Apple Creates Tool for Users to Delete Unwanted U2 Album

[PRSGuitarist]

I downloaded and enjoyed it... even was actively grateful.

If this place is any indication, that's even more likely to annoy people.

Haha.. Truth.

I agree in general that an "opt in" approach to such things is better, and hopefully if this happens again in the future, it will be like that. That said, of all the things in the world that warrant complaining, this has to be close to the bottom of the list.

 

[chirpie]

Haha.. Truth.

I agree in general that an "opt in" approach to such things is better, and hopefully if this happens again in the future, it will be like that. That said, of all the things in the world that warrant complaining, this has to be close to the bottom of the list.

I get the idea that some thought it was a bit invasive. I'd even agree. But I had to chuckle when one user thought it was the same thing as someone sneaking into your house and pissing in your glass.

Uh... no. It's not really the same as that. ^_^;

 

[rish]

From the article...

The user settings are organised for auto download, that is an individual preference, that is not merely down to Apple nor U2.

Anyway I suspect that going forward that this type of marketing will be re-thought. Would have been far better if they just provided the option to download.

Still no one downloaded squat unless they clicked/touched the clouds button or set their device to auto download.

 

[UpperQuadrant]

Wow. People are really this ungrateful.

I think it's an awful album. Think of it this way. I know Apple had good intentions to give away a free album, but if people simply don't want it, this is a way for Apple to remove it from their account and maybe not have to pay U2 for albums that were rejected by the consumers.

Not everyone likes U2, not everyone likes U2's new album.

I think Apple should promote other bands that have better musicianship. What if a jazz artist that's actually a more accomplished musician, but not as famous performed at the announcement and they gave away an actual recording that was well recored and performed, but only jazz enthusiasts liked it?

Would you have it in your catalog?

For some of us, we like to listen to well recorded music that's well mastered and great compositions, etc. This album sucked in this area. There's a ton of compression and signal processing on everything and some of don't like listening to that. Plus as far as U2 songs are concerned, I've heard a lot better. I thought their song writing on this album needs a lot of work.

I feel that I don't want Apple paying for a copy that I simply am not going to enjoy as I listened to it once through, I didn't like it and I would rather not have it on my computer taking up space and I don't want Apple to have to pay for my copy since I don't feel U2 should take advantage of this and get money if people like myself didn't like it and don't want it.

Maybe this will teach U2 to make better albums to attract a new audience. They have the money to produce albums and it's up to them to put something out that people want and enjoy. I thought as successful as this band has been, this is a really sub par album. Kudos to Apple for listening to the consumer and giving us a way to have it removed if we don't want it.

 

[brewcitywi]

Oops

The album is so terrible it should be considered malware.

Rolling Stone 5-stars. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/u2-songs-of-innocence-20140911

 

[numlock]

I think it's an awful album. Think of it this way. I know Apple had good intentions to give away a free album, but if people simply don't want it, this is a way for Apple to remove it from their account and maybe not have to pay U2 for albums that were rejected by the consumers.

Not everyone likes U2, not everyone likes U2's new album.

I think Apple should promote other bands that have better musicianship. What if a jazz artist that's actually a more accomplished musician, but not as famous performed at the announcement and they gave away an actual recording that was well recored and performed, but only jazz enthusiasts liked it?

Would you have it in your catalog?

For some of us, we like to listen to well recorded music that's well mastered and great compositions, etc. This album sucked in this area. There's a ton of compression and signal processing on everything and some of don't like listening to that. Plus as far as U2 songs are concerned, I've heard a lot better. I thought their song writing on this album needs a lot of work.

I feel that I don't want Apple paying for a copy that I simply am not going to enjoy as I listened to it once through, I didn't like it and I would rather not have it on my computer taking up space and I don't want Apple to have to pay for my copy since I don't feel U2 should take advantage of this and get money if people like myself didn't like it and don't want it.

Maybe this will teach U2 to make better albums to attract a new audience. They have the money to produce albums and it's up to them to put something out that people want and enjoy. I thought as successful as this band has been, this is a really sub par album. Kudos to Apple for listening to the consumer and giving us a way to have it removed if we don't want it.

not that i have interest in this "gift" but look at the positive at least its not john mayer

 

[milo]

The user settings are organised for auto download, that is an individual preference, that is not merely down to Apple nor U2.

But until last week, auto download was for things the user bought. Interpreting that pref as an invitation to send a hundred megs of uninvited files is what got people bent out of shape. Apple has been giving away free music and video content for years, and nobody ever complained about it, it's the whole "push" aspect that drew criticism.

 

[bluboi917]

Mailing it in

This album should have been called "U2: The Fillers Collection". It's pretty lame. ok, it's completely lame.

 

[Gasu E.]

Wow. People are really this ungrateful.

General rule of humanity: if there is a way for people to interpret events so that it seems they are personally put-upon, they will find it.

 

[Yvan256]

Do people react this way when the waiter gives them a bowl of sugar sachets for their coffee?

No - they just don't use it.

Imagine the waiter puts five sugar sachets in your coffee. When you complain that you didn't want sugar in your coffee, the waiter tells you to stop complaining because the sugar is free.

Apple has offered us hundreds of free gifts on iTunes since the beginning. But they were always items with a price of "free", you had to chose to add it to your library and download it.

This U2 album was pushed on everyone, no choice was given. That's the problem.

I wish people would stop trying to somehow "protect" Apple when they do stupid things. We're Apple fans, not Apple fanatics.

 

[doctor-don]

Pitiful response from iTunes customers - IF they really are customers.

Had Apple announced this album was being available FOR FREE and only required one to download the album, people would have jumped on it (FREE). That would have caused the web site to be overloaded, and it would not have been possible for anyone to download the album until everyone trying settled down and waited for the FREE stuff.

The FREE U2 album was NOT downloaded until and unless the user decided to download it from the Cloud. You can listen / preview as with any iTunes Store song. You do NOT have to put it in your catalog.

And it is NOT an awful album. And WTH is wrong with John Mayer? Entitled generation?

Sunny beach!

 

[UpperQuadrant]

then don't listen to it. It may have been added to your library, but that doesn't mean you have to listen to it.

It was just made available to download, but some of us downloaded it to check it out, we didn't like it, we removed it, but Apple STILL has to pay for that copy unless we remove it through this website. I think it's fair to Apple to use this site if you don't like the Album, Apple has to pay U2 for it unless we remove it.


At least that's how I think the arrangement was made. U2 is kind of taking advantage of this situation for self promotion, it's kind of sleazy in a way.

Personally, U2 should have put out a better album that we actually want to keep.

It's like giving someone a crappy gift for Christmas or a birthday. It's the thought that counts in those situations. Do you want to go to a house trick or treating for Halloween and get a rock? no. Well, same thing.... U2 gave us a rock for free.

Maybe Apple will give us a better album to have, OR simply give iTunes customers 1 free album download of OUR choosing if they want to do something positive. That way EVERYONE will be happy. That's what I would have done. Give people either 10 Free song credit or 1 album download credit.

 

[chocolaterabbit]

Because (for the 50th time), this was forced on the user. Just like VZW does with VZW Android phones: FORCE APPS ON USERS like VZ Navigator.

Don't complain in the future if Apple starts doing that.

w00master

w00master we got the message the first time. Why you're spamming the forums with more than 10 posts saying the same thing is beyond me. Just stop.

 

[UpperQuadrant]

And it is NOT an awful album.

uh, yeah, it's awful. The sound quality is hideous. the Audiophile community hates the sound quality of the recording/mastering job they did. It wasn't being an AAC version, it's the fact that it was too signal processed using too much compression, etc. Go listen to the Beatles Abbey Road. HUGE difference in sound quality.

 

[w00master]

w00master we got the message the first time. Why you're spamming the forums with more than 10 posts saying the same thing is beyond me. Just stop.

Lol. Sorry. But at the same time jts the truth. As a comparison (previous to my repetitive posts), look how many posts just said:

Oh it's nothing.

boom.

 

[Gasu E.]

If Tim and Bono were really so generous, they should give out 25 + million grants of 30, 000 + dollars to independent artists who create original works every day! Make those grants available weekly and then buy those albums, and give those away for free as promoting hardworking independent artists!!!

That would be 750 billion dollars, Dr. Evil.

 

[Futurix]

The album is awesome. Have you listened to it?

Yes, unfortunately. Not my thing.

 

[LizKat]

At first I didn't get why people are so annoyed by getting a free album, but I guess if it had been an artist I completely hate (see Bruno Mars, Kanye), I might kind of feel the same way.

Sheesh. If I didn't like it, I would delete it. And hide it in the Cloud. It might have annoyed me for, let's see... 5 seconds, and 10 seconds.

It's entertainment for God's sake. It's not a virus, it's not a bomb, it's not malware, it's some songs. Grow up. Unbelievable drama. What do you do when a phishing mail makes it past your filters? Save your operatic wailing and gnashing of teeth for something like that!

 

[cRuNcHiE]

Because, if you use iTunes Match, even "hiding" items DOES NOT remove them from view in your iTunes library and on your iDevices.

Umm yes it does because I have iTunes Match and that's exactly what I did.

I also did the same for some rubbish songs that the '12 days of christmas' app gave me.

They no longer appear on any of my devices/macbook after hiding them

 

[odlgt]

I had to sign into this account that I haven't signed into in more than a year simply to express how unbelievably stupefying it is that people complain about getting something for free. You know what, Apple OWNS iTunes, if they want to give a FREEEEEEEE album to users and have it in their purchased folder ready for DOWNLOAD should you CHOOOOOOSEEEEE to do it, then how can you get mad at that?! That would be like you living in my apartment complex and one day you come in and I just installed brand new hard wood floors, a shoe shine station and a water fountain that spews champagne and you go up to your apartment and go "humph...no one asked ME if that was ok!! (stomps feel like a little child).

SHUT UP!!! Its free!! If you don't like it, don't download it you effing dolts!! No one invaded your privacy, you're just trying to jump on the complaint bandwagon and be all hipster anti-establishment. Just deal with it. Everyone bitches constantly about how much everything costs etc. etc. and now the one time Apple does something you don't need to pay for, you complain about it!! This just highlights everything that is wrong with this country. Everyone wants everything but aren't satisfied with anything!



Rant over. Not directed at anyone specific but if this annoys you then yes, you are the target audience.

Wow...i feel much better.

O

 

[chillywilly]

I had an inkling this would happen. I'm not quite sure why Apple thought this would be a good idea in the first place. Had they made the album free to download, there would have been no issue. I'm happy they created the reversal tool.

My opinion has nothing to do with U2. What if this had gone over with no fuss? Where will it stop? Apple decides to market something and just drops it on everyone's devices. What if it's a tribute to George Bush speeches or the release of a Justin Bieber album? What if it's a Christmas album by gospel singers or a PSA on supporting immigration reform? It could be anything. What it is, isn't the point. It's the action that's relevant.

Offer something for free? That's great. Give people the choice to take it if they want it. That's even better. Force someone to take something they don't want and didn't ask for? That's a decision that was destined to fail. Apple is usually smarter. It surprised me they did this.

This is probably one of the more sane explanations for those not wanting an album from any artist pushed into their iTunes library. While I still think it's crazy that people complained so much about a free album, I get the point and the examples above given. Still, there's several options without complaining, that keep the album from downloading to your devices without intervention.

I'm not surprised about the amount of vitriol. After all, this is a tech forum on the internet.

 

[mitty]

Not to stressed about U2, can take them or leave them to be honest.

But what I WOULD like is the ability to delete purchased app from my purchased app history. It's full of crap I'll never install or download again. I'm now really hesitant to download apps (specially free ones) which I might only try one or two times and then never use again. It's forever in your purchase history. How about it, Apple?

 

[Moto G]

Imagine the waiter puts five sugar sachets in your coffee. When you complain that you didn't want sugar in your coffee, the waiter tells you to stop complaining because the sugar is free.

Apple has offered us hundreds of free gifts on iTunes since the beginning. But they were always items with a price of "free", you had to chose to add it to your library and download it.

This U2 album was pushed on everyone, no choice was given. That's the problem.

I wish people would stop trying to somehow "protect" Apple when they do stupid things. We're Apple fans, not Apple fanatics.

If you read... I said WITH, not IN the coffee

----------

Entitled generation?

Pampered, spoilt, impatient, ungrateful, not noticing what they HAVE got, and whining about what they WANT. Then, when you give them something FREE, they find a way to complain about that TOO

Don't like U2? Fine, deal with it with actions, not words.

 

[kensic]

Wow. People are really this ungrateful.

I don't listen to U2, actually I don't listen to rock music period!!!, I don't want crap that takes up the already little 16 gb of space.

would you want a bunch of dildos sent to your house all the time?

 

[Moto G]

I don't listen to U2, actually I don't listen to rock music period!!!, I don't want crap that takes up the already little 16 gb of space.

would you want a bunch of dildos sent to your house all the time?

Gosh, now people are making wildly irrelevant analogies to justify their ingratitude.