I didn't download it, or at least not intentionally and I can't remove four of the songs. It's spam.

I see. If you have iTunes set to keep purchased items automatically downloaded, then it was, in a sense, pushed to your phone.

I am no fan of U2, but downloaded the album just in case they accidentally made a song I like (they did that once for the soundtrack of Until the End of the World).

I like some of U2's older stuff and might even like this album. Since I want to support good musicians, I'd happily pay for it if I wanted it. But I'll make that call on my own and their spam is making me leave Apple, as it came at just the moment when I was looking for another phone.

I just checked my iPhone 4S. The U2 album has been downloaded and I have no music on my phone, do not sync with itunes, etc.

That's downright rude of Apple.

I have a 4S. How come I don't have the new U2 album?

Which new iPhone?
 

The album isn't all that bad really. I'm not a fan of how it's being handled though. It's a pretty stupid move on Apple's part IMHO to make it difficult to remove though - should have been an opt-in, "if-you-want-this-go-get-it". It reminds me of how annoyed people were in the 1990s when Microsoft started pre-loading crap on Windows desktops as an installation default (also deliberately difficult to remove, especially for non-technical folks).

I've always loved Apple products, the way the company values design and innovation, etc. but this is another instance of them becoming the very thing they have always claimed to be the antithesis of (Microsoft / big corporate, money-driven computer industry).

It underscores a trend by companies that we the public don't really own our own computers, we just sort of rent them (there's a very obvious "it's not your computer, it's OUR computer" attitude here). Heck, it's worked well for automakers. Maybe Apple is just trying to improve on that model (auto leasing / "let the customer eat the depreciation for us"). If Apple can get the public to believe it's acceptable to pay full fare for something that gives the "owner" little more rights than a renter / leaser would have its free money for them - saves them from having to set up a leasing department, new price structure, etc. more potential profit in just changing the mindset...

Don't like the tactic at all. The album doesn't particularly bother me. It's the principle of it.

Good article on it:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-apples-free-u2-gift-a-sign-of-things-to-come/

Hold on here. While I am sure we can up with multiple examples of Apple doings things that scream big business and money grubbing, this isn't one of them. All they did was try to give everyone a present. All they did wrong here is screw up the giving process.

Good article. Sold me on moving up from my 4S to the 6!

Went to the Apple store and looked at the 6 and 6 Plus, including reading webpages and putting them in my pants pockets. I'm getting the 6 . . .

The naked 6 Plus slides into a front pants pocket easily enough, but in a protective case it would be tougher, and I might have to take it out to comfortably sit down. This is pants that are slim fit, but not tight or skinny at all. I also think the 6 Plus would be inconveniently large in a bike jersey, or to hold in your hand while running.

But I'm not getting one today. At 5:30 am the line was already 2 blocks long. By the way, I think many of the people who spent all day today in line were paid to be there. Based on how scruffy they looked. I'll get around to ordering one later and receive it in Nov or Dec, that is fine with me.

My 6 comes today. However I am at O'Hare in the admirals club waiting to take off for Vegas for the weekend. Probably for the best. I didn't need to have a brand new phone in my hand this weekend.

Just happened to check out both in person. The 6 is cool - nice feel to it. The 6+ is just stupid big. It hasn't changed my opinion of "phablets" being dumb at all. The one nice thing is it has enough screen real estate to allow "iPad" style app displays when held landscape for things like email, Tapatalk, etc. I just can't see carrying one around in my pocket - too big. Nice devices design-wise, the rounded edges give a good solid feel too. I'm still going to hold out for the 6S though.

Yeah, I got t fondle a few today too. The 6 nice. I can't decide what to do. I so want to get away from Apple, but they pull me back like a Death Star tractor beam.

If iTunes is your main gripe, use Spotify (Premium) or another streaming music service. Spotify has an offline mode as well.

I have a 6+ 128GB on order. I wanted the larger size as my eyes are getting worse and I never could type well on the tiny keyboard. My 5's battery is flaky but will hopefully hold-on a couple more weeks till the new phone arrives. I'm selling the 5 to Gazelle which will offset a decent chunk of the new phone.