Mika writes columns on "Corriere della Sera"

So, Mika is back to wrinting and this time is for the italian magazine Corriere Della Sera!

According to what Barbara Stefanelli (director of the newspaper) said on Twitter, there will be many more in the next weeks!

Here's his first column:

Italian: http://www.corriere.it/cultura/14_settembre_24/mika-la-stecca-di-apple-regalo-non-s-impone-ca806e72-43be-11e4-bbc2-282fa2f68a02.shtml

English: http://www.corriere.it/english/14_settembre_24/u2gate-cb5723e0-43be-11e4-bbc2-282fa2f68a02.shtml

He talks about Apple and the U2's album

- About WORLD'S AIDS DAY

English: http://www.mikafanclub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4051851&postcount=44

Italian: http://www.corriere.it/salute/14_novembre_30/indifferenza-discriminazione-storia-eduardo-lotta-all-hiv-f49c1a16-78d5-11e4-9707-4e704182e518.shtml

Thanks Lucrezia for opening the thread, we definitely need it!

I'm copying a couple of posts from the Italian Press thread about the column

thanks girls!

La stecca di Apple

Un regalo non s’impone http://www.corriere.it/cultura/14_settembre_24/mika-la-stecca-di-apple-regalo-non-s-impone-ca806e72-43be-11e4-bbc2-282fa2f68a02.shtml

 

Thanks a lot for the links !!

 

[copy and paste]

http://www.corriere.it/english/14_settembre_24/u2gate-cb5723e0-43be-11e4-bbc2-282fa2f68a02.shtml

 

 

This has nothing to do with U2.

It actually has hardly anything to do with music either.

When Apple ebulliently placed U2’s latest album into our iTunes libraries without asking, they inadvertently called into question the sanctity and privacy of every Apple customer’s personal space.

Apple is a company that has built itself upon excellence, emotionally intelligent design and caring for its customers.

More than a ‘love mark’ it has developed trust.

 

I believe the U2 promo stunt was a terrible and worrying move and here is why.

iTunes is the last major global retailer of Music.

Music has played a huge part in the story and branding of Apple.

It was through music and design that they established themselves as more than just another white collar orientated hardware manufacturer.

iTunes and the iPod changed the way the world purchased music but also the way we organized and valued our digital libraries.

Whether content was purchased or stolen, the digital library finally had a user friendly interface and an elegant piece of hardware to make it part of your daily life.

The digital library was made real.

Apple gave all of us the ability to choose and curate our own libraries to suit our own tastes.

We may all have the same hardware but its what’s inside that defines who we are, and that is untouchable.

Or is it?

My iPhone and Mac book are my major portals to the outside world.

I write emails for work on them, emails for love or heartbreak.

I check my bank account, do my shopping, read the news even sometimes guiltily check out porn.

From the essential to the trashy it all happens in there.

My computer is my living room and my iTunes library, the bookcase in that living room.

Basically it’s my space and an intimate one.

If I broke into your house, left a book on your shelf, amongst all your other books, left without a trace and let you know afterwards, not only would you be furious but it would be illegal.

 

The iTunes library is no different.

They can promote however they want in the Store but the Library should be protected.

The truth is it isn’t.

Media analysts say that this is just another example of consumers falling victim to the ‘small print’ but never before has Apple had a marketing operation get such negative response.

They have come across as a sneaky landlord and more worryingly, jeopardized the trust between them and their clients.

I guess this is what happens when you rent your land, buy your house and even lease your furniture all from the same person.

The power you are granting them is immense and should not be abused in any way.

The truth is, no matter how many iPhones, mp3s, iPads and iStuff we buy, the purchased content in that Library is not ours, not like CDs and vinyls used to be, we are only leasing it.

This is not a bad thing, infact it’s the best way for the music industry to evolve, especially as we become used to the idea of subscription streaming such as Spotify or Apple’s eagerly anticipated Beats service.

Think of it as a return to the public library system, just lest dusty and more noisy.

Still what we choose to store in our private libraries is sacred.

The world may be getting more high tech, but the oldest retail rule in the book “that the customer is king (or at least let us believe it)” still stands.

As Apple launches its first new consumer product in 6 years, I can’t help but feel that the one thing it needs to sell it has been jeopardized, trust.

I translated into French:

http://www.corriere.it/english/14_settembre_24/u2gate-cb5723e0-43be-11e4-bbc2-282fa2f68a02.shtml

I believe the U2 promo stunt was a terrible and worrying move and here is why. iTunes is the last major global retailer of Music. Music has played a huge part in the story and branding of Apple. It was through music and design that they established themselves as more than just another white collar orientated hardware manufacturer. iTunes and the iPod changed the way the world purchased music but also the way we organised and valued our digital libraries. Whether content was purchased or stolen, the digital library finally had a user friendly interface and an elegant piece of hardware to make it part of your daily life. The digital library was made real. Apple gave all of us the ability to choose and curate our own libraries to suit our own tastes. We may all have the same hardware but its what’s inside that defines who we are, and that is untouchable. Or is it? My iPhone and Mac book are my major portals to the outside world. I write emails for work on them, emails for love or heartbreak. I check my bank account, do my shopping, read the news even sometimes guiltily check out porn. From the essential to the trashy it all happens in there. My computer is my living room and my iTunes library, the bookcase in that living room. Basically it’s my space and an intimate one. If I broke into your house, left a book on your shelf, amongst all your other books, left without a trace and let you know afterwards, not only would you be furious but it would be illegal.

The iTunes library is no different. They can promote however they want in the Store but the Library should be protected. The truth is it isn’t. Media analysts say that this is just another example of consumers falling victim to the ‘small print’ but never before has Apple had a marketing operation get such negative response. They have come across as a sneaky landlord and more worryingly, jeopardised the trust between them and their clients. I guess this is what happens when you rent your land, buy your house and even lease your furniture all from the same person. The power you are granting them is immense and should not be abused in any way. The truth is, no matter how many iPhones, mp3s, iPads and iStuff we buy, the purchased content in that Library is not ours, not like CDs and vinyls used to be, we are only leasing it. This is not a bad thing, infact it’s the best way for the music industry to evolve, especially as we become used to the idea of subscription streaming such as Spotify or Apple’s eagerly anticipated Beats service. Think of it as a return to the public library system, just lest dusty and more noisy. Still what we choose to store in our private libraries is sacred. The world may be getting more high tech, but the oldest retail rule in the book “that the customer is king (or at least let us believe it)” still stands. As Apple launches its first new consumer product in 6 years, I can’t help but feel that the one thing it needs to sell it has been jeopardised, trust.

24 settembre 2014 | 09:48

http://www.corriere.it/english/14_settembre_24/u2gate-cb5723e0-43be-11e4-bbc2-282fa2f68a02.shtml

Ceci n'a rien à voir avec U2. En fait ça a peu de rapport avec la musique. Quand Apple a mis le dernier album de U2 dans notre librairie avec effervescence sans même demander, ils ont par inadvertence remis en question le côté privé et sacré de cet espace personnel de chaque client Apple. Apple est une compagnie qui s'est construite sur les concepts de l'excellence, de l'intelligence en matière de design intuitif et de la façon dont il prennent soins de leur clientèle. Ce n'est pas une marque "coup de coeur", mais une marque qui symbolise la confiance.

Je pense que la promotion cavalière de U2 a été d'une terrible maladresse et qu'il y a de quoi se faire du souci. Et voilà pourquoi je pense cela: Itune est le dernier grand détaillant mondial de musique. La musique a joué un énorme rôle à la fois dans l'historique et dans le développement de l'image de marque d'Apple. C'est à travers la musique et le design qu'ils se sont taillés une place à part dans le secteur des fabriquants de supports differents destinés aux cols blancs. ITunes et l'IPod ont non seulement changé la façon dont on achète la musique dans le monde, mais aussi notre manière d'organiser et de de mettre en valeur nos librairies digitales. Que le contenu soit acheté ou volé, la librairie digitale avait enfin une interface conviviale et un matériel technologique élégant s'intégrant dans notre vie quotidienne. La librairie digitale était née. Apple nous donnait la capacité de choisir et de gérer nos propres librairies selon nos goûts personnels. Nous avons peut être tous le même lecteur de musique mais ce qui est à l'intérieur définit notre propre personne, et cela est intouchable. Ou pas? Mon Iphone et mon Mac book constituent mes portes de sorties principales vers le monde extérieur. J'y écris mes e-mails dans le cadre de mon travail et aussi des e-mails privés qui sont des lettres d'amou ou de désespoir. Je vérifie mon compte en banque, je fais mes achats, je prends connaissance de l'actualité et parfois je me rends coupable de jetter un oeil sur un site pornographique. De l'essentiel au moins avouable, tout se passe en ligne. Mon ordinateur est mon salon et ma librairie ITune l'étagère de livres du même salon. Pour résumer, c'est mon espace privé et donc intime. Si je rentrais dans votre maison, si j'ajoutais un livre sur cette étagère, parmis tous vos autres livres, et que je repartais sans laisser de traces et que vous l'appreniez après, non seulement vous seriez furieux, mais en plus ça serait illégal.

C'est la même chose pour la librairie ITune. Ils peuvent promouvoir tout ce qu'ils veulent dans la boutique, mais la librairie devrait être protégée. La vérité c'est qu'elle ne l'est pas. Les analystes de médias disent que ce n'est qu'un des nombreux exemples des consommateurs piègés parce qu'ils ne lisent pas les" petits caractères", mais jamais auparavant Apple n'a affectué d'opération commerciale engendrant des réactions aussi négatives. Ils sont entrés tels un propriétaire sournois chez un locataire, et le plus inquiétant c'est qu'en agissant ainsi, ils ont entaché la confiance que leurs clients avaient placé en eux. Je suppose que c'est similaire à ce qui se arrive quand vous achetez votre terrain, vous louez votre voiture , ainsi que vos meubles à la même personne. Le pouvoir que vous leur donnez est immense et ils ne devraient en abuser d'aucune façon. La vérité c'est que peu importe le nombre d'IPhones, de mp3, d'IPad et de ITrucs que nous possédons, le contenu de la bibliothèque que nous avons acheté ne nous appartient pas, contrairement aux CDs et des vinyles qui étaient notre propriété, nous les louons seulement. Ce qui n'est pas mauvais en soi, en fait c'est la meilleure évolution possible pour l'industrie de la musique, d'autant plus que nous nous sommes habitués à l'idée de la diffusion à la demande, comme avec Spotify ou Beats (service similaire d' Apple attendu avec impatience) On peut le comparer à une librairie publique virtuelle, en moins poussiéreux et moins bruyant. Cependant choisir nous même ce que contient notre librairie privée est sacré. Le monde devient peut être de plus en plus accroc à la technologie de pointe, mais la plus ancienne règle commerciale qui dit que "le client est roi" (ou du moins qu'on doit le lui laisser croire) est toujours d'actualité. Au moment ou Apple se prépare à proposer un nouveau produit à ses clients (au bout de six ans) , je ne peux m'empêcher de penser qu'Apple ferait mieux d'essayer de retrouver la pleine confiance de ces clients laquelle a été totalement compromise.

24 septembre 2014

Oh! This is awesome! I'm so glad there's going to be more! (And that the English versions are posted right away! )

And I agree with him completely. I never used itunes, I didn't trust it, and this incident just confirmed my feelings. It doesn't matter that it's free, it doesn't matter that I can't stand U2 or Bono () it's a violation to put something in your library without your consent!

The world may be getting more high tech, but the oldest retail rule in the book “that the customer is king (or at least let us believe it)” still stands. As Apple launches its first new consumer product in 6 years, I can’t help but feel that the one thing it needs to sell it has been jeopardised, trust.

Someone needs to re-read what they wrote and exchange "I" for "Apple".

Someone needs to re-read what they wrote and exchange "I" for "Apple".

Someone needs to re-read what they wrote and exchange "I" for "Apple".

You know, I couldn't help but think that myself. I mean, speaking as a customer of Mika's, about breaking the trust...

But whatever.

Mika's column aside, I have to say that I can't get that excited about the U2 thing. Every time I've bought a computer, it's had pre-loaded music and/or videos -- stuff that I would never buy myself. Frequently when I download new software, they try to give me add-ons that I don't want. I'm not sure that this is that much different. If I don't want the music or the video or the software they give me, I just delete it. But I actually *want* the new U2 album and am happy to not have to pay for it. iTunes didn't "break into" my music library, I gave them permission to upgrade my system and they did and they included the option to download the U2 album along with it. Maybe I'm looking at it differently, but I'm not that bothered. Did it really upset that many people?

You know, I couldn't help but think that myself. I mean, speaking as a customer of Mika's, about breaking the trust...

 

But whatever.

 

Mika's column aside, I have to say that I can't get that excited about the U2 thing. Every time I've bought a computer, it's had pre-loaded music and/or videos -- stuff that I would never buy myself. Frequently when I download new software, they try to give me add-ons that I don't want. I'm not sure that this is that much different. If I don't want the music or the video or the software they give me, I just delete it. But I actually *want* the new U2 album and am happy to not have to pay for it. iTunes didn't "break into" my music library, I gave them permission to upgrade my system and they did and they included the option to download the U2 album along with it. Maybe I'm looking at it differently, but I'm not that bothered. Did it really upset that many people?

exactly, this seems to be the reality. So what big deal?

You know, I couldn't help but think that myself. I mean, speaking as a customer of Mika's, about breaking the trust...

 

But whatever.

 

Mika's column aside, I have to say that I can't get that excited about the U2 thing. Every time I've bought a computer, it's had pre-loaded music and/or videos -- stuff that I would never buy myself. Frequently when I download new software, they try to give me add-ons that I don't want. I'm not sure that this is that much different. If I don't want the music or the video or the software they give me, I just delete it. But I actually *want* the new U2 album and am happy to not have to pay for it. iTunes didn't "break into" my music library, I gave them permission to upgrade my system and they did and they included the option to download the U2 album along with it. Maybe I'm looking at it differently, but I'm not that bothered. Did it really upset that many people?

yes it did. One of the arts columnist at the Montreal Gazette made a big deal about it. And I saw many people agreeing with him.

I tweeted him the link to Mika's article, which he found "nice":thumb_yello:

Oh! This is awesome! I'm so glad there's going to be more! (And that the English versions are posted right away! )

Yes! Nice column I don't have that many Apple products so the subject itself doesn't really mean much to me, but I love the style of the column. Good and clear points, but also very personal touches.

You know, I couldn't help but think that myself. I mean, speaking as a customer of Mika's, about breaking the trust...

 

But whatever.

 

Mika's column aside, I have to say that I can't get that excited about the U2 thing. Every time I've bought a computer, it's had pre-loaded music and/or videos -- stuff that I would never buy myself. Frequently when I download new software, they try to give me add-ons that I don't want. I'm not sure that this is that much different. If I don't want the music or the video or the software they give me, I just delete it. But I actually *want* the new U2 album and am happy to not have to pay for it. iTunes didn't "break into" my music library, I gave them permission to upgrade my system and they did and they included the option to download the U2 album along with it. Maybe I'm looking at it differently, but I'm not that bothered. Did it really upset that many people?

I agree, don't understand this faux outrage. If anyone thought Apple/iTunes was less intrusive before this they were incredibly naive. The emails he talks about don't just live on his computer. They travel through multiple servers on their way to their destination. Nothing is private. Come on it's not 1995.

Oh and I just wanted to say this analogy with someone breaking into your house is absurd. You voluntarily connect your computer to their server which is where the U2 album came from. If you don't want Apple leaving stuff in your computer then don't give them a key.

I'm going to paste what I wrote in the other thread, as it was the wrong place to write it, and add something as well.

I think that you can complain about privacy policies not being respected by a company, but I don't agree on using a pretext about a free music gift in order to complain.

You are pissed that companies use to spy on your habits? Fine, let's talk about that. But they'll do it anyway, it doesn't depend on a free cd they threw in your device. It's not like it's a trojan virus.

People either complain about music being expensive or about music being free, it looks like people always must complain about something.

He said that it's like a prying landlord sneaking in your flat to drop a book for you.

Well, if the landlord's been prying for ages, the least he can do is to give me a book once in a while.

Then it's up to me to read it or not, but it's not making the privacy issues any worse. That landlord already probably knows even the colour of my panties.

please note that you can comment on the english version as well, at the bottom of the article

please note that you can comment on the english version as well, at the bottom of the article

I'm puzzled now

Anyway, will those new columns be released like once a week or just randomly?

Thanks for the link

Is the illustration from Yasmine ?

Its actually weird because I do have Itunes but i didn't get the U2 album and I don't know why haha

Great to see him writing a column again, always interested to see his take on the world. And happy we are getting the English version at the same time:thumb_yello:

I'm puzzled now

 

Anyway, will those new columns be released like once a week or just randomly?

I don't know This one just sort of came out of the blue, didn't it? I can't imagine he'll do them as often as weekly, but it would be great if he did.

In any case, I'm happy to read new columns by Mika, don't get me wrong. I just don't happen to have the same opinion as he does on this particular subject.

Thanks for the link

 

Is the illustration from Yasmine ?

 

 

Its actually weird because I do have Itunes but i didn't get the U2 album and I don't know why haha

Not everyone did. I saw some moans from people who didn't

I'm going to paste what I wrote in the other thread, as it was the wrong place to write it, and add something as well.

 

I think that you can complain about privacy policies not being respected by a company, but I don't agree on using a pretext about a free music gift in order to complain.

You are pissed that companies use to spy on your habits? Fine, let's talk about that. But they'll do it anyway, it doesn't depend on a free cd they threw in your device. It's not like it's a trojan virus.

People either complain about music being expensive or about music being free, it looks like people always must complain about something.

He said that it's like a prying landlord sneaking in your flat to drop a book for you.

Well, if the landlord's been prying for ages, the least he can do is to give me a book once in a while.

Then it's up to me to read it or not, but it's not making the privacy issues any worse. That landlord already probably knows even the colour of my panties.

I wish my landlady left free things in my room every once in a while. The only thing I get is notes about things.

Great to see him writing a column again, always interested to see his take on the world. And happy we are getting the English version at the same time:thumb_yello:

Indeed!

I wish my landlady left free things in my room every once in a while. The only thing I get is notes about things.

And that's what Apple did. It stopped by and drop a gift for a change.

You don't whine about it, you say thanks and then either you use the gift or you dump it when they are gone.

If you don't like their attitude you can change flat. I like Android flats for instance. They aren't that strict.

If you loathe the rental system either you suck it up or you move to Kalahari and live among aborigines.

But in any case, if you are picking on the gift topic, you're missing the point.

I'm puzzled now

 

Anyway, will those new columns be released like once a week or just randomly?

I don't know This one just sort of came out of the blue, didn't it? I can't imagine he'll do them as often as weekly, but it would be great if he did.

 

In any case, I'm happy to read new columns by Mika, don't get me wrong. I just don't happen to have the same opinion as he does on this particular subject.

Yup, there will be more in the next few weeks/months. The director of the magazine replied to me on Twitter that he will continue to write for them so let's wait for the next one

And that's what Apple did. It stopped by and drop a gift for a change.

You don't whine about it, you say thanks and then either you use the gift or you dump it when they are gone.

If you don't like their attitude you can change flat. I like Android flats for instance. They aren't that strict.

If you loathe the rental system either you suck it up or you move to Kalahari and live among aborigines.

But in any case, if you are picking on the gift topic, you're missing the point.

The only thing I got from Apple is the Itune soft on my pc and the only song I bought there is Mika's Boum Boum Boum as it was the only legal way I could get it (my daughter said she would but she kept forgetting ) and physical singles seem to be a thing of the past now

And I don't like U2 but I now wonder if it's in my library along with Boum Boum Boum now

And Sylvie I love my android flat as well