even if bitching about MS seems ok from time to time (mostly about woes with nonworking hardware or worse implementation of UI compared to apple), this is one thing for which I really like MS. Thanks again for the help.

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