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I think people object to this not because they hate U2, but because this is a reminder that you don't really control your device, or even the content on it. App

I think people object to this not because they hate U2, but because this is a reminder that you don't really control your device, or even the content on it. Apple controls it, and will add or remove content as they see fit. It reminds me of the incident where Amazon remotely deleted copies of a certain book about a future technological dystopia from kindles.

allegory 12y ago
This. I don't dislike U2. I do dislike someone deciding whether or not I may or may not like U2 and adding it to my device/playlists. I recently canned all of my Apple kit and went back to Windows after a number of issues over the years with controlling my devices[2]. It's the only viable platform for me[1] that is improving its reputation and putting the users first. [1] I can't use *nix platforms for everything I do otherwise I would be using FreeBSD... [2] Buying and selling iOS devices is a PITA due to the activation lock and getting data in and out of them is troublesome too.
- manicdee 12y ago
  It's only added to your device if you had "automatically download new purchases" selected. It's not added to your playlists. Do you also complain about the socks from your parents for Christmas?
  - jacquesm 12y ago
    Typically you get some say in what you purchase.
  - allegory 12y ago
    a) that's a major feature of iTunes' sync capability. Why wouldn't I have that ticked? b) I shuffle the entire device so yes it is as I only buy and put music I want on it. c) Hell yes. Sheldon moment: I have 10 pairs of socks exactly the same and and everyone knows I don't want socks for Christmas. Apple should know I don't want smelly U2 socks for Christmas seeing as my entire device is full of electronic and industrial music.
  - aikah 12y ago
    > It's only added to your device if you had "automatically download new purchases" selected. Except I didnt purchase that music.It isnt a new purchase,it's just stuffing phones with promotional content. And if you equate Apple forcing promotional content down to users with parents giving christmas gifts you are insulting (at least my) parents.
    - manicdee 12y ago
      The album appeared in your iTunes account as a new purchase. There was not "forced down to users" about it.
  - grey-area 12y ago
    It's only added to your device if you had "automatically download new purchases" selected. Who purchased this album?
  - rmc 12y ago
    Do you also complain about the socks from your parents for Christmas? The vast majority of people can talk to their parents and ask for no socks, or tell them after the fact. The vast majority of people have no real way to talk to anyone at Apple who can control this.
- 100timesthis 12y ago
  THis. Yep, this.
jacquesm 12y ago
I think the vast majority of the users will not even realize this and will think 'oh wow, free music, thanks Apple.'.
- allegory 12y ago
  Actually most people I know will say exactly these words to every member of their family "who the fuck put this on my phone? I don't want it".
huuu 12y ago
I think it's even illegal in some countries. But it all depends on the definition of 'software'.
- stingraycharles 12y ago
  With a bit of a stretch, you can probably call it unauthorized tranmission of data to a device and make a comparison to attempts at password brute-forcing on a website (which I believe is illegal in many countries).
  - manicdee 12y ago
    It would only have downloaded to the phone if you'd previously authorised that behaviour.
usaphp 12y ago
> you don't really control your device, or even the content on it You do, you can always remove those songs if you don't want them.
- pjmlp 12y ago
  What you do then when they remove something instead?
  - usaphp 12y ago
    Then don't purchase anything, and go hide in a cave, so nobody bothers you.
    - pessimizer 12y ago
      Because the choices are: 1) buy Apple, or 2) hide in a cave.
      - jevgeni 12y ago
        There's also 3) Go with godawful, over-saturated, epilepsy inducing Samsung and think that a company, that actually double crossed Apple as their strategic partner won't double cross you.
        deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
        pessimizer 12y ago
        There are an infinite number of things that you can do that are not buying Apple.
        jevgeni 12y ago
        Like, for example, roller-skating.
bluewolf 12y ago
No, many people definitely hate U2 and would never want it on their device. I am one of them.
- hrrsn 12y ago
  Yep, don't care that Apple can do this, but I definitely don't want this bloody album on my devices.
  - manicdee 12y ago
    http://usvsth3m.com/post/97128521413/how-to-dismantle-an-apple-bono-bomb-heres-how-to-get http://usvsth3m.com/post/97128521413/how-to-dismantle-an-app...
  - grey-area 12y ago
    but I definitely don't want this bloody album on my devices Then you do care that Apple can do this.
- usaphp 12y ago
  I hate those sample music files from windows media player, how dare they include it with every purchase of windows!
  - iand 12y ago
    Which can can be deleted in 2 seconds...
    - uptown 12y ago
      Do you really not know how to delete music from your device? Swipe-left, delete.
      - kalleboo 12y ago
        And what if you have iTunes Match?
kissickas 12y ago
And that is why when last week I went shopping for an e-reader in Bahrain and found out that the only thing here is the Kindle, I turned around and went home. That was absolutely terrifying behavior from Amazon.
valarauca1 12y ago
I know I sound like a broken record saying this. But Stallman was right. The idea that users don't own and control, what they perceive to own and control scares them on a very primordial level.
- hadoukenio 12y ago
  This is why I try and explain over and over again that there is no such thing as strong security on a mobile when Apple and Google can remotely modify your phone. If you're running any sort of password manager on a phone, how hard do you think it would be for Apple+Google to take a copy of the encrypted file along with your captured password. Imagine the complete access the US government has on foreign nationals who are high up in the echelons of their own governments. Stallman was more than right. He was a god damn prophet.

allegory 12y ago

This. I don't dislike U2. I do dislike someone deciding whether or not I may or may not like U2 and adding it to my device/playlists. I recently canned all of my Apple kit and went back to Windows after a number of issues over the years with controlling my devices[2]. It's the only viable platform for me[1] that is improving its reputation and putting the users first. [1] I can't use *nix platforms for everything I do otherwise I would be using FreeBSD... [2] Buying and selling iOS devices is a PITA due to the activation lock and getting data in and out of them is troublesome too.

manicdee 12y ago
It's only added to your device if you had "automatically download new purchases" selected. It's not added to your playlists. Do you also complain about the socks from your parents for Christmas?
- jacquesm 12y ago
  Typically you get some say in what you purchase.
- allegory 12y ago
  a) that's a major feature of iTunes' sync capability. Why wouldn't I have that ticked? b) I shuffle the entire device so yes it is as I only buy and put music I want on it. c) Hell yes. Sheldon moment: I have 10 pairs of socks exactly the same and and everyone knows I don't want socks for Christmas. Apple should know I don't want smelly U2 socks for Christmas seeing as my entire device is full of electronic and industrial music.
- aikah 12y ago
  > It's only added to your device if you had "automatically download new purchases" selected. Except I didnt purchase that music.It isnt a new purchase,it's just stuffing phones with promotional content. And if you equate Apple forcing promotional content down to users with parents giving christmas gifts you are insulting (at least my) parents.
  - manicdee 12y ago
    The album appeared in your iTunes account as a new purchase. There was not "forced down to users" about it.
- grey-area 12y ago
  It's only added to your device if you had "automatically download new purchases" selected. Who purchased this album?
- rmc 12y ago
  Do you also complain about the socks from your parents for Christmas? The vast majority of people can talk to their parents and ask for no socks, or tell them after the fact. The vast majority of people have no real way to talk to anyone at Apple who can control this.
100timesthis 12y ago
THis. Yep, this.

jacquesm 12y ago

I think the vast majority of the users will not even realize this and will think 'oh wow, free music, thanks Apple.'.

allegory 12y ago
Actually most people I know will say exactly these words to every member of their family "who the fuck put this on my phone? I don't want it".

huuu 12y ago

I think it's even illegal in some countries. But it all depends on the definition of 'software'.

stingraycharles 12y ago
With a bit of a stretch, you can probably call it unauthorized tranmission of data to a device and make a comparison to attempts at password brute-forcing on a website (which I believe is illegal in many countries).
- manicdee 12y ago
  It would only have downloaded to the phone if you'd previously authorised that behaviour.

usaphp 12y ago

> you don't really control your device, or even the content on it You do, you can always remove those songs if you don't want them.

pjmlp 12y ago
What you do then when they remove something instead?
- usaphp 12y ago
  Then don't purchase anything, and go hide in a cave, so nobody bothers you.
  - pessimizer 12y ago
    Because the choices are: 1) buy Apple, or 2) hide in a cave.
    - jevgeni 12y ago
      There's also 3) Go with godawful, over-saturated, epilepsy inducing Samsung and think that a company, that actually double crossed Apple as their strategic partner won't double cross you.
      - deleted 12y ago
        [deleted]
      - pessimizer 12y ago
        There are an infinite number of things that you can do that are not buying Apple.
        jevgeni 12y ago
        Like, for example, roller-skating.

bluewolf 12y ago

No, many people definitely hate U2 and would never want it on their device. I am one of them.

hrrsn 12y ago
Yep, don't care that Apple can do this, but I definitely don't want this bloody album on my devices.
- manicdee 12y ago
  http://usvsth3m.com/post/97128521413/how-to-dismantle-an-apple-bono-bomb-heres-how-to-get http://usvsth3m.com/post/97128521413/how-to-dismantle-an-app...
- grey-area 12y ago
  but I definitely don't want this bloody album on my devices Then you do care that Apple can do this.
usaphp 12y ago
I hate those sample music files from windows media player, how dare they include it with every purchase of windows!
- iand 12y ago
  Which can can be deleted in 2 seconds...
  - uptown 12y ago
    Do you really not know how to delete music from your device? Swipe-left, delete.
    - kalleboo 12y ago
      And what if you have iTunes Match?

kissickas 12y ago

And that is why when last week I went shopping for an e-reader in Bahrain and found out that the only thing here is the Kindle, I turned around and went home. That was absolutely terrifying behavior from Amazon.

valarauca1 12y ago

I know I sound like a broken record saying this. But Stallman was right. The idea that users don't own and control, what they perceive to own and control scares them on a very primordial level.

hadoukenio 12y ago
This is why I try and explain over and over again that there is no such thing as strong security on a mobile when Apple and Google can remotely modify your phone. If you're running any sort of password manager on a phone, how hard do you think it would be for Apple+Google to take a copy of the encrypted file along with your captured password. Imagine the complete access the US government has on foreign nationals who are high up in the echelons of their own governments. Stallman was more than right. He was a god damn prophet.