Highlights from U2+iPod Event

I watched the U2+iPod music event yesterday. There were quite a few entertaining moments. Although the huge tease is that the video at one point shows footage of Bono and The Edge performing a piano-and-vocal-only version Original of the Species and then skips ahead to the end of the performance! I guess I can understand why they did it. The alternative is that every U2 fan in the known universe descends on the Apple video stream server. Still.

Vertigo is breaking all sorts of records at the iTunes store. The "Complete U2" box set is interesting too. I didn't realize it's only available in digital form. Apparently, at 400 tracks, a physical representation would consume over 30 CDs. It's $149 which sounds like a lot until you consider that songs are usually $1 each.

The Edge said he's known as the technology guy in U2, which "isn't saying much, but if the printer won't work, I'm the guy they call up." Reflecting on U2's work thus far, Bono told the audience "I can't hope you'll ever forgive the mullet." Bono also mentioned they teamed up with Apple because Edge wanted some scientist friends to play with.

In a more reflective tone, Bono was talking the nature of Apple products, and said "The job of art is to chase ugliness away." And as if to justify all the hard work by Apple folks, he went on to say:

Apple have made beautiful machines. There is a poetic side to their technology that we appreciate.

For years, people involved in this stuff have struggled with trying to define why anybody would put so much energy into describing the differences between what Apple makes and any other bucket of bolts -- and there Bono does it in one stroke.

Though nothing could be more entertaining than the fact that Bono refers to Johnathan Ives as "Johnny iPod."

Josh said they stopped by at Pixar later for a screening.

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