Apple Blocked My Emails until I Upgrade, Seems to Me Like Blackmail

[Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 13:51

Apple's iCloud is obviously a scheme to sign up users to their PAID cloud storage, given that they only give you 5GB for free. 5GB may seem like a lot, if you only use it for photos, messages and occassionally music.

But if you have a newish Apple device and set up backups to iCloud, that 5GB will be eaten up in a matter of months. And what happens then? …

THEY STOP YOU SENDING OR RECEIVING ANY EMAILS UNTIL YOU UPGRADE TO THE PAID SERVICE!!!

This seems like blackmail to me. Especially if you shared your .icloud.com email address with many family and friends, and perhaps some business associates.

YOU FIND YOU ARE NOW CUT OFF FROM YOUR CONTACTS UNTIL YOU PAY AND UPGRADE!!! What is tvat other than blackmail. You can delete your backups, but that is a risk in case your device gets corrupted.

Personally I was waiting for some boarding passes, and realised why. I had to then ring the airline and get them to resend them. Big mess.

Now, I'm not an apple fanboy by no means, I have used Android devices in the past, after having the iphone 3G, but have gone back to apple when iphone 6 came out. WHAT A MISTAKE!!!

But now I know for sure I am going back to Android, as soon as my contract runs out in 3 months. I am looking at the Samsung S7 Edge, but am waiting for price to drop which will happen for sure when iphone 7 comes out.

I believe that apple should provide BASIC email access even if you do fill up your free quota with backups. Or backups should not be counted only personal uploads of photos/music. After all there are many other free email providers who dont even require you to spend $000's on their products. What do others think?

(Excuse my use of CAPS and the overuse of the work blackmail, but I am fuming!!!!!!)

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Comments

  • SirFlibbled on 07/04/2016 - 14:06

    Move some photos to an external harddrive or something.

    Should solve the problem and give you a back up in case something goes wrong elsewhere.

  • whooah1979 on 07/04/2016 - 14:21
    +6

    This seems like blackmail to me.

    blackmail is crime. are you suggesting apple is doing something illegal?

  • dimplex89 on 07/04/2016 - 14:25

    I'm a little lost.. are you not receiving emails because your iCloud is full because your emails are backed up as part of that or you cannot receive emails because your phone is full and so is your iCloud because of phone backups?

    Google photos will allow you to store all your photos with the app and thus can remove photos off your icloud.

    interested to see what would be chewing your storage whether it be photos or apps you probably don't use anymore.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 14:35
    -5

    I logged in from a web browser on a pc just to rule out any "links" with my iphone. What what I can gather it is the "device backup" using up 4.8GB. The rest is photos and emails. I understand that the device backup includes files stored within each app "each app is an island", so have deleted many unused apps in the meantime.

    Plenty of room on device itself, being 64GB

    I only have ~200 photos since I copied then to disk when I was running out of room.

    I am guessing backups are cumulative, taking up everything I ever stored on it since purchase.

  • Jesmond on 07/04/2016 - 14:48
    +7

    Plug in your iPhone to your computer (Mac or PC) back it up using iTunes. It will offer to remove your iCloud backup. This is how we used to do it before online services became pervasive. If you're still over the 5GB limit, consider cleaning out old photos, videos or e-mails, or moving e-mail providers to Gmail. Apple gives you 5GB of storage across all your content including e-mails. If this isn't enough, time to move on or pay extra. I don't think this is blackmail. Hotmail had a 2MB limit when I first signed up to it in the late 90s. I didn't consider that "blackmail."

  • verio on 07/04/2016 - 14:49
    +13

    OMG OMG The same applies to gmail.com too when you reach your quota there. This is how all services work - whenever you reach a limit you need either to pay extra or to delete something.

    • elusive on 07/04/2016 - 14:55
      +1

      Yup. Google Drive storage was merged with Gmail storage a while back. I think Microsoft/Hotmail/Onedrive/Outlook.com do something similar.

      • PVA on 12/04/2016 - 15:03

        except Gmail is 15gig plus you can have unlimited photos (at a slightly lower res) and 50,000 tracks of your own music (upto 300MB per song).
        Apples 5 gig is pretty small in comparison.

  • ilikeradiohead on 07/04/2016 - 15:03

    I've used 2.2gb of my 17gb of gmail storage in 10 years. Either delete stuff, switch providers, or pay for more storage.

  • cDNA on 07/04/2016 - 15:19
    +1

    Should've gone to specsavers, I mean Microsoft.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 20:58

      This is why the sheeple should dump their crapple crap and go to Android.

      • cDNA on 07/04/2016 - 21:04
        +1

        gmail is pretty good too

        • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 21:16

          ??

        • cDNA on 07/04/2016 - 21:16
          +4

          @KaptnKaos:

          we're talking emails mate not OS

  • CyberMurning on 07/04/2016 - 15:39

    move to android

    • PVA on 12/04/2016 - 15:04

      they are, in three months.

  • Bonsaichop on 07/04/2016 - 15:58
    +2

    They could offer no free storage.. then you have to pay anyway. After all it is a service they offer to you.

    Go on.. setup your own cloud based storage system. See how much it costs.

    not a fanboy.. just don't like people expecting something for nothing

  • ozhunter on 07/04/2016 - 16:49
    +3

    After all there are many other free email providers who dont even require you to spend $000's on their products. What do others think?

    I think you should move to one of those providers.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 16:55

    Your mistake was using @me.com or @mac.com or @icloud.com for email.

    I know you love Apple and all that.

    But hard to feel sorry for you.

    Those are good for a disposable email address at best.

    Get a real email address like @hotmail.com @gmail.com or your own domain.

    • cDNA on 07/04/2016 - 19:47

      It's @outlook.com now

      • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 22:23

        same thing, you can choose your domain, but hotmail.com is more common.

        • cDNA on 07/04/2016 - 22:28

          can you still make hotmail accounts?

        • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 22:45

          @cDNA: pretty sure you can, although the available usernames are going to be quite limited by now

  • gummibear on 07/04/2016 - 20:09

    There are other reasons why an email might not arrive to you, besides your assumption that Apple is extorting you.

    Have you confirmed with Apple, emails are blocked once icloud storage is maxed out?

    • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 20:22
      -2

      I got a message from a$ that my emails are not getting thru bc my storage is full. So thats how i know.

      • gummibear on 07/04/2016 - 21:09

        You got that message from Apple before buying flights or after?

    • cDNA on 07/04/2016 - 22:30

      Apple have been extorting people from years. If you're too blinded to see it, then I have no hope. Apple sell 2-3 year old technology in expensive aluminium shells known as macbooks and make a massive profit. Their cloud storage is a massive rip off compared to their overhead costs.

      I wonder how big their cash reserves are.

      • muncan on 07/04/2016 - 23:37

        I'm pretty sure their cash reserves are buried in a big hill adjacent to the auditorium and parking garages of their new campus

      • gummibear on 07/04/2016 - 23:37
        +4

        Apple have been extorting people from years

        Extortion usually requires some form threat. Where's this threat you speak of?

        If you're too blinded to see it, then I have no hope

        No hope of what? Converting me to your belief? We are talking about commercial products here, not religion.

        Apple sell 2-3 year old technology in expensive aluminium shells known as macbooks

        Broadwell released 2014, available in the Macbook Pro 2015 based on these links. Can you be specific about which 2-3 yr old technology they are selling in macbooks?
        http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-pro/
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadwell_(microarchitecture)

        and make a massive profit

        Can you point me to a successful business that doesn't aim to run profitably?

        I wonder how big their cash reserves are.

        Their cash reserve is over 200 Billion depending on who you want to believe.
        Apple has $203 billion in cash. Why?
        http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/22/investing/apple-stock-cash-e…
        Apple isn’t really sitting on $216 billion in cash
        http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-isnt-really-sitting-o…

        I'm all for differing opinions, but it should be ground in fact not ideology. I'd be happy to read any response you have based on facts (with links)
        If anyone spots any factual errors in this post, feel free to point these out.

        • cDNA on 08/04/2016 - 00:01

          Extortion usually requires some form threat. Where's this threat you speak of?

          Are you new to the computer manufacturing industry? I happen to work in it, so I am well versed with the threats Apple makes to its suppliers. All you have to do is type extortion and Apple in google search to see the multitude of companies who are being manipulated and treated with contempt by Apple.

          No hope of what? Converting me to your belief? We are talking about commercial products here, not religion.

          The hope that you can see that Apple is solely interested in profits and funding US government military interests and not innovation. Name something innovative Apple has done in the past 5 years. I'm not going to argue with someone who pretends the largest company in the world is an innocent computer and mobile company and has no expert knowledge on the research side.

          Their shareholders are literally the scum of this world who need to be cleaned up.

          Can you point me to a successful business that doesn't aim to run profitably?

          Apple makes its profits through misleading advertising and covering up the true nature of where they source their products from. They exploit computer illiterate individuals by believing the huge markups are worth it.

          Their cash reserve is over 200 Billion depending on who you want to believe.

          If you think that a company that pays hardly any tax in countries smaller than its own is fair, then I guess you're part of the problem.

          >

        • gummibear on 08/04/2016 - 01:02
          +4

          @cDNA:

          My god. Are you new to the tech. industry. I happen to work in it designing microprocessors, so I am well versed with the threats Apple makes to its suppliers. All you have to do is type extortion and Apple in google search to see the multitude of companies who are being manipulated by Apple.

          I did as requested and found 1 example on the front page regarding a spanish court case involving a competitor, not supplier accusing Apple of extortion. https://imgur.com/S3PkaDs
          Can you supply some of this multitude of evidence?

          The hope that you can see that Apple is solely interested in profits and funding US government military interests and not innovation.

          You don't need to hope. just provide some facts and I'll do the reading myself.

          Name something innovative Apple has done in the past 5 years.

          I'm not going to argue with someone who pretends the largest company in the world is an innocent computer and mobile company and has no expert knowledge on the research side.

          This is not an argument. it's a discussion so you, I, and the rest of the community can learn something. I learn so much from reading comments, especially when people provide links. If you would back up your statements with links that would making your point of view much more convincing.

          Their shareholders are literally the scum of this world who need to be cleaned up.

          Where'd did that one come from? It was a nice touch to add some drama to the discussion though.

          Apple makes its profits through misleading advertising and covering up the true nature of where they source their products from.

          you can have a look at some supplier info here. http://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/ I haven't tried to find similar info from another tech company, but I imagine they aren't as transparent about their suppliers as Apple

          They exploit computer illiterate individuals by believing the huge markups are worth it.

          That's called marketing and everyone is free to decide what price they are willing to pay. That's no different to choosing to buy Kraft over Homebrand food.

          If you think that a company that pays hardly any tax in countries smaller than its own is fair, then I guess you're part of the problem.

          No I don't think it's fair, bringing that point up in the hope of using it as an attack on me is not helping this discussion

          So far I haven't seen much informative discussion from your end, just ranting without any attempts to back up your point of view with facts/links.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/04/2016 - 20:21

    Thank you for your advice fellow ozbargainers. And those who thought it would be funny to neg me for reasons so far unknown I hope you are having fun. In any case it seems there are still many apple fanboys on this forum who will jump and protect their "good" name and pockets. Having taken advice from friends and foes alike I will be severing my ties with apple and going back to the world of android.

    On a sidenote I noticed they are getting even more greedy with entry level macbook airs jumping to over $1500, almost same specs as the 2013 model I bought for $900.

    Peace and live to all.

    • simmos on 08/04/2016 - 09:43
      +1

      Entry level MacBook Air in 2013 was A$1100, the price increase is largely down to the value of the Aussie dollar which greatly depreciated in the period.

      • phocus on 12/04/2016 - 14:47
        +1

        but you see, the OP thinks apple is a charity and not a business. He also got everything he asked his parents for, so getting no for an answer is foreign concept.

  • muncan on 07/04/2016 - 21:09
    +1

    OP -

    1. Download Google Photos app and upload all your photos there (unlimited storage, and it's way better than Apple's offering (so delete your photos from iCloud)

    2. Use the 'rent a big iTunes video' trick (e.g. Lawrence of Arabia restored version) to free up space on your iDevice

    3. +1 your mate muncan

    • salbee28 on 15/04/2016 - 14:30

      Or just pay the $1.99 p/month for 50GB Storage. It's really not that much.

      • muncan on 15/04/2016 - 14:35

        Please return your OzBargain membership badge
        :-P

        • salbee28 on 15/04/2016 - 14:49

          Ha I knew that was coming when I made that comment, but sometimes it really is easier to just spend a tiny amount of money instead of whinging that a major corporation is 'blackmailing' you, when in reality, they are a business & shock, they want to make money GASP

  • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2016 - 08:07
    +1

    Seems like with the amount that you use it, you would benefit from the upgrade

  • braskic on 08/04/2016 - 10:58

    You can control what is in each "backup" on an app by app basis. A good way to squeeze your 5GB a little further. Go to Settings > Storage & iCloud Usage > and choose "Manage Storage" under the iCloud header. In my opinion any app that saves to the cloud doesn't need to be backed up. But that's your own personal decision to make, backup rule of three ect. Good luck.

  • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2016 - 15:08

    LOL
    I use Windows and MS sux.
    But Apple sux even more.

  • deanylev on 14/04/2016 - 19:01
    +1

    God your logic is so off. That's like saying "Help I've filled my storage locker, and the storage company won't let me put more stuff in there!". That's how every service works. Once it's filled, they won't fit more stuff in it. They won't go "Oh no, poor invalidwithoutphoto doesn't have any more space, welp, let's give him some".

    Clear your shit, and stop complaining. It's your own fault, and Apple have no right to care, and aren't 'blackmailing' you in any way shape or form.

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