There have been mixed reactions on the surprise performance of U2 from the Album, 'Songs of Innocence', during the launch of Apple's new smartphones, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iWatch last September 9, 2014 in Curtino. The Apple-U2 partnership was welcomed with suspicions. The announcement of Tim Cooks that the entire album can be downloaded for free in iTunes like an early Christmas gift was met with moderate jubilation because not every body is a U2 fan and they can either accept it or leave it.
The offshoot of the U2 album free iTunes download came days after the Apple launch. Many iPhone users were surprised to see the U2 album in their playlist. It's a breach of privacy, many phone owners said. Apple should have at least, asked their consent.
The displeasure over the uninvited 'gift' and the belief that it is a horrifying shadow of the things to come was voiced out in social media. One comment said, 'I was vulnerable in the shower listening to songs on shuffle and it started playing the new U2 album. I feel so violated by Apple" said @danisnotonfire.
To generally paraphrase other comments, they say the sneaky inclusion of U2 in their playlists sends a hideous message---that Apple could do other far more earth-shaking things to breach one's privacy since the company had successfully placed something 'uninvited' in their personal property.
Some phone users even associated the forceful download-cum-forcible entry to the near prospect of Apple partnering with, or being used, by interest groups. "If Apple can just drop a U2 album without my permission, I know they are helping the Feds," says a disgruntled consumer. Or this one, "Possibly early to say if Apple sending a U2 album to everyone has played a part in the raising of the terror alert."
Comments referring to Apple's free download power and the possibility of being used by terror groups maybe an exaggeration. Maybe not terror groups. Maybe just U2's management company as it definitely made the U2 Album Songs of Innocence album "one of the largest album release in the music history."
