For some people it just downloaded automatically leading to articles like this:

http://m.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/29157217

. ...some people are claiming the instructions still don't work. I can't comment as I don't own an apple device.

CakeAlexS
For some people it just downloaded automatically leading to articles like this:

http://m.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/29157217

. ...some people are claiming the instructions still don't work. I can't comment as I don't own an apple device.

The tone of the article would lead me to lend little credibility to the author - another frustrated blogger...
 
Incidentally, I had a few friends wondering why it did NOT show up on their device, so I looked it up.
 
The album will only downloaded itself if people had auto-download enabled. Some may still object, understandably, but considering how this has been blown out of proportion, the distinction is relevant.
 
Otherwise, all that you get is an option to download the album, which is available on your cloud.
 
As for people complaining that instructions won't work... I don't know - people complaining that something isn't working often tells you more about them than about the instructions.
 
Obviously, if you delete something but leave auto-sync to the cloud enabled, it will redownload itself all the time.
 
FWIW, the album WAS available on my laptop - which is hooked to the net 24/7 - but only if I wanted to download it. It was NOT on my iPhone.
 
"The album was distributed to iTunes users via iCloud, which means it appears in the Music app on devices, but isn’t physically stored on the computer, phone or tablet until it has been downloaded.
If it has been downloaded, users can swipe to the left on each song and click Delete.
To hide the album from iTunes, users must log into their account, find the album and click the cross in the top left-hand corner of the cover image.
The album may also appear if the phone has the auto-download feature enabled.
To turn this off, go to Settings, iTunes & App Store, then disable Automatic Downloads."
 

Rain

CakeAlexS
In the UK this album is now mainstream news as social media is going crazy. People can't seem to find a way to remove this apparent 'virus' from their Apple products. My Facebook wall is full of talk about U2. I think people aren't liking the idea of having music that they aren't choosing to listen to being forced down their throats... Apple might need to do a rethink...

The album is simply added to your purchased album list, so that you can download it if you want it. They don't like it, they simply don't download it. It doesn't download itself and it won't show up in your library unless you redeem it.
 

Except that one of the main "selling points" of the iTunes platform and iDevices is the ability to auto-download on every device you own any content you purchase.


Buy an album on iTunes with your iPhone... it appears automatically on your iPad, iPod and computer.  Yes, it's a setting you can turn on or off, but I have to say it is very useful.
So when Apple added U2 to everyones purchased albums list it downloaded automatically to ...  who knows how many people that didn't want it.
 
I got it,  I've not listened to it yet.

Rain
The tone of the article would lead me to lend little credibility to the author - another frustrated blogger...

I think the author apologised at the end of the article. And 'newsbeat' is aimed at younger audiences and is a spin off BBC's Radio 1 hence tacky writing style. There's probably loads of similar articles out there now.

I wonder if U2 is rethinking the album title.  "Viral" would have been more accurate!  LOL. 

Karyn

Rain

CakeAlexS
In the UK this album is now mainstream news as social media is going crazy. People can't seem to find a way to remove this apparent 'virus' from their Apple products. My Facebook wall is full of talk about U2. I think people aren't liking the idea of having music that they aren't choosing to listen to being forced down their throats... Apple might need to do a rethink...

The album is simply added to your purchased album list, so that you can download it if you want it. They don't like it, they simply don't download it. It doesn't download itself and it won't show up in your library unless you redeem it.
 

Except that one of the main "selling points" of the iTunes platform and iDevices is the ability to auto-download on every device you own any content you purchase.


Buy an album on iTunes with your iPhone... it appears automatically on your iPad, iPod and computer.  Yes, it's a setting you can turn on or off, but I have to say it is very useful.
So when Apple added U2 to everyones purchased albums list it downloaded automatically to ...  who knows how many people that didn't want it.
 
I got it,  I've not listened to it yet.

I guess there are two possibilities. For me, as an owner a relatively large collection of iTunes albums, the last thing I want is to have everything I've ever bought effectively downloaded to all my devices, automatically.
 
Actually, my iPhone doesn't have enough storage space for my album collection. Having the option to download my purchases, after careful selection, is a blessing though, and one of the advantages of the whole Apple environment paradigm.
 
Honestly, if I was to automatically download absolutely every album that I bought, my iPhone would be filled with music I don't need or want to hear anymore - the U2 album would probably be one among hundreds of others.
 
I wonder what percentage of users intentionally download all their media to every device they own. The word intentionally is crucial here because most of the people I've seen complaining didn't appear to be aware that they had the option.
 
Though I admit that in a case such as you mention, yes, it can be annoying. That being said, it's not like Apple sneaked into one's house and went through their underwear drawer or placed thumbtacks on their toilet seat. 

I think most people don't own more than 300 tracks nowadays. They either aren't that interested in music or use Spotify.
I don't do itunes or subscription services myself as I prefer to own rather than rent my music (I copy from CD to FLAC).

CakeAlexS
I think most people don't own more than 300 tracks nowadays. They either aren't that interested in music or use Spotify.
I don't do itunes or subscription services myself as I prefer to own rather than rent my music (I copy from CD to FLAC).

If people rarely buy music and only own a small iTunes library, having auto download turned on or off makes little difference.
 
Plus, it's not like people buy a new Apple device every day, so, following that logic, having auto-download enabled is of virtually no use. 
 
Not that I mean to argue against you personally, I know you're only voicing the other possibilities, but it depresses me to see people making such drama over something like that. Honestly, you'd be tempted to believe that  Steve Jobs got out of the grave and sexually molested those people judging by the way they complain. 
 
I mean - they had to erase a free album from their iPod because they don't want to change their settings? Talk about a ****ty day man... I'm sure every homeless veteran in the US would feel sorry for them if they knew...

Well people are very passionate about music! :)

CakeAlexS
Well people are very passionate about music! :)

and U2.