Apple to Revamp Software Update?

MacRumors · Dec 5, 2003, 11:17 AM

ThinkSecret revives rumors that Apple will open up software update to certain developers to allow 3rd party software updates to be delivered through Apple's Mac OS X Software Update Control Panel.

The rumor first reported in Jan 2003, but has not made its way into Mac OS X yet.

hobbes3113 · Dec 5, 2003, 11:20 AM

This would be a welcome upgrade to an otherwise perfect program...

mainstreetmark · Dec 5, 2003, 11:24 AM

I've been wanting this for a while now. I like running the latest stuff, but don't like constantly checking.

macnews · Dec 5, 2003, 11:25 AM

This would be a nice feature on the pro end. I hate having to go to adobe's site and be checking if they fixed the latest Illustrator or Photoshop bug.

ratspg · Dec 5, 2003, 11:26 AM

I guess we'll have to call it VersionTracker Plus Plus. heh

ITR 81 · Dec 5, 2003, 11:27 AM

Sounds good. Now lets see it happen.

pgwalsh · Dec 5, 2003, 11:30 AM

about friggin time.

cgc · Dec 5, 2003, 11:31 AM

Or they could call it Software Update Extreme.

AirUncleP · Dec 5, 2003, 11:37 AM

I think we have all been waiting for this.

pgwalsh · Dec 5, 2003, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cgc
Or they could call it Software Update Extreme.

haha... right and it will be added to .mac - so you'll have to pay for it.

kuyu · Dec 5, 2003, 11:41 AM

great idea. This further separates pc complexity and mac simplicity.

pgwalsh · Dec 5, 2003, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kuyu
great idea. This further separates pc complexity and mac simplicity.

Well sort of.. You can get some 3rd party driver updates through windows update.

The real gold would be patches, drivers and notification's of newer versions.

stoid · Dec 5, 2003, 11:46 AM

Since Apple has apparently spent hundreds of man hours developing this, it will label every update as 'critical' just like every Windows patch to give the programmers a feeling of accomplishment.

wdlove · Dec 5, 2003, 11:49 AM

I hope that this revamp will allow for greater access and improved software for all of us. They could call it iUpdate.

JohnGillilan · Dec 5, 2003, 11:53 AM

It will be funny to see "Software Update" appear as an update in the current version of it.

supertex · Dec 5, 2003, 12:02 PM

I don't know, call me ignorant (which as a criminology major, I could easily be concerning computing issues), but would releasing access to Software Update be an easy way for any kind of attack on a system, pretend you're an update to Chess or something and then all of a sudden WHAM! kernel panics galore? I imagine Software Update gets root level access to install stuff once you give it your password. Makes me feel warm and cozy knowing Apple is the only one I'm gonna hear from in there...

NO!! Even worse!! People spamming my Software Update offering cute little apps that put dancing girls on my desktop... <shudder>

Then again, maybe I don't know what the crap I'm talking about, it's been known to happen before...

johnnyjibbs · Dec 5, 2003, 12:04 PM

You could have a point. I suppose it would only be available to licensed developers, maybe even just Adobe to begin with.

supertex · Dec 5, 2003, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnnyjibbs
You could have a point. I suppose it would only be available to licensed developers, maybe even just Adobe to begin with.

All the same, I don't know that I trust anybody but Apple with it, I'd have to watch my back... some crazy cracked-out windozehead decides he wants to drag OS X down into the pit along with them...

hobbes3113 · Dec 5, 2003, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by supertex
would releasing access to Software Update be an easy way for any kind of attack on a system, pretend you're an update to Chess or something and then all of a sudden WHAM! kernel panics galore?

I imagine that this is something that will be carefully monitored by Apple. I'm sure they would never allow something like this to happen. I agree with johnnyjibbs in that only licensed developers would be allowed access, the rumor even hints at this.

Flowbee · Dec 5, 2003, 12:15 PM

And there would hopefully be a way that the user could choose which vendor they would like updates from. Plus, you would certainly still be able to choose which updates to download and which to ignore.

applekid · Dec 5, 2003, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pgwalsh
Well sort of.. You can get some 3rd party driver updates through windows update.

The real gold would be patches, drivers and notification's of newer versions.

Allowing the next batch of Mac users to call "Software Update" spyware. That's what happened to the Windows updating program. Anything that phones home is considered spyware it seems, even if it is for a reasonable cause.

As long as the downloads and updating stay reliable, I'm not going to say anything.

supertex · Dec 5, 2003, 12:17 PM

Oh I'm sure Apple will monitor it closely, don't get me wrong, but all the same it gives me the creeps...

robotrenegade · Dec 5, 2003, 12:18 PM

That's sounds awesome!!! I hope Adobe and macromedia jump on the wagon.

dguisinger · Dec 5, 2003, 12:24 PM

Microsoft recently updated Windows Update and marged functionality with Windows Bug Reporter.

For example, when Developer Studio crashed while working on an HTML page last week, I submitted the bug like normal thru the popup dialog. Instead of just saying thank you for reporting the bug, it said Microsoft had released a fix to the problem, and let me click directly into Windows Update to download the Internet Explorer fix.

It would be awsome to see Apple utilize the same technique, allowing you to report bugs, and then be told that hey, the bug which caused this crash has been fixed, don't be lazy, go install the update.

JoeRadar · Dec 5, 2003, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pgwalsh
The real gold would be patches, drivers and notification's of newer versions.

A roll-back option (which XP already supports) would be nice. If an update screws something up (like when people had problems with 10.2.8), being able to roll-back to a previous point is important.

Another configurable feature I would like to see is being able to specify how long an update has been out before my system downloads the update. For example, I would like to wait a week before upgrading, letting other people take the early risks.

Dec 5, 2003, 11:17 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Apple to Revamp Software Update? ThinkSecret revives rumors that Apple will open up software update to certain developers to allow 3rd party software updates to be delivered through Apple's Mac OS X Software Update Control Panel. The rumor first reported in Jan 2003, but has not made its way into Mac OS X yet.

Dec 5, 2003, 11:20 AM	#2
hobbes3113 macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NYC	This would be a welcome upgrade to an otherwise perfect program... __________________ "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill

Dec 5, 2003, 11:24 AM	#3
mainstreetmark macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL	I've been wanting this for a while now. I like running the latest stuff, but don't like constantly checking. __________________ iTunesRegistry.com <-- v3.0 Now Playing

Dec 5, 2003, 11:26 AM	#5
ratspg macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA	nice I guess we'll have to call it VersionTracker Plus Plus. heh

Dec 5, 2003, 11:30 AM	#7
pgwalsh macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Menlo Park, CA	about friggin time. __________________ My Widget: F@H WUdget My Business: KAHE Sparkling Nectars

Dec 5, 2003, 11:25 AM	#4
macnews macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Idaho	This would be a nice feature on the pro end. I hate having to go to adobe's site and be checking if they fixed the latest Illustrator or Photoshop bug.

Dec 5, 2003, 11:27 AM	#6
ITR 81 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2003	Sounds good. Now lets see it happen.

Dec 5, 2003, 11:31 AM	#8
cgc macrumors regular Join Date: May 2003 Location: California	Or they could call it Software Update Extreme.

Dec 5, 2003, 11:37 AM	#9
AirUncleP macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: USA	bout time I think we have all been waiting for this. __________________ plaid pants......and an argyal sweater......No he's not retarded! McToast gets it.......do you?

Dec 5, 2003, 11:41 AM	#11
kuyu macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Louisville	great idea. This further separates pc complexity and mac simplicity. __________________ If it plugs in I have one. If it goes fast I want one.

Dec 5, 2003, 11:46 AM	#13
stoid macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: So long, and thanks for all the fish!	Since Apple has apparently spent hundreds of man hours developing this, it will label every update as 'critical' just like every Windows patch to give the programmers a feeling of accomplishment. __________________ Get Salted!

Dec 5, 2003, 11:49 AM	#14
wdlove macrumors 604 Join Date: Oct 2002	I hope that this revamp will allow for greater access and improved software for all of us. They could call it iUpdate. __________________ First MacRumors "Contributor"

Dec 5, 2003, 11:53 AM	#15
JohnGillilan macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles	It will be funny to see "Software Update" appear as an update in the current version of it. __________________ "If you've got beef, eat a porkchop." -- Coolio

Dec 5, 2003, 12:02 PM	#16
supertex macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Louisiana State University	I don't know, call me ignorant (which as a criminology major, I could easily be concerning computing issues), but would releasing access to Software Update be an easy way for any kind of attack on a system, pretend you're an update to Chess or something and then all of a sudden WHAM! kernel panics galore? I imagine Software Update gets root level access to install stuff once you give it your password. Makes me feel warm and cozy knowing Apple is the only one I'm gonna hear from in there... NO!! Even worse!! People spamming my Software Update offering cute little apps that put dancing girls on my desktop... <shudder> Then again, maybe I don't know what the crap I'm talking about, it's been known to happen before... __________________ Remember The Alamo!!!!

Dec 5, 2003, 12:04 PM	#17
johnnyjibbs macrumors 68030 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London, UK	You could have a point. I suppose it would only be available to licensed developers, maybe even just Adobe to begin with. __________________ johngriffithsapps.com - Get It Done! \| Grocery Checkout 15" MBP, iPhone 3G, 12" PB, iPod 4G, iPod shuffle

Dec 5, 2003, 12:15 PM	#20
Flowbee macrumors 68030 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Alameda, CA	And there would hopefully be a way that the user could choose which vendor they would like updates from. Plus, you would certainly still be able to choose which updates to download and which to ignore. __________________ Podophile.com >> Home of Nike+iPod hacks and FAQs.

Dec 5, 2003, 12:17 PM	#22
supertex macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Louisiana State University	Oh I'm sure Apple will monitor it closely, don't get me wrong, but all the same it gives me the creeps... __________________ Remember The Alamo!!!!

Dec 5, 2003, 12:18 PM	#23
robotrenegade macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Greenville,SC	That's sounds awesome!!! I hope Adobe and macromedia jump on the wagon. __________________ 60GB iPod \| 17" Mac Book Pro \| Mac OS 10.5.4 \| 8GB iphone

Dec 5, 2003, 12:24 PM	#24
dguisinger macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2002	Microsoft recently updated Windows Update and marged functionality with Windows Bug Reporter. For example, when Developer Studio crashed while working on an HTML page last week, I submitted the bug like normal thru the popup dialog. Instead of just saying thank you for reporting the bug, it said Microsoft had released a fix to the problem, and let me click directly into Windows Update to download the Internet Explorer fix. It would be awsome to see Apple utilize the same technique, allowing you to report bugs, and then be told that hey, the bug which caused this crash has been fixed, don't be lazy, go install the update.

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