Complaints letter for Apple concerning mini iPod

Dear Sir / Madame,

I bought a 4 GB mini iPod on July 2005 for 250€€, I was very happy with the product: cute hardware, good audio and reliable companion for my daily commuting, until August 2006. On early August 2006, my mini iPod simply froze and refused to bug. It has happened to my friend'’s iPod before and the Apple store staff taught us how to reset it. I did it and it was doing fine. A few weeks later (late August), I updated my iTunes software, updated my mini, and it worked as usual. For a few hours that is. I was listening to my music when suddenly my iPod froze again. Thinking that it is the same problem I tried to reset my iPod to no avail, it simply refused to react to the touchpad! The hitch worsened, it started to emit strange suspicious noise and there was a "sad" iPod image with a caution to check on Apple support site. I did all of the steps which were recommended on the site. Still nothing.

The next day, I went to the closest Apple store and requested helps. They said that it is probably a battery problem but they have to check it first so I was to pay 15€€ as part of the procedure examination fee (I did) and be back there after 2 hours. If it is a battery problem I simply have to pay 20€€ for a new one because my guaranty expired last month. No problem I thought, I am willing to pay. When I returned for my iPod, I was told that they could not do anything for me, they have checked the battery and it couldn'’t solve the problem. That'’s it. They do not have other alternatives, only saying that may be it is a hardware problem or maybe there is a short circuit problem. They can not help me! Nothing. And they are from Apple store not other retailer. They did not even offer me a reduced price for a new one!

I am terribly disappointed with my iPod lifespan (13months) after all of my careful ministrations: I always kept it inside a casing, it was never dropped or spilled on. For a gadget with 250€€ price tag, I expect it to last at least 3 years not stopping to work out of the blue! I am merely a college student with tight budget; I had to scrimp from my cleaning job in order to purchase it. I also bought a charger from you which is now laying around useless along with my mini. I simply wanted to congratulate you for losing a future costumer, thinking that I have considered swapping my laptop for a new iBook. I would also stop recommending you to any of my friends, family, or even strangers. And I am not the only one, Apple should be more sensitive towards their customers or you will risk losing us. Simply type iPod complaints and you could easily find many blogs complaining your lack of assistance. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/apple_ipod.html and http://money.guardian.co.uk/consumernews/story/0,,1783814,00.html are few from the many. I hope that you will start to pay attention to us.

Regards,

Y

The pictures from Amsterdam Tournament

The day I am no longer a football virgin

Occasion: Amsterdam Tournament 2006, Inter-Porto and MU-Ajax
Date: 5th of July 2006
Time: 19.00 (kick off time for the first match) to the end, approximately 00.00
Venue: Amsterdam ArenA
Mates: Fonz and A. Padma
Overall Rating: -B

The build up
After a few years of bullying from / following Fonz around to watch Premier League I have finally experienced my first football live match! Rather giddy with anticipation, mind you I am starting to love this game; I was rather disappointed with the underserved Rooney’s red card which makes him not available for the second match against Ajax. I want to see him and most of the first team in action! After all it’s a good opportunity for us to analyse our team’s future performance.
Amsterdam
After a brunch in Wing Kee, we went to Amsterdam early so we can hang around the city, hoping that we are lucky enough to get bargains from Zipper or Episode. I did though but I still hope that they have a smaller size for the Burberry trench coat I have been eyeing for awhile. The spirit was quite high after spotting several fellow United fans on the centrum, typically around the Irish Pubs. A’Dam itself was quite crowded due to the Gay Parade which coincidently happened on the same day. Overall everyone was quite content especially after several puffs at the Noon.
Arriving there
Departed to the stadium via metro after we met up with Padma’s friend: Migeul. The line was bursting with supporters, mainly Ajax’s and United’s, few were Porto’s or Internazionale’s. The atmosphere was euphoric even if it is only a friendly match. Surviving the security check line was easy enough and like the rest of the mass we obediently climbed to our seats. Nonetheless I can’t shake my paranoia of falling from the chairs.
The game
Interesting enough although there are not enough stars after all it is my first. My 45€ is adequately spent for 2 matches. Rather tiring but I still can’t believe that finally I watched a real football match! Yay! The sensation is completely different. You can hear people screaming and singing to support their respective team. We even witnessed a fight erupted on another stand, thankfully it was not big. Shame that most of the United’s players were not from the first team, it will be really great. Exhilarating! Ecstatic! However ArenA’s food sucks (plus it is rather expensive).
The closure
United turned out to be the winner of the tournament with heavy price: Carrick and Rio Ferdinand injured, Scholes and Rooney’s red cards….not a good premonition? Anyway one of the most interesting parts is when we were on our journey back to Amsterdam CS. Another brawl!!! Yoohoo!!! I was not that excited when this happened because it was really near in a very cramped metro. At first it was only between the Dutch Ajax supporters then the English meddled in. Never before I have seen real people being strangled! Terrifying for sure but thank goodness nothing serious happened. Most of them were intoxicated with alcohol which stemmed their aggressive behaviours. They were singing, banging, and cheering, celebrating United’s victory. Fascinating eh? I am officialy addicted.

Time is running out

I am officially older again this year... Botox anyone?

Hot...hot...heat

The Earth is baking and it is frying my brain cells

A good day for the winner

Wimbledon man final
Federer showed his quality. Good performance by Nadal though.

World Cup Germany 2006
Berlin just erupted. It finally ends. The World Cup 2006 is won by Italy with magnificent penalties. Shame end for Zizou.

United 93

Just watch it...good movie but I am turning into a worse paranoid. Doing a lot of thinking today. Once again, love you all...

Note of possibility

Dear Death,

Today, as my any ordinary weekday started early in the morning with BBC breakfast blaring on the TV while having breakfast and reading/watching news. It has been a habit: trying to scoop the latest world news before having to rush along with other commuters in order to catch the train to Hilversum for work. Being a poor student and an intern, your dear writer has to skip newspaper subscription and makes do with the free internet news site or as you guess depends on TV. It is also an obligation for one that works in media to be in touch with the latest events, but for today, since I have been feeling meditative, the headlines truly worry me: one year after London's attack. Not that another days headlines are not disquieting, I mean: poverties, deaths, wars, corruptions, disasters, global warming, etc (starting to sound like a hippies here). They are enough to make one loose one’s appetite or disturb one’s sanity. You simply learn to be impassive to survive.

I understand that these “tragedies” have been happening in increasing intervals in several late years: 9/11, Bali, Jakarta, Madrid, and London but to mention a few. Some directly affected me, some not. Coupled with watching too many ‘Crash Scene Investigation’ from Discovery channel (or was it National Geographic? but never mind, just one of them), I am turning into one big mass of paranoid. Before departing into a train or bus or tram or other public transportation, there are anxiousness. I feel apprehensive and suspicious that somehow by certain stroke of luck, someone is going to blow this tram or we are going to have a fatal accident from crashing another train or simply drop dead for no reason at all. Scary huh? And pretty shallow too, but I can’t help but feeling selfish on that .

It will be fortunate if all of us, human, have the opportunities to prepare our last legacies to the world (read BIG: humanity, small: people near us), just like Mr. William Parish (played by the remarkable Anthony Hopkins) in “Meet Joe Black” but hey we don’t, therefore I dedicate this section to tell my loved ones how much I well, love them (in case I don't have the time and regret it later…just in case…because you’ll never know). Papa and Mama, thank you for being solid anchor throughout my life. Mami, for being a generous guardian to our home and for giving me my childhood adventures. Linda, Cece, and Erick: I adore you lots, each of you for being so different yet so sweet; we had and still will have our siblings’ fights but I hope the best for your futures. Fonzie: crazy quirky guy, thanks for introducing me to different point of views. And all of the people I have ever known: I apologize if I have ever offended you however you have my gratitude for shaping the now me.

PS: Death, if you are as good looking as Mr. Pitt playing you (a.k.a Joe Black), I wouldn’t mind if you pay me a visit, but not so soon ok?

Sincerely,
Y

Breathe in...

Welcome you lots to my first publicly issued rambling and musing.

Why after such along time? Well, I’ve been spending too much time allowing my thoughts run amok without any proper medium and it will be a good reprieve for Fonz’ ears from the constant mindless chatters. Do not wish to burden that lad by being a harridan. Promise that I will keep it nice and light. So here it is, once again, welcome!