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Apple Provides Tool to Delete That U2 Album You Didn't Want
Apple apparently thought they had engaged in a feat of marketing genius last week when they automatically gave all iTunes users a free copy of U2's new album -- Songs of Innocence. There were several problems with the marketing ploy, however. One being that many people simply didn't want the album and didn't think it was very good. The other problem was that it was seemingly difficult to impossible to remove the unwanted album from all your Apple devices. Apple has since listened and has offered up a removal tool to remove what the company called the "biggest album release in history."
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IPPlanMan
Holy Cable Modem Batman
join:2000-09-20
Washington, DC

IPPlanMan

Member

First World Problem...

This is such a first world problem...

Not sure why they made it auto-download though. Should have just said, it's free... come and get it.
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

1 recommendation

elefante72

Member

Re: First World Problem...

testing testing testing. On my phone it just puts it in the library, you have to physically download it (I turn autosync off).

As to "biggest release" well if you foist your wares on your unsuspecting masses 60 million times, sure it's big. The only problem is that if this becomes a regular event there will be backlash, but the marketers always test. How may will listen, is this a new way to push advertising, how do I monetize, etc, etc.

The better programming gets the more intrusive advertisers get. I'm really sick of this crap, so I just turn it all off. Probably not what they intended, but the have gone TOO FAR.
devolved
join:2012-07-11
Rapid City, SD

devolved to IPPlanMan

Member

to IPPlanMan
As much as I like Apple, I don't want them pushing garbage to me through iTunes.
big_e
join:2011-03-05

1 recommendation

big_e to IPPlanMan

Member

to IPPlanMan
Call it a "First world problem" all you want, but having hardware vendors automatically placing unwanted promotional material into the media library you paid for on a device you own is unacceptable. I'm glad that Apple got slapped down by its customers for this behavior.

If there was no push back, then it would give Apple and Google the implied permission to do this more often. First its promo tracks, then its advertising automatically inserted into your play list when you are listening to music you own

Remember when VH1 was the first cable channel with a "bug" on the screen? Then eventually every channel did it. Then there was an arms race on who can put on the largest most obnoxious bug that will ruin your plasma TV. Then a few channels started putting promos on the bottom for other shows during programming. Then everyone started doing and then they added sound effects.

Think that apple and google wouldn't go down a similar path if they could get away with it? Think again.

atuarre
Here come the drums
Premium Member
join:2004-02-14
EC/SETX SWLA

atuarre

Premium Member

Re: First World Problem...

Not hardware vendors, just Apple.

mackey
Premium Member
join:2007-08-20

1 recommendation

mackey to big_e

Premium Member

to big_e
said by big_e:

having hardware vendors automatically placing unwanted promotional material into the media library you paid for on a device you own is unacceptable.

Having pre-installed apps that you can't remove? Meh, everyone does it. A few sample songs came with your new device? Sure, why not. More uninstallable apps with system updates? It happens. Add a free album to your music library? HOW DARE THEY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THOSE ADVERTISERS ARE GOING TO RUIN THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!

And I have no idea how you got from "here's a free album" to them inserting ads into your playlist.

/M
mj3431
join:2003-04-21
STL, MO

1 recommendation

mj3431

Member

Re: First World Problem...

said by mackey:

Add a free album to your music library? HOW DARE THEY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THOSE ADVERTISERS ARE GOING TO RUIN THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing is free. Have you seen the pricing structure on the iPhones? 16GB for a base model is a joke. They should have taken the money paid out to U2 and spent it making a 32GB base iPhone. Just because you didn't outright pay for it doesn't mean it was free. Everyone paid via sacrifice in the technology on the new devices.
big_e
join:2011-03-05

big_e to mackey

Member

to mackey
One of the selling points of Apple's platform is that they won't put crapware or bloatware on their phone so all their users will get a clean "apple experience". One of the expectations of itunes and other apple products is that things like this won't happen.

Second, this U2 album promotion is already an advertisement. Apple did not do this out of the kindness of their heart. Apple paid 100 million dollars to U2 as part of a cross promotional deal. U2 will allow themselves to shill Apple products in exchange for the 100 million and both Apple and U2 get to brag that they distributed 500 million copies of the album.

Apple's customers wondering how the hell this U2 music got inserted into their playlist are going to look it up and see this tie in with the launch of the Iphone 6, and other new apple gadgets. Even the customers that already know about U2 promo deal will be reminded of it every time a track from that album is played. This is how advertising works. It is by pushing our subconscious buttons.

The ethical way of doing this promotion would be to offer it for a free on iTunes and click to download for those who actually want it. But nope, they deliberately chose to push this into everyone's account. If someone doesn't see the problem with a corporation inserting tracks into someone's paid media collection, then they already have been successfully brainwashed. Then the corporations will up the ante and become even more intrusive because corporations will leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of pushing their profits to infinite. Yes, in time this will include full blown ads between tracks, but they got to push their customers into accepting the inclusion of tie ins and payola first.

bigballer
@205.214.216.x

bigballer to IPPlanMan

Anon

to IPPlanMan
Apple defined "bloatware"

chip89
Premium Member
join:2012-07-05
Columbia Station, OH

chip89

Premium Member

They could of

They could of just given a choice of a free album but no...

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: They could of

Then they could not claim "the biggest album release in history".
devolved
join:2012-07-11
Rapid City, SD

devolved

Member

Re: They could of

Exactly.
Rekrul
join:2007-04-21
Milford, CT

Rekrul to chip89

Member

to chip89
Yes, they could have given a choice...
amungus
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
America

amungus

Premium Member

he IS the record

»southpark.cc.com/clips/7 ··· -is-crap
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_Crap

Somehow, South Park was *ahead* of its time on this one.

Glad I don't have an iphone/icloud. I can't imagine Steve Jobs being OK with this move.

At this point, I'm surprised nobody has organized a campaign to mail Apple all manner of stupid shit. Piles of U2 (and whatever other) CDs would be a great start. I'd donate $1 to that.
devolved
join:2012-07-11
Rapid City, SD

devolved

Member

Re: he IS the record

Jobs conceived of both the iPhone and the iCloud. He helped design the iPhone. Jobs would be against pushing stuff to the customers who didn't ask for it in the first place.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium Member
join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

1 recommendation

ptrowski

Premium Member

Re: he IS the record

Jobs was also against a larger iphone and look how well they preordered.

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

1 recommendation

battleop

Member

What's the big deal?

I looked at my phone and ipad this morning, my wife's phone and ipad, and my son's phone and ipad. Not a single one of them had downloaded the album. I did find that it was available as a cloud download.

I would hate to know my life was so mundane that this is what I would go online to bitch about.

spewak
R.I.P Dadkins
Premium Member
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA

4 recommendations

spewak

Premium Member

Re: What's the big deal?

I would hate to know my life was so mundane that this is what I would go online to bitch about.

Yet you did come online to let us know exactly how many iphones and ipads and isuch is going on in your exciting life.

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

1 recommendation

battleop

Member

Re: What's the big deal?

I take it you are one of the people bitching and you took offense to that comment so the strongest come back was that?
compton
join:2002-02-08
Brooklyn, NY

1 recommendation

compton

Member

Re: What's the big deal?

said by battleop:

I take it you are one of the people bitching and you took offense to that comment so the strongest come back was that?

He has a point. You came here to bitch about people bitching over the unwanted download. That makes your life just as mundane as the people you are criticizing.

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

battleop

Member

Re: What's the big deal?

I didn't immediately run to my nearest news outlet to complain.
AmericanMan
Premium Member
join:2013-12-28
united state

AmericanMan

Premium Member

I don't use iTunes

I have an iPod Touch 5th Generation and I use CopyTransManager to manage my music. No free unwanted songs, no having to "sync" (instead I can drag and drop the music I want).

You have to have iTunes installed for CopyTransManager to run just so it has the DLLs and all that stuff , but you don't have to run iTunes.

(also, protip: disable the Bonjour Windows Service that auto-runs and starts when you install iTunes, since you won't need that to use CopyTransManager)
tirebiter
join:2002-02-16
Champaign, IL

tirebiter

Member

Doesn't actually delete it!

According to Paul Thurrott: "In a bit of Microsoftiness, however, this removal process doesn't actually remove the U2 album. It simply hides it from your devices, though it really remains in your collection."

»bit.ly/XwyaOB

aaronwt
Premium Member
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA

1 recommendation

aaronwt

Premium Member

I guess I need to launch iTunes..

I only do it once or twice a year. But if I can get a free digital album, from a group I like, then why not?

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

Thought my iTunes account had been hacked

I got in my car today to go on an errand and I went to my purchased music list and I was like "holy s*it my iTunes had been hacked" as there were download icons for an album I didn't buy (I have iTunes Match so purchases automatically show up on my phone).

I found out by going to the iTunes Store that my prepaid balance was intact and it was a free album. I buy iTunes cards at Best Buy to pad my loyalty points there.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

cableties

Premium Member

Atleast they could have

asked!

Would you like the New U2 'Songs of Innocence' in:

1. your iTunes library
2. on vinyl
3. on cassette
4. on Edison cylinder
cramer
Premium Member
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC

cramer

Premium Member

Re: Atleast they could have

Where's the 8-track option?
clone (banned)
join:2000-12-11
Portage, IN

clone (banned) to cableties

Member

to cableties
5. the nearest landfill

This is the correct answer to where I want any music sung by the King of Self-Importance himself.

shortckt
Watchen Das Blinken Lights
Premium Member
join:2000-12-05
Tenant Hell

shortckt

Premium Member

The Real Problem...

The real problem is that hardware and software makers across the electronics industry continue to treat OUR hardware as if it belongs to them, adding, changing and removing software and features at their whim. What was once mainly the playground of malware writers is now accepted as commonplace across all manner of electronic devices, and even some cars. A automatic update that changes or breaks things, a paid for program that installs unwanted junk. Yes of course you can (usually) turn it off, but why should one have to?

If your bank added 50 cents to your account without letting you know in advance, and that 50 cents was "stuck" in the account (e.g. you can't spend it or transfer it out of the account, you can only "enjoy" seeing it in your statement month after month), and you had to spend 15 minutes on the phone with your bank's customer service to have them take the 50 cents out of your account, would you be angry?
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Who cares

If you don't like it, don't listen to it. End of story. This is just stupid.