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[6233638]

I love this. http://www.whoisu2.com/
 
For those who are unaware, Apple recently "gave away" copies of the latest U2 album to everyone with an iTunes account.
It's not something you had to redeem, it just shows up and by default will automatically download itself onto all of your devices.
 
Since iOS 7 removed the option to hide items on your iTunes account, the only way to remove it is to log into your account on a Mac/PC with iTunes installed and hide it there.
 
I'm really not happy with the way that Apple handled this - the roll-out is basically a way of forcing itself to be the "biggest album release of all time" which is something I don't want to be contributing to.

[mwillems]

That site is hilarious, but I agree that the download by default with no easy workaround business decision/model is really gross.  But I'm not really their target demo, so they probably don't care that I think it's gross. 

Maybe I'd feel differently if I liked U2 (or Apple)? 

[Castius]

I love not having iTunes or QuickTime installed.

[glynor]

It did NOT download by default on iOS devices. Only on your computer at home, if you have that enabled (there is no default, I believe, there -- it asks).

But on iOS, it just adds it to your library with the cloud icon, unless you've manually enabled auto-downloads.

[6233638]

But on iOS, it just adds it to your library with the cloud icon, unless you've manually enabled auto-downloads.

I was pretty sure that auto-downloads were enabled by default. If not, it seems like most people have them enabled.
 
Still, Apple doesn't really make a distinction between music on the device and music in the cloud now, it shows up in your library like any other tracks, rather than purchases being hidden away like they used to.
 
I hid it from my account last night, and the album is still showing up on my iPad.
 
(P.S. that site is less funny than it was earlier - it just seems to be full of profanity now)

[glynor]

I was pretty sure that auto-downloads were enabled by default. If not, it seems like most people have them enabled.

I don't think so, though I could be wrong.  I actually prefer to have that option on on my devices (and my wife's) because we don't often buy things from iTunes (and when we do, it is often for a "want it right now" reason).  I remember turning it on manually.

Most of the screenshots I saw full of rage on that site, twitter, and elsewhere showed the cloud download icon (with an accompanying "omg! this is using up my space on my phone!" missive).  This leads me to believe it is more likely that people don't understand how it works.

Full disclosure: U2 is one of my favorite bands.  I don't know if they've put much out worth anything since Zooropa (which was, itself, mediocre), but their old stuff is among my favorites (The Unforgettable Fire is still a brilliant album).

However, even if they put something on my device that I despised (some modern country album, for example)... I don't think I could get my dander up too much.  I mean, it is free.  Who cares if you happen to not like it?  Delete from my device(s), delete from MC (which would have grabbed the download), ignore in iCloud, done.

[glynor]

Here's how to make it gone for good:
http://www.macworld.com/article/2607112/how-to-hide-the-free-u2-album-from-your-itunes-library.html

[6233638]

Here's how to make it gone for good:
http://www.macworld.com/article/2607112/how-to-hide-the-free-u2-album-from-your-itunes-library.html

Yes, that's what I did. Still showing up on the iPad as an album I can download.

[glynor]

That stinks.  You didn't download one of the files from that album on the iPad did you (can't see the whole thing in your screenshot)?

That's the only thing I can think of... Or that it is signed into a different AppleID for the iTunes/App/Apple Store under Settings.

[6233638]

That stinks.  You didn't download one of the files from that album on the iPad did you (can't see the whole thing in your screenshot)?

That's the only thing I can think of... Or that it is signed into a different AppleID for the iTunes/App/Apple Store under Settings.

Never downloaded the tracks and I'm signed into the same account on both devices.
Restarted the iPad, synced again etc. Can't seem to get rid of it without hiding all iTunes purchases.
 
Honestly, it's not a big deal for me, but it looks like I'm stuck with it.

[JimH]

Apple responds:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/15/6153165/apple-u2-songs-of-innocence-removal-tool

[6233638]

Looks like that did the trick, thanks.

[TCube]

Apple responds:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/15/6153165/apple-u2-songs-of-innocence-removal-tool

publish a removal tool almost puts U2's new album on the same footing as malware or aggressive antivirus software

Grandiose !
Apple is not my thing   but some Apple users were smart enought to share the pain on PBay. What is the latest  trend ... "Bug money".
TC

[glynor]

Some interesting counter-points to my (personal) gut feelings described above:

http://waffle.wootest.net/2014/09/16/them-too/
http://venomousporridge.com/post/97609079039/mad-about-u2
http://www.marco.org/2014/09/16/this-u2-album-really-does-suck

I can agree with Marco at least on one point... I also only made it through around 1 1/2 songs before stopping.  I'll probably give it another try in a while, but... It is certainly no The Unforgettable Fire.  Of course, none of their newer albums have been.

[6233638]

Yes, I don't care if Apple wants to give away a free album.
But they didn't give away an album, they forced an album into your music library in order to break a record for marketing reasons - that's what I dislike about this.
 
And it was a pain to get rid of, whether hiding it in iTunes worked for you or not.
The fact that there's a removal tool shows that it's clearly a problem.
 
I don't hate U2 - I'm largely indifferent. I just think they've been making bland music for a couple of decades at this point.
I do think it shows that Apple is a bit out of touch if they thought it was something that people would get excited about, and I did enjoy the fact that many people's reaction to the album showing up on their devices was "Who is U2?" and "How do I get rid of this U2 album?" more than anything else.

[glynor]

I do think it shows that Apple is a bit out of touch if they thought it was something that people would get excited about, and I did enjoy the fact that many people's reaction to the album showing up on their devices was "Who is U2?" and "How do I get rid of this U2 album?" more than anything else.

They gave it to 500 million people.  I'm sure they figured that some percentage of them would complain.

I'm not sure the overall reaction was negative.  But there certainly was a vocal contingent.  And after reading the above-linked articles, I can see why.  I doubt they'll ever be doing this again.