downloading itunes

March 24, 2007 9:32 AM

iTunes: Is it possible for me to purchase tv show subscriptions on iTunes and for someone else to download them, copy to an external hard drive and send to me to view on my laptop?

I'm currently deployed in Africa and our internet connections are horrible. Prior to deploying I had purchased this season's Lost, Scrubs and Office. Now I cannot download them due to the poor telecom infrastructure. Is it possible for me to authorize my friend to use my account in the States and for him to download the shows and send them to me to play? I know that I can "authorize" other computers, but I'm not sure how that affects downloads.

And, when I've tried to download I often get the error code "3259." What does that mean? I can't find an answer on the iTunes boards.

posted by Juicylicious to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

im no genius at this. but if im correct itunes downloads can be authorized on up to 5 computers. the 3259 error you are referring to is a network error, and this is probably why you are trying to download from another computer, and then transfer over, i assume?
posted by phaedon at 9:54 AM on March 24, 2007

as for the 3259 error, ive never had it (although maybe i had it around the christmas time season, when itunes was bogged, but i dont think that was it). i recommend you try restarting your router and making sure you are updated to the latest version of itunes (7.02).
posted by phaedon at 9:56 AM on March 24, 2007

anyway, yeah, its a timeout error, which can either be attributed to your server or their server. most likely a problem on your end.
posted by phaedon at 10:17 AM on March 24, 2007

Response by poster: That's what I thought regarding the error code. I don't have access to the servers or routers. So other than wating until November when I return to the States, is there a way that I can view shows that I've paid for, but not personally downloaded on iTunes?
posted by Juicylicious at 10:33 AM on March 24, 2007

How about going old-school and having the friend download and mail them to you? If you are having network problems, it sounds like you need a non-network solution.
posted by philomathoholic at 10:44 AM on March 24, 2007

Are there any restrictions to what I can do with my movies? Can I burn a DVD from one?

Just as with anything else purchased from the iTunes Store, some restrictions apply. For movies, that means you can watch them on up to five computers (Macs or PCs) that are authorized with your iTunes account, and you can transfer them to as many iPods as you have—just as with TV shows. But in another similarity to the DRM restrictions with TV shows, you can’t burn movies to a blank DVD that will play on a set top DVD player. (You, can, however, burn the movie file to a data DVD as a backup or for moving it from one computer to another).

Is it possible for me to purchase tv show subscriptions on iTunes and for someone else to download them, copy to an external hard drive and send to me to view on my laptop?

The answer is yes!
posted by phaedon at 11:36 AM on March 24, 2007

Also, to make your life easier, have your friend "purchase" the content from his computer, then back it up, then send it to you.
posted by phaedon at 11:39 AM on March 24, 2007

get a friend of yours (who has a good Internet connection) a subscription to a good Usenet service, buy that friend 25 or even 100 blank DVDs (they're dirt cheap in bulk), go nuts.
posted by matteo at 12:55 PM on March 24, 2007

not that I'd personally do that, nor I endorse such acts. it's just an answer, for educational purposes, etc
posted by matteo at 12:56 PM on March 24, 2007

(and if you don't want to drive said crazy with overwork, tell him to do divx, not VOB)
posted by matteo at 12:57 PM on March 24, 2007