Bono Miffed Apple Wouldn’t Let Him Design iPods

Pete Mortensen ()

U2’s lead singer Bono recently revealed in an interview with a DJ in Toronto that his ego knows no bounds. The band’s quiet break-up with Apple in favor of first Palm and now RIM? Well, it’s all because Steve Jobs wouldn’t let him help out with the hardware and software design of the U2-branded iPod.

“[RIM] is going to give us what Apple wouldn’t — access to their labs and their people so we can do something really spectacular,” Bono told Alan Cross.

Hmm. While I’ve always been impressed with U2’s ability to design an experience, ala ZooTV and the PopMart Tour, I can’t say that I have any confidence that U2’s input could have in any way, shape, or form improved the iPod. I’ll trust Apple’s creatives more than U2’s…singer.

This collaboration has fail written all over it.

DON'T MISS
RIM to Sponsor U2 Tour: It’s Only Rock & Roll

Globe and Mail via Electronista via Digg

11 comments »

About the author

Petemortensen

Pete Mortensen is a design strategist for consulting firm Jump Associates and the co-author of Wired to Care: How Companies Prosper When They Create Widespread Empathy, a book and blog that are significantly more interesting than you might initially think. Pete's particular Apple avocations are both around design--interface and industrial. Follow him on Twitter!

(sorry, you need Javascript to see this e-mail address)| Read more posts by .

Posted in iPhone, iPod |

  • Manula

    Bono is a partner in Elevation, a private equity firm that owns about half of Palm. Connect the dots.

  • Church of Apple

    I laughed my ass off when I read this on MacNN.

  • imajoebob

    Jeez Paulie, get a clue. The U2 iPod was a great piece of design. Both striking and understated, It had just enough visual cachet, but made your music an equal, if not larger part of the (initial) introduction.

    What would you have done different? Put some ugly graphic on the front case? Besides quality control, expense, and finding a manufacturer who can do it, it’s a great idea! Or maybe you wanted to be involved in the software? And Jobs will produce your next album. You raised a sh*tload of money from this player. but based on the press release I didn’t see anyone beside U2 getting the proceeds. And Apple distributed your massive box set without you having the expense of pressing a single CD. Not exactly the [product] RED iPod, was it?

    Go ahead with RIM. you’ve got a smaller potential market, less prestige, and principal users who can’t show up in meetings with phones that may look like something a low-level propeller head thinks is appropriate for the work environment. Yeah, that’s a lot better than an iPhone with a classy U2 logo on the back, a few specialized screen graphics, and exclusive U2 ring tones. Where do I get in line for the U2-berry?

  • http://none Joseph I’m a Mac

    Although I am a U2 fan, I am not impressed by the thought of Bono designing an iPod. Why doesn’t he let Steve Jobs co-write his next album?

  • Alan Moon

    Bad reporting. he said NOTHING about hardware. later in the article they mention software. you are making a leap saying U2 wanted to design an ipod.

  • CaryMG

    WAIT !!!!!11!!11OneThousandEleven!!11!!

    You all don’t understand — Bono’s a man of the PEOPLE, man!
    He was gonna make a PEOPLE’S iPod, man!
    But those imperialist coporate facsist running jackals over at Apple don’t seem to GET that, man!

  • http://www.bdp-1500.co.uk/ Blue Man

    Wonder how Bono would react if Steve Jobs asked him if he could start writing some of U2′s songs. What with saving the world from global warming, solving poverty in Africa and churning out mediocre music I’m surprised he’s got any time available.

  • David

    Why is Bono even popular? He sucks. His music sucks. Please get out of my radar.

  • Jeb

    Boy that reporting is so bad I’m not sure I’ll continue reading your site.

  • Fred_M.

    Sounds like Bono fancies himself as a real-life Buckaroo Banzai: Rock star, scientist, engineer, brilliant neurosurgeon, defender of the poor — a hero for us mere mortals.

    What a pretentious twat! But what do you expect from someone who insists on being called “Bono” when his real name is Paul David Hewson? And let’s not forget that he’s in a rock group with someone who goes by the moniker “The Edge.”

  • http://ochyming.wordpress.com Deocliciano Okssipin Vieira

    U2?

    Thrash!

    But they did not twisted apple harms, it was apple that messes with them.
    they do what they do best, business.

    Apple has OTHING to partner with such people.
    Coca Cola and Pepsi was bad enough!

    I hope they learn this time!