News
iTunes phone upgrade to remove song cap? [updated]
One of the biggest complaints with Motorola’s iTunes-enabled mobile phones is their 100-song cap. But Apple has apparently been listening and appears to be planning to allow users to upgrade their phone to remove the software-imposed song limit.
References in the code of the iTunes 6.0.3 update reveal a link to a hidden page on the iTunes Music Store that says: “Want more music on your mobile phone with iTunes? Upgrade now.” The upgrade process is not yet active, as several ROKR and SLVR phone owners were unsuccessful in getting their song limit raised. It’s not clear whether Apple plans to charge for the upgrade.
Update: Engadget has confirmed with Apple that “the upgrade screen exists for non-US customers, some of whom initially had caps as low as 25 songs, and brings their phones up to the 100-song limit.”
Related Stories
- Apple releases iTunes 11.0.3 with new Mini Player
- Microsoft: Don’t expect iTunes app on Windows 8
- Apple launches ‘A Decade of iTunes’
- Apple adds ‘download later’ option to iTunes
- Court rules iTunes songs can’t be resold
- Apple adds freemium app warning in App Store
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- New Apple online store design alters focus, hides deals
- Apps: ABC Aquarium, Disney Jr. Appisodes, Pinterest 2.4 + Pocket Informant Pro 3.0
- Report: iOS 7 could see Flickr, Vimeo integration
- Apple CEO Cook testifies on taxes, faces Senate critics
- Google Play Music All Access to get iOS app support?
- Senate subcommittee accuses Apple of tax avoidance
- AT&T: All video chat apps will work over cellular in 2013
- Apple releases testimony before CEO’s Senate appearance
- New Apple offers in India can reduce iPhone price
- Report: Apple testing 1.5” OLED displays for iWatch
Recent Reviews
- Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100 + 200 Bluetooth + AirPlay Wireless Speakers
- Mophie Juice Pack Plus for iPhone 5
- Ultimate Ears UE Boom
- Trü Protection Trü-Fit Anti-Glare Film Set
- New Trent iCarrier IMP120D Dual USB Power Pack
- BlueFlame 2M Charge and Sync Cable with Lightning Connector
- HMDX Jam Party Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Speaker
- Logitech Harmony Ultimate Universal Remote Control
- MyCharge Freedom 2000 Battery Case for iPhone 5
- Nike Nike+ FuelBand
Recent Articles
- Inability to use Find My Friends without a passcode
- Calendar info disappears after iCloud restore
- Remove old iCloud backup after restoring to a new iPhone
- Setting up a ringtone in iTunes
- Using a Wi-Fi hard drive with an iPad
- Backing up and restoring an iPod classic
- Can’t restore iPod touch without passcode
- Retaining older versions of Apps during an iOS Restore
- Can’t eject iPod nano without closing Firefox
- Can’t change iTunes Apple ID to iCloud e-mail address
1
I’m not surprised by this at all…
Posted by mflat5 in USA on February 16, 2006 at 7:20 AM (PST)
2
Wouldn’t such an upgrade have to come from Moto, and not Apple?
Posted by bwapod on February 16, 2006 at 7:20 AM (PST)
3
An Apple rep has already told engadget that the upgrade was for some European customers whose phones were capped at as few as 25 songs. For Americans (and elsewhere) the maximum remains at 100.
Posted by Jason on February 16, 2006 at 8:41 AM (PST)
4
This 100-song cap on the iTunes phones…is it regardless of song length? I mean, could I fill it with 100 hour-long single-track DJ mixes, and the phone would consider it the same as 100 30-second punk songs? Or is there a memory capacity cap above the 100 songs?
Posted by PushButtonAction in Atlanta, GA on February 16, 2006 at 9:34 AM (PST)
5
Page came up, plugged in my ROKR (pile of rubbish that it is) and clicked upgrade. Message came up ‘upgrade succesful’. Tried to stick more than my limited 100 songs and had familiar old message about 100 song limit. Strangely it allowed me to put 101 songs on it.
Wind up…
Posted by Cosmic on February 16, 2006 at 10:12 AM (PST)
6
It’s number of songs, not length, and it’s entirely in software.
What’s more, it’s entirely within the computer of iTunes, which just has to authorize the songs for playback on the phone. So yes, Apple can do this through software. It’s not even a software upgrade, really, it’s just lifting some restrictions.
Although with microSD cards currently limited to 512 MB, getting above 100 songs isn’t going to help you much.
Posted by mattwardfh in Texas on February 16, 2006 at 10:19 AM (PST)
7
Why does Apple limit the number of songs you can put on the phone? And why do they limit the songs anyway if the phones are already necessarily limited by the current capacity of microSD cards?
Posted by Craig on February 16, 2006 at 11:51 AM (PST)
8
‘cause their dumb…sorry, its just a natural reaction. I have heard that microSD is now at at 1 gig and the reasoning behind the song cap is simple, not only does 100 songs SOUND limiting to possible buyers looking for the iPod phone, it is, and Apple didn’t want ANY competition from the ROKR, capping the songs at 100 elimanates that possiblity altogether.
Posted by Echid on February 16, 2006 at 1:46 PM (PST)
9
hmm well with the included 512 mb card i don’t really care about the 100 song limit, as i have my ipod for music anyway… but 25 songs (in europe)?? that is just lame.
i read apple did this to “protect ipod sales”, so what more ipods (shuffle mainly) would sell than rokrs and slvrs because they don’t have that limit
Posted by www.formatc.co.nr on February 16, 2006 at 2:48 PM (PST)
10
Now could someone hack this to change two variables?
Always work for any region and change the “100” to a higher number?
Posted by M3wThr33 in Redmond, WA on February 16, 2006 at 11:07 PM (PST)
11
I can’t wait for the Rokr E2, minus the iTunes crap of course, I think it will be a vast improvement.
Posted by Echid on February 17, 2006 at 7:49 PM (PST)
12
“I mean, could I fill it with 100 hour-long single-track DJ mixes, and the phone would consider it the same as 100 30-second punk songs?”
You still have the limit on the amount of memory you have on the phone. So it’s possible to not be able to reach the 100 song limit if you reach the actual limit on the size of the song library.
Posted by fez whatley on February 21, 2006 at 5:23 AM (PST)
13
i hope they do have an equalizer on their upgrade….
Posted by motoDJ on June 28, 2006 at 5:51 AM (PST)
14
What 100 song limit?
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4143/1000itunestk9.jpg
and a 1 gb SD card works nicely
Posted by Kevin Seraph on November 29, 2006 at 10:32 AM (PST)
15
I have t-mobile and i use an unlocked asian rokr and i tried uncapping the song limit and itunes said that it could not reach the itunes store so i cant get it uncapped! i even tried putting in a cingular sim card to see if i could get a software update but my phone said “no service.” i bought the phone used and just the phone itself. i dont know what to do! i dont want to mod it or anything because i tried doing that to my 1st ipod nano and it didnt work. help!!!!
Posted by Kelly Aiken on February 8, 2007 at 3:19 PM (PST)