.Mac service sees extended outage
updated 09:05 am EDT, Tue June 17, 2008
.Mac service down
Apple's .Mac online service is experiencing extended worldwide outages, according to accounts. The main website is currently unavailable, and users have reported being unable to access features such as e-mail, backup or web galleries. The service is said to have been down for several hours in at least the United States and the UK, although UK customers may already have normal functions back.
The downtime follows shortly after new browser requirements imposed on iDisk users, theoretically limiting people to specific versions of Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer. The two factors may indicate behind-the-scenes work on the transition to MobileMe, a modified service with an emphasis on carrying data between computers and handhelds, much like Microsoft's Exchange technology.
someday
06/17, 09:23am reply
Perhaps someday they'll let users know when they plan on taking the system down. It is, afterall, a paid service. I hope whatever they're doing will improve reliability in the future.
sailin74
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2002
No problem here...
06/17, 09:47am reply
I just went to the main page and logged in without a problem. Gallery and webmail are working as well.
infobhan
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2003
no problems here...
06/17, 09:48am reply
Didn't affect me at all. And service seems to be restored. This from the .Mac homepage:
6.17.2008 :: 04:02 - 06:33 PST
Some .Mac members could not access .Mac services. Normal service has been restored. We apologize for any inconvenience.
hdfonts
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Joined: Oct 2007
nice
06/17, 09:51am (1 reply) reply
I've have no problems paying $100 for the services of .mac as to me they are worth the fee. Provided of course, they work ALL the time. Having a paid email go down when services like gmail are always up isn't acceptable. I'm sure Apple will offer little to compensate their customers or even offer a good explanation.
simdude
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Joined: Jun 2004
mobile me
06/17, 10:07am reply
I guess there will be a bumpy road to mobileme.com
kerryb
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Joined: Aug 2001
@simdude
06/17, 10:36am (2 replies) reply
.mac services have interruptions all the time. this isn't exactly new.i've not read the TOS in detail, but i'm sure it doesn't promise 24/7/365, so i wouldn't be expecting any compensation.
adrian_milliner
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Joined: Jun 2005
Apple is so lucky
06/17, 10:38am reply
No other company could get away with a lack of explanation for this kind of outage.
Every feature left out is considered a bonus in this full blown dictatorship.
How lucky we are that the Great Leader still tells us nothing. It's a Mac it simply does. Think Different means total control and zero information.
henjin
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Joined: May 2007
Bear in mind...
06/17, 11:59am reply
...services are being migrated to Apple's new data center (bet you all forgot about that one), which was bought 2 years ago, as part of the MobileMe plan...
ZinkDifferent
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Joined: Jan 2005
Re: Bear in mind
06/17, 01:11pm reply
Sorry, never knew about that. But is that a good reason for services to go down (and I did notice that iWeb couldn't talk to the iDisk this morning, although the iDisk would mount manually).
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
re: adrian_milliner
06/17, 01:15pm reply
I completely agree and wouldn't expect 100% uptime. I also would not expect Apple to say "well, you didn't have services for a total of 18.3 hours this year so we'll give you 28 cents back". But, if there are problems like this, which do happen, they could say "we're sorry this happened and know it was an inconvenience. To make up for our loyal users, they can renew with .Mac/mobileme at 25% off when they are due." This doesn't even match the price you get at Amazon so it wouldn't hurt Apple and be a gesture they recognize the inconvenience.
simdude
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Joined: Jun 2004