Apple release removal tool for unwanted U2 album

By Dot Matrix
in Apple (macOS)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

Dot Matrix

Posted
Posted

.... Yes, you read that right. Removing the album requires a removal tool. After numerous complaints, Apple has set up a special knowledge base article detailing the steps needed to remove the album here. But be warned, if you would like to acquire the album again, you'll need to re-download it through iTunes. It'll remain free up until October 13th.

 

 

Via The Verge

Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted

.... Yes, you read that right. Removing the album requires a removal tool.  

... You were able to get rid of it even before. It worked like any other iTunes purchase. Now this will remove it from your purchase history as well (where it could only be hidden before)

Proficient

vhane

Posted
Posted

People will bitch about anything when it comes to Apple. Even when gifted stuff.

 

A copy of Transformers Dark Side of the Moon appeared in my Google Play account when I purchased a Nexus 7. Did I want it? No. Did I feel the need to bitch about it online? No.

Community Regular

daorbed9

Posted
Posted

People will bitch about anything when it comes to Apple. Even when gifted stuff.

 

A copy of Transformers Dark Side of the Moon appeared in my Google Play account when I purchased a Nexus 7. Did I want it? No. Did I feel the need to bitch about it online? No.

 

Was it automatically downloaded to your phone taking up space you may not want to spare?  I don't own one but what they did was wrong.

Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted

Was it automatically downloaded to your phone taking up space you may not want to spare?   

 

that depends entirely on whether he had his devices set up to automatically download new purchases.

 

Apple's approach of automatically distributing this album in the same way that an actual purchase would was a bit heavy-handed. But people have also been making a mountain out of this molehill...

Experienced

lt8480

Posted
Posted

I think its the inconvenience of having to remove it is the issue that everyone has... not the fact it was available for free. After all for many users it automatically downloads it to all devices they own. Using storage and bandwidth.

 

What stops this happening again tomorrow, and the day after - allowing apple to push content onto devices without say so is pretty much advertising and if this became an accepted norm in no time we be having to deleted "free content" every day.

 

Would it have really been that difficult to send users a text, or an email or a notification saying "click here to grab it for free now" - of course not but that would have meant most people wouldn't have bothered to download it.

Experienced

benthebear

Posted
Posted

Removal tool? Please. It's the equivalent of a dialog box that pops up saying, "Are you sure you want to remove this file? If you click yes, you can't get it back if you do!"

Community Regular

daorbed9

Posted
Posted

that depends entirely on whether he had his devices set up to automatically download new purchases.

 

Apple's approach of automatically distributing this album in the same way that an actual purchase would was a bit heavy-handed. But people have also been making a mountain out of this molehill...

 

Who wants to manually push everything to their phone?  I'd wager 80% or more do not.  So they took advantage of a situation they created to have a marketing opportunity.  It's the principle of the idea.  People don't want their private phones invaded.  Even though we have no real privacy the general public wants to believe we do.

Grand Master

bandit_liberty_rumble

Posted
Posted

It's the principle of the idea.  People don't want their private phones invaded.  Even though we have no real privacy the general public wants to believe we do.

I'm sorry, it's fine to compare this to spam if you want to (even though I might disagree), but to call it an invasion of privacy is a little far-fetched. At that point I find it hard to take the discussion seriously anymore. Nobody's phone was "invaded". People were  gifted an item that they might not have wanted, that's all.

Grand Master

Shadrack

Posted
Posted

I'm sorry, it's fine to compare this to spam if you want to (even though I might disagree), but to call it an invasion of privacy is a little far-fetched. At that point I find it hard to take the discussion seriously anymore. Nobody's phone was "invaded". People were  gifted an item that they might not have wanted, that's all.

 

This.

 

They maybe didn't execute the delivery of the gift very well. An email or something with instructions on how to claim your free U2 album (if you wanted it) probably would have been better received. But the rhetoric of this is getting a little ridiculous.

Grand Master

Stoffel

Posted
Posted

Not a big Apple fan myself, but I agree this is blown out of proportion.

Could they have had a better delivery system, with an email like some are suggesting, yes, but it doesn't deserve all the bitching

Grand Master

devHead

Posted
Posted

Hilarious.  give people the option to DL it themselves...dont force it on others.

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't grasp too well the idea of choice.  Heck, they have decided for you that you don't need an SD card in your iPhone or iPad, nor do you need a USB slot on an iPad.  Since they know better than their customers, why would they give them a choice?

Removal tool? Please. It's the equivalent of a dialog box that pops up saying, "Are you sure you want to remove this file? If you click yes, you can't get it back if you do!"

That might be a little much for some people who have Apple devices.

Proficient

vhane

Posted
Posted

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't grasp too well the idea of choice.  Heck, they have decided for you that you don't need an SD card in your iPhone or iPad, nor do you need a USB slot on an iPad.  Since they know better than their customers, why would they give them a choice?

That might be a little much for some people who have Apple devices.

 

Okay, let's look at that SD card example.

 

What are we trying to solve here, what's the actual crux of the matter? Well, people have different storage needs. Some need less and don't want to pay for more storage than they require, and some need a lot of storage. Solution? We'll sell phones with different amounts of storage.

 

As a designer or engineer, do you ask whether we should support SD cards? Or do you ask why people use SD cards? Indeed, why? To add storage? Well give them enough built-in storage so that they don't have to go out and buy an SD card. The alternative is to ship, and hence charge people for, reader hardware that not everybody might use, and which takes up volume on the device. And once you ship with this reader, you create a dependency on that reader for future generations of the device. Think really hard before adding this kind of dependency. Once added, you can't easily take it away from people who have come to depend on it.

 

What's the other use of an SD card - to transfer files? Give them email, messaging, and allow third party apps so that Dropbox etc. can offer solutions. Why not an SD card? Well, the receiving device needs to have a reader too. Plus if the receiving device needs to be able to read the files that means that we can't encrypt the storage layer! Do you want people to be able to pick your phone up, take the SD card out and simply copy your files?

 

SD cards aren't an end unto themselves. Solve problems instead of thinking in terms of features. Remember where SD cards come from. They were originally created to store photos on cameras back in the days when storage was counted in megabytes and you needed to carry multiple cards to cater for one photo shoot. Why add mechanical, electronic and software complexity to a device if you're simply going to stick an SD card in and leave it there all the time? Ship with enough built-in storage. Solve the real problem. SD cards were also meant to transfer photos back to the photographer's computer back when cameras couldn't simply stream photos out in real time as you took them. What Does a Horse?s Ass have to do with The Space Shuttle?

 

People put "choice" on a pedestal like it's a binary. It's not "choice" vs. "no choice". It's a continuum on a scale. But how opinionated should a solution be? It's better for a design to take a stance. You know for a fact that you won't be able to please everybody, so don't try to do that at the expense of adding complexity to your solution, hence making it less convenient and less effective. Some people will not use your product as a result, but hey, there are other products that will please them. A great solution elicits the reaction - Well of course it works this way. How else would it? Conversely, you may also have a strong adverse reaction from some people. But that's inevitable. Better to solve the problem really well for some people than to offer a middling solution for most people. Anyone who's ever designed anything will know that customisation can be a cop out. "I can't solve this problem, we'll let the people decide". If you're having to add tons of settings to cater for edge cases, then maybe it's time to rethink the problem. As a programmer, when that happens, I know that I need to raise the abstraction level, take a step back and look at the problem again from a higher vantage point. It's a sign that I'm solving the wrong problem.

 

So know when choice is important, and what form it takes. Maybe it doesn't take the form of an SD card. Maybe it takes the form of different amounts of built-in storage. Granted, sometimes customisability for the sake of personalisation trumps almost everything else. Well guess who's offering the most choices with their smart watch?

Grand Master

LaP

Posted
Posted

Was it automatically downloaded to your phone taking up space you may not want to spare?  I don't own one but what they did was wrong.

 

Strange the u2 album was not auto downloaded on my ipod. I guess it's an option you need to turn on.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Why Delta Chat is the best decentralized messenger you have probably never tried

      By zikalify · Posted

      Why Delta Chat is the best decentralized messenger you have probably never tried by Paul Hill There is no shortage of messaging apps out there; we have WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram, just to name a few. While Meta has taken steps to incorporate encryption into Messenger and WhatsApp, they still leave a lot to be desired. If you are in the market for a messaging app that promotes security, privacy, and optional anonymity, you'll want to read what I have to say about Delta Chat. For those not familiar with Delta Chat, rather than relying on centralized servers as you do with Facebook Messenger, it relies on email. Essentially, it is a chat interface that feels like a messaging app, but secretly in the background, it is firing off emails. In the past, you used to have to sign in with your email account. When you sent messages to people, it would just be sending encrypted messages to their inbox, which their Delta Chat client would decrypt. When I first learned about Delta Chat, it required users to sign in with an email account, but I was pleasantly surprised upon trying it in 2026 that this is no longer a requirement, or the preferred method was to use the app. Recently, I’ve tried UAD-ng on my old Nokia 3.4 to disable most of the Google apps because the bootloader is locked, and this is the next best option. While finding replacement apps in F-Droid, I came across Delta Chat again, and it has undergone quite a big change since I last used it, with its new chatmail relays, which no longer require you to sign in to your own email account, providing anonymity, and they offer greater security. Android and Desktop Delta Chat apps. Not only does it run on my de-googled phone, but it also works on desktop computers and iOS, making it truly ubiquitous. For me, Delta Chat is a wonderful alternative messenger because it gives you more control. It supports switching between different profiles, which you can set up super quickly; you don’t register a username, you don’t register a password. The only thing you do have is a random string email address on a chatmail relay (which you don’t have to memorize). To maintain access to your profile, you just need to add a second device to your account via QR code or make a backup of your account, which you can restore later. Fail to do these, your account is gone - as it should be if you don’t want to leave accounts that could get hacked later on. My decision to block Google stuff on my Nokia was done for practical reasons; the device sucked when it launched, and it sucks even more now. The nice thing about F-Droid and the apps within is that they’re usually lightweight, free of bloat, and work well on that device. What was inconvenient for me was that it was hard to send messages from that device, say if I wanted to copy a code over to my main phone or send family members a link from that device. That’s when I decided to look at the available chat apps and saw Delta Chat. Another nice thing about Delta Chat is its notifications. Some messaging apps rely on Google’s ecosystem for notification transport on Android; however, with Delta Chat, it can use Google’s solutions if you have Play Services or MicroG installed. Otherwise, it is able to keep a background connection to the chatmail relay server so that you can get notified when you receive a message. As free software, the code of Delta Chat is open for all who want to take it and build upon it. In the future, if the developers of Delta Chat make a catastrophically bad decision and take the app in an undesirable direction, users can take the code and fork the project. This contrasts with closed-source apps from corporations that can take their products in any direction they like. By relying on free software instead of closed-source programs, you actually control your computing. I’ve spoken at length about how running this type of software is like owning your own home rather than renting it. The same applies here; if you use Delta Chat, you don’t need to worry about it going away in the future. Whether it is Telegram, WhatsApp, or Messenger, you are required to register a username and password to use these services. A major flaw in this design is that anyone can try various passwords and potentially break into your account with your complete chat history intact. Sure, there is encryption in Messenger, where you need a second PIN and two-factor authentication in Telegram, but breaches happen all the time. Unlike before, when you used to sign in to your email account to send and receive messages, the primary way to do it now is to create an account on a chatmail relay. The resulting email address is a random string followed by the name of the relay you pick. This means you can start and begin adding contacts Without a username and password, you either need to ensure you have a backup or at least one device running your Delta Chat profile. The primary way to log in on another device is to go to the settings and add a second device. Then, you’ll just scan a QR code with your new device, and it’ll log in to your account and sync all your chat history and contacts. To end users, Delta Chat just looks like any instant messenger; however, it is really sending your messages as encrypted emails to your contact. This is pretty cool from a censorship perspective, as it makes the service more difficult to block. Previously, the main way to use the app was by logging in with email, but nowadays, it’s recommended that you use chatmail relays. Chatmail relays temporarily hold messages in case your device is offline. They are cheap, simple servers that don’t store data as group states. Other information, like your name and avatar, only exists on your device and the devices of those you share your contact information with. The relays are also decentralized and operated by various groups and individuals. It is even possible to set up your own chatmail relay, but most people will want to use one hosted elsewhere. To keep your messages secure, Delta Chat uses a secure subset of the OpenPGP standard that gives you automatic end-to-end encryption. It also uses Secure-Join to exchange encryption setup information through QR-code scanning or invite links. Autocrypt is also used to automatically establish end-to-end encryption between contacts and all members of group chat, but sometime this year Autocrypt v2 will be rolled out, bringing post-quantum resistant encryption and forward secrecy. The Delta Chat FAQ is an interesting read that explains many more details about the app. Credit: Pexels Delta Chat is unique among messaging apps because it is built on email, a technology that’s decades old and isn’t going anywhere soon. What’s more is that email is not centralized either, so it’s far more difficult for any authoritarian regime to disrupt the Delta Chat app. I haven’t spoken too much about features yet, so I will do that now. Delta Chat allows you to do one-on-one chats, group chats, and create channels. It also supports file sharing and making audio and video calls when chatting one-to-one, but it’s not available for group chats right now. At the time of writing, the calling functionality is disabled and can be enabled in Settings > Advanced > Debug Calls. I have used the video calling feature, and the quality is excellent. It works over WebRTC, another open standard. The app also lets you send voice notes, enables disappearing messages, and has its own app ecosystem. I did try playing chess one time there, but it was a bit spotty; though, we did manage to complete the game with a victory for me. To add people to Delta Chat, you can either give them your Delta Chat link or your QR code to scan. These are the only ways to add users, so you won't have any spam bots bothering you. If the people you want to chat with don't have the app yet, just send them your link, and it will take them to a webpage where they can install the app and then add you. It's really quick for them to install it and get started, which is nice. Credit: Microsoft. The Majorana 2 quantum chip unveiled in 2026. I do not think quantum computers are too far out now, and I do hope that Delta Chat is able to push out Autocrypt v2 sooner, rather than later, so bad actors do not attempt to collect encrypted communications and then decrypt them in the future using quantum computers. By getting people’s messages post-quantum-safe now, users won’t have to worry when quantum computers start cracking legacy encryption. Overall, I would recommend this app to people who are already past WhatsApp and Messenger and have perhaps begun using apps like Telegram or Session. It shares a lot of characteristics with these apps and goes a lot further than Telegram in terms of security. By being based on email, it is also resistant to censorship, and the lack of a username and password makes you anonymous (if you want to be) and safe from brute force password cracking attempts. Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried Delta Chat recently. Do you think it's a good bulwark against governments that are tightening their grip on the internet?
    • Ford execs say they made a mistake when they replaced human engineers with AI

      By +ir0nw0lf · Posted

      This is my shocked face...
    • The Trump administration doesn't want you to use OpenAI's GPT-5.6 without its approval

      By excalpius · Posted

      "Papers, please!"
    • The Trump administration doesn't want you to use OpenAI's GPT-5.6 without its approval

      By excalpius · Posted

      Putin was behind Farage/Brexit and behind Trump/MAGA. Different idiot lying beasts, same fascist master. Same screwed up results for both nations.
    • Steam Summer Sale 2026 kicks off offering weeks of PC game discounts

      By Xenon · Posted

      For me the Final Fantasy games, Langrisser I & II, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition, Metaphor: ReFantazio and LUNAR Remastered Collection

  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      bernmeister earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Week One Done
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      tuben earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • First Post
      OffsetAbs earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      OffsetAbs earned a badge
      Reacting Well

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      465
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      217
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      155
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      74
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      71
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!