Rumor: Apple's 'iPhone 6' event may feature U2 tie-in
Bits of circumstantial evidence set the Apple rumor mill churning on Wednesday, with reports hinting U2 is somehow connected with the company's Sept. 9 media event expected to bring word of a new iPhone lineup.
As discovered by The Sunday Times, the rock band closed down Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin, Ireland last week to shoot a video some suggest ties in with Apple's iPhone media event.
Music promoter Stephen Browne managed to sneak a blurry-cam photo of the scene, saying on Twitter, "Looks like @U2 new album maybe preloaded on to iPhone6. The focus of the 'video' on the bridge last week was a phone." Seen above, the picture does appear to show a phone, though the "evidence" is anything but conclusive.
With the "iPhone 6" expected to be a highlight of next week's gathering, rumblings out of Dublin claim Apple will preload U2's upcoming album on one or more handset models, a move that would be unprecedented for a company intent on keeping "bloatware" down to a minimum.
Another rumor from Twitter came from CNET reporter Shara Tibken, who heard tell that U2 frontman Bono might make a special appearance at the Sept. 9 event, possibly as a performer. It has been speculated that a two-story structure Apple built outside of Flint Center -- the Sept. 9 event cite -- could serve as an impromptu stage for such a show.
Aside from being a friend of late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs and current SVP of Design Jony Ive, Bono has worked with the company through the (RED) initiative to fight AIDS. As of June, Apple has raised some $75 million for the worldwide charity by selling branded (RED) iPods and accessories.
Late last year, Ive joined forces with designer Marc Newson to auction off (RED)-themed items, including a one-of-a-kind Mac Pro that sold $977,000. Bono even had a hand in designing a pair of gold EarPods.
As discovered by The Sunday Times, the rock band closed down Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin, Ireland last week to shoot a video some suggest ties in with Apple's iPhone media event.
Music promoter Stephen Browne managed to sneak a blurry-cam photo of the scene, saying on Twitter, "Looks like @U2 new album maybe preloaded on to iPhone6. The focus of the 'video' on the bridge last week was a phone." Seen above, the picture does appear to show a phone, though the "evidence" is anything but conclusive.
With the "iPhone 6" expected to be a highlight of next week's gathering, rumblings out of Dublin claim Apple will preload U2's upcoming album on one or more handset models, a move that would be unprecedented for a company intent on keeping "bloatware" down to a minimum.
Another rumor from Twitter came from CNET reporter Shara Tibken, who heard tell that U2 frontman Bono might make a special appearance at the Sept. 9 event, possibly as a performer. It has been speculated that a two-story structure Apple built outside of Flint Center -- the Sept. 9 event cite -- could serve as an impromptu stage for such a show.
Aside from being a friend of late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs and current SVP of Design Jony Ive, Bono has worked with the company through the (RED) initiative to fight AIDS. As of June, Apple has raised some $75 million for the worldwide charity by selling branded (RED) iPods and accessories.
Late last year, Ive joined forces with designer Marc Newson to auction off (RED)-themed items, including a one-of-a-kind Mac Pro that sold $977,000. Bono even had a hand in designing a pair of gold EarPods.
Comments
Hopefully, not to sing "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."
Preloaded exclusively on the iPhone 5.5-inch.
As punishment.
UGH. Please let this not be true.
No better way to say you're "hip with the kids" than to pre-load some U2 on their phones.
They can't be this dumb. I don't believe it. Jimmy Iovine would quit in protest.
U2 are so 1980's and 90's. I would much rather see someone more relevant from this decade.
I don't think they would ever preload an album. Makes no sense. But what could make sense is U2 as a featured artist with a new hi-definition format in iTunes. That would actually make a LOT of sense moving forward to differentiate purchased iTunes content from lower bandwidth streaming content. Then the Beats deal starts to make more sense. Yes, a Lightning cable could send a whole lot more information to a headset than 3.5mm stereo and be processed on the headset for absolutely intense audio.
This decade is littered with trash talent.
This decade is littered with trash talent.
You got that right!
Yaoband. They love their ipads and they have a connection with Apple from being featured in a Verse story
Yaoband. They love their ipads and they have a connection with Apple from being featured in a Verse story
Nah.
Just because somebody uses an iPad to make music with, doesn't necessarily mean that the music is good.
I saw that commercial, and it was ok, but I can't exactly say that I remember the song.
They're not very good, TBH. But the speculation about the building being a stage is very likely, IMO. In fact, since the 30 days of iTunes music festival is going on right now, would the event ending at noon PST allow for a big act like U2 to live stream afterward and fit into the current schedule?
1) And not "Where the Streets Have No Name" if they are going to talk about Maps.
2) I could see "Beautiful," "One," "All I Want Is You," or "Pride"
Would he?
But the speculation about the building being a stage is very likely, IMO.
I agree. I can see this U2 rumor being true, and that "mysterious" building is in fact some sort of stage I think.
If U2 did come pre-loaded, or with a voucher, then they would instantly smash all music records in the first weekend. It would make Jay-Z's deal with Samsung look even more pathetic than it was.
Would he?
He's produced a few different U2 albums.
I've voiced my skepticism a few times in the past about "Beats", but there's no doubting that Iovine has produced a whole ton of famous artists before.
There's no way in hell Apple is going to preload any songs on their new iPhones, considering that hey KNOW the infinite variety of tastes of their consumers. Maybe they'll include an iTunes code you can redeem for a free album, which is fine by me.