“In a direct emulation of Apple’s iTunes LP and App Store, U2 and BlackBerrymaker, RIM, claim the new app, ‘invigorates the album experience for the digital age,'” Evans reports.
“Developed in collaboration with the band, the app promises ‘a rich visual experience with evolving content and an interactive dimension for the band’s current Number 1 album No Line On The Horizon,” Evans reports. “The application is now available for free on BlackBerry App World.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Um, about that “current Number 1 album” bit from RIM’s press release: Not on any remotely current chart on this planet, boys. And a better name for it would have been: “The Forgettable Trifle.” We’re U2 fans (as remain so, regardless of this BlackBerry-only nonsense), but, come on, one time through that last album was more than enough; we never felt compelled to slog through the piece of shit for even a second time. Suffice to say: Not your best album, or business decision, by a long shot.
Lastly, Bono, you’re part of Elevation Partners. Aren’t you supposed to be wasting your time, energy, and money pimping ill-fated bundles for the Palm Pre instead?
Who was U2? Oh! Now I remember them. The delay thingy and the fire thingy back on Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Abunch of old guys still trying to make it. Gotta write hook songs, dudes.
It aint gonna happen. In this case, mass adoption of RIMs app store.
Big mistake jumping on BB and missing out on the new iTunes 9 goodies. I guess RIM is paying these boys some big money to jump ship and miss out on iTunes 9/Apple awesomeness.
U2 is all about the money nowadays, as they avoid paying taxes. Hypocrisy, given that Bono wants taxpayers to foot charity for Africa.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/business/yourmoney/04amster.html?_r=1&sq=u2 tax&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=2&adxnnlx=1253120475-JEMo64FtJXLMwNbLJHtRSA
Conspiracy Theory #7: U2 purposely took a mulligan on this album to sink RIM’s ace in the hole. Clandesdinely Delicious!
I read that U2’s the jump to RIM had more to do with the band wanting access to Apple’s R&D;, while at the same time Bono is a partner in Elevation Partners which basically owns Palm. I don’t blame Apple one bit for telling U2 to piss off.. Next in line for sponsor money was RIM looking for some semblance of hipness. Having seen the 360 tour twice in Europe I can tell you that, which the show is excellent, RIM is not getting much bang for their ad $$. And this new thing sounds like more RIM cluelessness.
Bono = Worlds biggest Turd.
Funny how all these holier then thou musicians preach to the masses about giving up possessions & $$$ but they will follow the ca$h like a hound follows a bitch in heat.
I have no problem with accumulating wealth, just don’t be a hypocrite about it.
U-WHO? Gimme a break.
I’ve never been a fan of their music, but their self-important posturing is a bit much.
It’s pop music boys. Here today, forgotten tomorrow.
Ms. Doubtfire and her band don’t matter anymore. U2 hasn’t been good since……well never. Who cares?
Paul David Hewson = Bono = dumbass extraordinaire! With all due respect, in the grand scheme of things (that is, the music biz), U2 and the Beatles are ‘way too full of themselves to be real or noteworthy.
Scroom both.
@ Telsa Spark – that’s a VERY good point. Considering how transparently Palm has been copying as much of Apple’s technology as it can get away with, who knows how much more they’d be copying if Apple had allowed Bono access to Apple R&D.
As for why U2 are spending so much time with RIM… well, based on the above, expect to see Palm suddenly come out with technology “borrowed” from RIM in future (assuming Palm doesn’t go out of business before that).
The U2 boys are building their retirement funds. Screw the music, its all about the money now, baby!
not to lessen their talent or contributions to the music world, but really who cares. you can get all the U2 content you want now on itunes, this isn’t gonna make anyone switch sides.
I’m sick of U2.
No matter who the artist was, on this website they were bound to get huge negativity just for not being with Apple.
U2 are an awesome band, reinvented themselves throughout their career and have contributed so much to the music industry.
I don’t think it was a good move for them to do that – think of all the loyal fans who own the U2 ipods… now they’re meant to switch to blackberry? Not good PR for U2. They’re entitled to make good business moves and make money, but ignoring customer loyalty is not a great plan. This weakens the U2 brand. Its like doing a pepsi ad then next year doing a coke ad – leaves fans seriously confused about their brand associations.
Man, it is almost like someone said the Beatles are coming to iTunes with all this negativity thrown toward a band. Oh my God, U2 did not go with Apple. How dare they? They must be stupid. The numerous stadium sell outs certainly point to the demise of U2. I guess nobody like them any more. Fools.
U2 sucks!!!
‘Nuff Said
Regardless of their music, this is a missed opportunity for U2 from a creative perspective. I don’t dislike the BB — but it’s an e-mail machine, the best e-mail workhorse around, but it’s not a multimedia experience. (And if you’re talking Storm… well, that’s just sad.)
I remember driving around in my friend’s VW van listening to ‘Under a Blood Red Sky’ when it came out. I think the line went something like, “There’s been a lot of talk about this next phone. Maybe, maybe too much talk. This phone is not an iPhone, this phone is Blackberry ****ty Blackberry.”
@jpgr…….I think you’re missing everyone’s point. In some way, I think most of us are U2 fans….but they were once closely tied to Apple. But because they couldn’t have their way they’ve now switched to a big rival and have even bad mouthed Apple in the media.
And a BIG BAG of money was involved from RIM…..you can be sure of that. If I’m RIM, I’d want to get a big group like U2 on my side too to even try to compete with Apple but if U2 had never been associated with Apple to begin with, I think people would be reacting a little less negative about it.
Lets face it…..to partner with a company who clearly has an inferior product when you’ve been with the best has got to point to something deeper…….money or power and influence is the reason here. Bono’s head has just grown a little too big me thinks….
Does anyone even care about the iTunes LP format or equivalent from RIM, etc.? This just seems like some sad capitulation to the record labels in an attempt to bundle more music.
Personally, I like it much better where I pay for the song. There are very few artists who’s music warrants buying an entire album.
News Headline: U2 shuns BB to go with Apple…
MDN readers: “Yay! U2 is awesome, I told you the app store has all the coolest stuff. U2 realized that there’s more profit to be made in Apple’s store.”
News Headline: U2 shuns Apple to go with BB…
MDN readers: “U2 is a bunch of hasbeen hypocrites who only care about money. Boo U2. You never mattered anyhow.”
I notice, quite pointedly, that nobody disputes MDN’s assessment of U2’s last “effort” as a forgettable piece of shit that’s not worth slogging through twice.
I agree as well.
Who cares. I was never a U2 fan anyway.
Besides, I bet it doesn’t compare to that iTunes LP format.
And @ApplePi, that would make for an interesting social experiment on this site.
@ApplePi, fair point but I don’t think everyone is suggesting they’re hypocrites or selling out (any more than anyone else). It’s always about the money… and I don’t blame them for that. But it is a weird creative choice. Like I said, more than anything a missed opportunity, but that is their choice too.
I’ve been a U2 fan for a long time. Have enjoyed and been disappointed by various “come backs.” This doesn’t affect any of that. I can still download or rip their stuff.
As an aside, I still think that Bono MacPhisto thing was just silly…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoo_TV_Tour#Mr._MacPhisto
Having been a passionate U2 fan since 80s, I own every LP/CD up until Zoo Station, their most transcendental IMHO, but nothing since. So I suppose this band’s evolution is no surprise, from rebel to corporate phone front men. Bono’s lyrics were always made bearable only by the great music provided by the rest of the band mates, but now the Edge seems to have lost his edge, and they drown out the most sublime part of their music, Larry’s amazing percussion skills.
Ahh the U2 haters are out. Yeah go listen to some dreck like the Black Eyed Peas, stupidest music ever written.
And for you turds who think U2 sucks or is washed up, there were 65,000 people in Chicago the other night who would disagree with you. Twice!
It is really funny to see how one sided people can be on the internet. I’m a big fan of U2 and I would have preferred if they stayed with one of my favorite companies, but the fact that they chose to move to RIM for some business reason shouldn’t mean anything to anyone. You can buy the album on iTunes, right? At least the console fanboys have a little more reason to rant and rave when some game stops being made for one console and is only made for another, they don’t want to shell out money for both consoles.
What does matter is that, without going as far as calling it a piece of turd, the latest album is rather underwhelming 🙁
This UL seems appropriate right about now:
At a recent U2 concert in Glasgow, Scotland, [Bono] asked the audience for total quiet.
Then, in the silence, he started to slowly clap his hands, once every few seconds. Holding the audience in total silence, he said into the microphone, “Every time I clap my hands, a child in Africa dies.”
From the front of the crowd a voice with a broad Scottish accent pierced the quiet …
“Well, fuckin stop doin it then, ya evil bastard!”
Sorry, I copied and pasted, and thought that last sentence read, f***in.
1) U2 is still good. sorry they don’t write hooks, they write incredible deep songs that make you think past your catchy hooks and yes the music is still good. This album is better than the last few.
2) Yes it was a mistake to not include the iPhone for this app, considering they are probably more iPhones at their concerts now than blackberry.
3) U2 has contributed more than any band to AIDS relief, and continue to do so. They do more than raise “awareness”(which is a cop out not to give your money), they actually give a good bit of their profits to the cause.
4) You really think blackberry was going to allow them to have a U2 app on the iPhone, conflict of interest don’t you think.
5) U2 will come out with iTunes LPs for all their records, they aren’t that stupid in business making decisions. After all it’s RIM who’s fronting the bill for a worldwide tour, and Palm they did make that decision while Apple was still getting on their feet.
Bono? I liked him better when he was with Cher.
Somehow, I think U2 will still be able to sleep tonight. Sorry, MDN, but this is just stupid.
Prattle and Strum
so what. they know they are missing out on millions.
Quit knocking on U2, they still put out great music, sorry kids and drones, they’re aren’t any “hooks” or cool dance moves. This is music at it’s best, instrumentally and lyrically.
Blackberry Users:
… and I still, haven’t found ….
Uncle Al – is that was true – that is freakin hilarious.
As usual MDN’s takes are worth about 3 Courics…
Despite all the pettiness, Apple is still one of the few CE companies that supports the (Product)Red initiatives regularly. Please, somebody thump me in the head ‘cuz I really want one of those special edition shuffles and I don’t know why… Go Apple!
Mr. MacFisto & RIM – the mind boggles…
When is Bono going to change his name to Bondo? Oh wait, maybe that’s a trademark.
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What did Steve do to Bono?
I don’t get it – why all these shenanigans for music? These stupid exclusive deals are doing nothing for digital music.
Just sell the music, make it a fair price and let the consume decide what is good.
It seems like they still haven’t found the media player they’re looking for.
First the iPod, then the Pre, now the Blackberry, is there anyone U2 won’t take it up the ass for to earn a buck?
U2 have so totally sold out. They’re a disgrace to all that they once stood for.
Bono is a self-aggrandizing asshat
Bunch of paddy fuckwits….
Shite band, shite music
End of message
LOL! People ON THIS FORUM bagging on U2 for being perfect capitalists! You people slay me with your inconsistent positions.
FWIW, U2’s last album was very good. See the thing about music is – sometimes it takes more than one listen to get it. Especially if it’s worth anything.