Apple Outrages Users By Automatically Installing U2's Album On Their Devices

[coffeejunkee]

Why are you intentionally being dumb?

What if Steam decided to give you 500GB of free games? Would you be ok with those being downloaded automatically and installed on your pc?

It doesn't matter what's in the eula or not. Anyone with the tiniest bit of common sense would set this up so that you'd have to confirm if you wanted to receive this gift or not.

 

[xBiffx]

Why are you intentionally being dumb?

What if Steam decided to give you 500GB of free games? Would you be ok with those being downloaded automatically and installed on your pc?

It doesn't matter what's in the eula or not. Anyone with the tiniest bit of common sense would set this up so that you'd have to confirm if you wanted to receive this gift or not.

I'd be OK with them being downloaded, especially if I allow automatic downloads.

I wouldn't be OK with them being installed. But again, you like others are trying to conflate download and installation. Stop it. They aren't even remotely the same thing and installation isn't the issue here.

Seems you are the one being intentionally dumb here.

 

[Oldgamer]

9-15-2014

http://beta.slashdot.org/story/207223

Apple Outrages Users By Automatically Installing U2's Album On Their Devices


"Free" album costs users roaming $2,000

"Apple may have succeeded at breaking two records at once with the free release of U2's latest album, titled Songs of Innocence, via iTunes.

But now, it looks like it's also on track to become one of the worst music publicity stunts of all time.

Users who have opted to download new purchases to their iPhones automatically have found the new U2 album sitting on their phones. But even if iTunes users hadn't chosen automatic downloads, Songs of Innocence will still be displayed as an "iTunes in the Cloud" purchase. That means it will still be shown as part of your music library, even if you delete all the tracks.

With roaming costs upwards of $19.95 per megabyte the free album will be very profitable for carriers.

The only way to make the U2 album go away is to go to your Mac or PC and hide all of your "iTunes in the Cloud" purchases, or to use iTunes to manually hide each track from your purchased items list. Other reactions include rapper, Tyler, The Creator, saying that having the new U2 album automatically downloaded on his iPhone was like waking up with a STD

I will never buy an Iphone, never have never will...lol

 

[IGBT]

sounds like a mistake but yet another reason to avoid apple crap.

 

[Pens1566]

I'd be OK with them being downloaded, especially if I allow automatic downloads.

I wouldn't be OK with them being installed. But again, you like others are trying to conflate download and installation. Stop it. They aren't even remotely the same thing and installation isn't the issue here.

Seems you are the one being intentionally dumb here.

You're a moron, intentionally or not. There is no reason to differentiate between download and installation. Once it's on the device, it doesn't matter. And for the record apps install as soon as they download. There is no extra step taken.

 

[xBiffx]

You're a moron, intentionally or not. There is no reason to differentiate between download and installation. Once it's on the device, it doesn't matter. And for the record apps install as soon as they download. There is no extra step taken.

I'm the moron? You are the one arguing on a tech forum that there is no reason to differentiate between download and installation. When an update for your phone is downloaded, do you or do you not have to initiate the install? Of course apps install as soon as they are downloaded. Apps have to be downloaded/installed the first time at the request of the user unlike other automatic download content. However, once they've been installed once, if they are selected to be automatically downloaded, they will download on subsequent devices connected to the iTunes account and install from that point. The user still initiated that initially. You sir, are a complete fucking idiot.

 

[Pens1566]

I'm the moron? You are the one arguing on a tech forum that there is no reason to differentiate between download and installation. When an update for your phone is downloaded, do you or do you not have to initiate the install? Of course apps install as soon as they are downloaded. Apps have to be downloaded/installed the first time at the request of the user unlike other automatic download content. However, once they've been installed once, if they are selected to be automatically downloaded, they will download on subsequent devices connected to the iTunes account and install from that point. The user still initiated that initially. You sir, are a complete fucking idiot.

Can someone translate this? All I see is "derp derp derp".

 

[werepossum]

I'm the moron? You are the one arguing on a tech forum that there is no reason to differentiate between download and installation. When an update for your phone is downloaded, do you or do you not have to initiate the install? Of course apps install as soon as they are downloaded. Apps have to be downloaded/installed the first time at the request of the user unlike other automatic download content. However, once they've been installed once, if they are selected to be automatically downloaded, they will download on subsequent devices connected to the iTunes account and install from that point. The user still initiated that initially. You sir, are a complete fucking idiot.

But the people are complaining about the roaming charges, which would come from the download.

Well, the roaming charges plus the humiliation of someone seeing a U2 album on your phone . . .

 

[xBiffx]

But the people are complaining about the roaming charges, which would come from the download.

Well, the roaming charges plus the humiliation of someone seeing a U2 album on your phone . . .

There is an option to not automatically download while on cellular (meaning only when on Wi-Fi). So if they are hit with overages, it's because they selected not one, but two options that caused that. It's their own stupid fault x2.

 

[smackababy]

There is an option to not automatically download while on cellular (meaning only when on Wi-Fi). So if they are hit with overages, it's because they selected not one, but two options that caused that. It's their own stupid fault x2.

Three options. There is an additional option for using data roaming. So, they accepted automatic downloads of iTunes content, to download said content over cellular data, and to use data when roaming.

 

[xBiffx]

Three options. There is an additional option for using data roaming. So, they accepted automatic downloads of iTunes content, to download said content over cellular data, and to use data when roaming.

True, I missed the roaming part. ROFL x3.

 

[Veliko]

There is an option to not automatically download while on cellular (meaning only when on Wi-Fi). So if they are hit with overages, it's because they selected not one, but two options that caused that. It's their own stupid fault x2.

No, they will be hit with overages because Apple added content to their account.

It's Apple's fault.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Also, the user action was the user accepting automatic downloads. This album will just sit there otherwise.

No, it isn't. The disclaimer there might as well be a legal disclaimer. In this case, it's intentionally written. It specifically says "Purchases (including free)" which again means free purchases the user makes. It does not however mean Apple randomly adding things to your account. The disclaimer is quite literal and quite clear. The user has accepted automatic downloads of items they take action to purchase. There is a total lack of user action on this U2 album.


My purchasing an AVICII song that is free as a result of the 12 days of Christmas qualifies as something called out by that disclaimer.


My being given through no action of myself, a U2 album is not a free purchase and therefore does not fall under the disclaimer of items to be automatically downloaded.


If you cannot get that, you're either having a reading comprehension issue reading the disclaimer, or you're being intentionally dense.

 

[rockyct]

...because some people will potentially have gone over their data cap? I couldn't care less for me - I have unlimited data still. But for people with smaller capped plans, Apple is a bunch of tools for doing this to them. Before this incident I believed only songs I purchased and app updates below 100MB were automatic.

Because, see the language isn't "Automatically download new purchases made on other devices and new free items"

It's "Automatically download new purchases (including free)" - translated, that means you will download purchases whether they are free or not. PURCHASES. That implies user action.

The U2 case falls under the first statement - I did not purchase the U2 album for free. It was added to my library without my consent or any action on my part.

If 100 MBs can make or break your data cap, you shouldn't have automatic downloads use cell data at all. Even small updates could quickly add up if you have a lot of apps. Like I said, this is perhaps the most stupid outrage over a "1st world problem" I've ever seen. You must have a nice life if Apple forcing 100 MBs of U2 on you is worth this kind of fuss. Did Bono murder your dog or something?

 

[coffeejunkee]

True, I missed the roaming part. ROFL x3.

Ok, it's all the stupid customers fault.

Try looking at it from a marketing perspective then. I hope you agree this is a pretty bad way to spend $100 million on customer relations.

Want to have lots of happy customers? Let them download an album of choice for free from the iTunes store.

If 100 MBs can make or break your data cap, you shouldn't have automatic downloads use cell data at all. Even small updates could quickly add up if you have a lot of apps. Like I said, this is perhaps the most stupid outrage over a "1st world problem" I've ever seen. You must have a nice life if Apple forcing 100 MBs of U2 on you is worth this kind of fuss. Did Bono murder your dog or something?

I'm not outraged. Just wondering why people are defending Apple even if they do stupid things. None the less, even if it's just a couple of minutes, Apple are wasting many peoples time by forcing this upon them.

 

[RampantAndroid]

If 100 MBs can make or break your data cap, you shouldn't have automatic downloads use cell data at all. Even small updates could quickly add up if you have a lot of apps. Like I said, this is perhaps the most stupid outrage over a "1st world problem" I've ever seen. You must have a nice life if Apple forcing 100 MBs of U2 on you is worth this kind of fuss. Did Bono murder your dog or something?

You seem to think I care here. I personally didn't get it. The reason this is annoying people is that Apple took action that users didn't want, or expect. It's great feedback that will hopefully shape apple's future decisions and will make its settings clearer. It's also about trust - if Apple can, and has, just auto-downloaded something for all users, will it happen again?


Also, anyone going around talking about the "first world problems" thing is just being silly. People care about whatever they care about. To some people that's AMD's new GPU, Mantle, politics and so forth. I'd rather people have a fuss over something like this than what Kanye West did last night...

 

[smackababy]

Why are you intentionally being dumb?

What if Steam decided to give you 500GB of free games? Would you be ok with those being downloaded automatically and installed on your pc?

It doesn't matter what's in the eula or not. Anyone with the tiniest bit of common sense would set this up so that you'd have to confirm if you wanted to receive this gift or not.

If, there was an option to automatically update my Steam library with every newly added, then, yes, if Steam added any amount of software to my account and I opted to have my device (PC in this case) automatically updated to reflect my account, I would be perfectly fine with that.

 

[werepossum]

Three options. There is an additional option for using data roaming. So, they accepted automatic downloads of iTunes content, to download said content over cellular data, and to use data when roaming.

Those monsters! And yet they walk among us unshackled. 😀

Honestly I don't have a huge amount of sympathy for these people, but I do think Apple screwed up. As coffeejunkie said, it's a piss poor way to spend money on customer relations. Only a minority of customers are even going to want a free U2 album, and only a tiny minority of customers are even going to want a free U2 album downloaded at a time not of their choosing.

 

[DrPizza]

So, according to xbiffx, the agreement means that if Apple wanted to, they could say, "hey, all these songs by all these garage bands are free. Let's push all those songs out to every single iPhone user who opted for auto-download of their purchases."

Am I reading his opinion correctly? I can't tell if he's trolling or stupid. It's akin to a grocery store offering customers, "would you like the kid bagging your groceries to automatically take them out to your car," then deciding, "hey, let's give away free groceries! We'll have to get a bunch of cars towed to our parking lot so the bagger can take those groceries out to them."

 

[brycejones]

So, according to xbiffx, the agreement means that if Apple wanted to, they could say, "hey, all these songs by all these garage bands are free. Let's push all those songs out to every single iPhone user who opted for auto-download of their purchases."

Am I reading his opinion correctly? I can't tell if he's trolling or stupid. It's akin to a grocery store offering customers, "would you like the kid bagging your groceries to automatically take them out to your car," then deciding, "hey, let's give away free groceries! We'll have to get a bunch of cars towed to our parking lot so the bagger can take those groceries out to them."

Yeah that seems to be it......

 

[rockyct]

Ok, it's all the stupid customers fault.

Try looking at it from a marketing perspective then. I hope you agree this is a pretty bad way to spend $100 million on customer relations.

Want to have lots of happy customers? Let them download an album of choice for free from the iTunes store.



I'm not outraged. Just wondering why people are defending Apple even if they do stupid things. None the less, even if it's just a couple of minutes, Apple are wasting many peoples time by forcing this upon them.

I just couldn't give a shit about the whole situation but I find it entertaining that it really has bothered people. I enjoy attacking Apple quite a bit and own a Windows Phone, but I just can't see getting worked up about this since it's pretty much par for the course for Apple. Apple tells you what you want, and you want the newest U2 album before anyone else can buy it.

You seem to think I care here. I personally didn't get it. The reason this is annoying people is that Apple took action that users didn't want, or expect. It's great feedback that will hopefully shape apple's future decisions and will make its settings clearer. It's also about trust - if Apple can, and has, just auto-downloaded something for all users, will it happen again?


Also, anyone going around talking about the "first world problems" thing is just being silly. People care about whatever they care about. To some people that's AMD's new GPU, Mantle, politics and so forth. I'd rather people have a fuss over something like this than what Kanye West did last night...

I actually have no idea what Kanye West did last night nor do I care much about GPUs. Politics at least has the potential to affect the lives of people but I laugh at the people who argue over stupid issues (which is most of P&N on both sides). Apple paying U2 $100 million and giving everyone the album is a silly thing to get worked up about and is completely a "first world problem." It'd be a completely different issue if this was a marketing thing where Apple got paid to make everyone get the album.

 

[rockyct]

If, there was an option to automatically update my Steam library with every newly added, then, yes, if Steam added any amount of software to my account and I opted to have my device (PC in this case) automatically updated to reflect my account, I would be perfectly fine with that.

Not only that but 50 GBs in brand new tier 1/2 games. A lot of people hate U2 but they are still a very popular band and were going to sell a lot (for 2014) of copies of their album. I wouldn't mind Steam auto-downloading brand new games even if it weren't the types of games I normally play.

 

[Veliko]

If, there was an option to automatically update my Steam library with every newly added, then, yes, if Steam added any amount of software to my account and I opted to have my device (PC in this case) automatically updated to reflect my account, I would be perfectly fine with that.

You would be perfectly fine if that caused you to go over an ISP data cap that cost you a fair chunk of money?

Or filled up your SSD meaning you couldn't even boot up your PC?

 

[xBiffx]

So, according to xbiffx, the agreement means that if Apple wanted to, they could say, "hey, all these songs by all these garage bands are free. Let's push all those songs out to every single iPhone user who opted for auto-download of their purchases."

Am I reading his opinion correctly? I can't tell if he's trolling or stupid. It's akin to a grocery store offering customers, "would you like the kid bagging your groceries to automatically take them out to your car," then deciding, "hey, let's give away free groceries! We'll have to get a bunch of cars towed to our parking lot so the bagger can take those groceries out to them."

Holy shit Batman! How is this my fault or how am I trolling? This non-idiot, non-Apple user is simply explaining to the idiot, Apple users how this works. Yes, it would appear that if Apple were inclined, they could dumb a metric shit ton of data on their users. Seems they aren't about doing that, they just engaged is a ridiculous marketing scheme. In this age, if users are going to bitch about one album worth of data, they are going to bitch anyways about anything. Basically, as has been stated, whiny first worlders gonna whine.

Not only is your anger/frustration displaced, your analogy is so way off base. Apple hasn't burdened anyone with anything. Cry harder there. Also, you act like, and you are not alone, that the user here has zero choice or decision in whether or not they receive this album. As has been stated earlier, there are three things that have to be selected by the user in order for this to be a data issue. Also, the link in the OP mentions how easily it is for users to avoid the album completely and hide it from their library.

Your analogy might apply if it went something like: someone goes to the grocery store with the largest U-haul truck they can rent and parks it in the drive up grocery loading area, then hands the keys to the clerk. The grocery store decides to purchase a case of cola for them and the clerk takes it out to load it up in their vehicle for them.

 

[xBiffx]

You would be perfectly fine if that caused you to go over an ISP data cap that cost you a fair chunk of money?

Or filled up your SSD meaning you couldn't even boot up your PC?

Yeah, but that's the risk I take will telling someone they can download anything from a certain place automatically. Either I live with that choice, or I whine about it as if its the end of the civilized world as we know it.

It's not like I won't know whats going on, if I pay attention. But that's the problem with Apple folk. Zombies aren't really good at having cognitive skills, the whole mindless thing and all.