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Apple Modifies Software Update for Windows

dabrace1984 said:
When in "Apple Software Update," go to the "Edit" menu and select "Preferences." A dialog box titled "Apple Software Update Preferences" will appear. Select the radio button for "Never."

After that, if you want, you can delete the "Apple Software Update" link in the Windows "Start Menu."
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I think he means just for new software not apps he currently has. And I agree. Still, good effort Apple.
 
tcoleman said:
I think you misunderstood me. I said "The only thing that is missing is the option to never tell me about new software again." I still would like to see updates, but not new software. A "don't spam me" checkbox, if you will.
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Or only displaying them once.
 
Eraserhead said:
Or only displaying them once.
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I agree - that would be more valuable than the "leave the checkbox off" option. Obviously, Apple is using some available (free!) means it has at it's disposal to propagate it's browser. They're at least listening enough to split updates from new software. Try downloading real-player or adobe acrobat sometime if you want some real fun. The fact that Apple has split new software out onto it's own "pane" at least means you can easily identify it. That's more than a lot of companies would do in the same situation.

But a checkbox saying "don't ask me about <Safari> again" (where <Safari> would be replaced by whatever new software could show up there) would also be a really classy touch. I don't expect it to happen, but it would be nice.
 
Doesn't this remind anyone of the google toolbar? Anyone ever install Adobe flash or anything else adobe before. It automatically tries to install the Google toolbar with it.
 
I was wondering who installed Safari on my computer. :p

I'll probably keep it so I can test my Website for Safari users whenever I add a new code.
 
I am a recent Mac Convert, buying my first MacBook (and Air). I have long been a Windows user - both home and at work.

My main desktop is still a Windows machine here at home.

I do get rather annoyed with Apple on how their Windows software update almost seems to force Safari on people. The update screen doesn't just come up once, but over and over again - simply because you don't have Safari installed on your system. Also, whenever you do update Itunes, it always wants to install a shortcut in the quicklaunch bar for Quicktime (or Itunes - i can't remember) - and I have to manually delete it every time. Finally, the installer by default creates various startup programs on the Windows machine.

I don't like Apple's practices here. By default, they are adding programs and shortcuts you don't want - and have no control over stopping the installation of. Sure, the savvy user can dig deep into some options to turn these off, but next time you update itunes and/or quicktime - they are back. These are the type of practices I would least expect from Apple. I'm happy for the change in the Safari update dialog box, but I also feel it doesn't go far enough.
 
psychofreak said:
Fortunately, in part due to years of using Windows, I've grown wary of the internet. If that were not so, I may see Safari's lack of phishing tools as a really big downside, its awful that such a security-touting company doesn't put this feature in.
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Phishing is not indicative of what OS you're using. You can be a victim of phishing just as easily on a Mac than on a Windows machine. Not having phishing tools is a pretty big downside for the novice internet user, period.

The difference I see here between Apple and Microsoft, is that if Microsoft did it, they would be trying to retain and promote a browser majority. Apple on the other hand has a superior product (in my eyes), and is by far the underdog. Yes, there are advantages to being an Underdog in my mind.
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What does that have to do with anything? It's still sneeky and underhanded. Just because Safari is in the minority when it comes it internet browser does not excuse Apple.
 
thanks, Mozilla corp.

Lecturing from a Mozilla representative on misleading the consumer to ultimately attract revenue is a severe case of pot/kettle.

The not-for-profit "Mozilla Foundation" wholly owns the for-profit "Mozilla Corporation" which receives revenue from Google for searches from the default pages. Now, when installing Firefox, I never remember being asked whether I want to contribute toward this tax dodge.

I know, I know, I have to go to Preferences/Startup/Homepage. Suddenly, having to uncheck something listed under "New software" seems refreshingly explicit.

And they still have the cheek to ask you to "support the Foundation!" through tacky merchandise. At least with Internet Explorer you know where you are. (So you can more easily find the nearest exit.)
 
SkierDoc said:
I do get rather annoyed with Apple on how their Windows software update almost seems to force Safari on people.
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Select Safari 3.1.1 > Update (menu) > Ignore Update... (select)

or

Select Safari 3.1.1 > delete key

This has been covered many times. This is covered in the Apple Software Update help resource (built in).

But since the blogosphere has decided to go on a holy crusade people instead are told to complain and complain and not listen to anything constructive (because the blogosphere certainly isn't offering anything constructive, why would anyone else?)
 
kaiwai said:
Dear Mozilla representative,

I like good competition. I like seeing companies, organisations, individuals and so forth compete to make a better product that addresses the customers needs.

What I don't like, however, are whiners, whingers and complainers who think that their product is the born to dominate, that its everyone else's fault when they fail to grab more market-share.

For many year Mozilla gave us the Mac users the royal screw job (and still do), with the crap integration, to the crap use of native widgets, to the terrible performance. It has been pathetic on Windows, pathetic on Linux and pathetic on Mac OS X.

Maybe instead of whining over the fictional boogie man that you try and create over how Apple update displays new software - you get your A into G and make a product that will want to make me run it on my machine.

I've run Firefox 3.0 btw, and it is still atleast 3 years behind the quality I expect from a browser. I don't just want a browser, I want it properly integrated and making use of the features within my operating system. I'd also like it to realise that the world doesn't revolve around the US - is it too hard to include UK dictionary support?
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ok, but i think firefox is 100x better than IE
 
amoda said:
I have to agree with Asa. It's annoying and really just bad behaviour from Apple. If Microsoft was doing the same thing we'd be bashing them to oblivion.
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If Microsoft ever so much as thought about doing something like that to Mac users, the world may actually implode due to all the complaining.

I think people, more specifically Mac users, are a little less bothered by this since they [we] are the ones who know and love Apple's apps.
 
Should have a "No thanks and do not offer again", all new software products are offered once if you you were to click that. Unfortunatly there is no such option.

Should alsohave a "Not at this time, but remind me later" so if not convenient to download / install now, I can still get it later.

This gives the user options, It should also have a link to what the heck is Safari, lots of people would not know what it is

Why do we care what Mozila think?
 
Why assume that the user want to install a program he never asked for? An update is supposed to be a revision to existing programs, not a way to force your will on people.

This isn't good behavior and since I wouldn't tolerate it from Microsoft, I'm not going to tolerate it from Apple. Just because other companies do this doesn't make it acceptable. Two wrongs don't make a right. I hope I didn't encourage them by downloading Safari through software update.
 
:apple: also tries to get people to load Safari when they first visit a .Mac Gallery with a non Safari browser by putting up a splash page.

Kinda tacky IMHO.
 
Apple is not the first by any means. Attaching extras seems standard of many companies. How many times have you ended up with yahoo or google toolbar, windows users? It's attached to any of their programs you can download from them, mixed in to one of the seven screens you click "Continue" on, already clicked for your convenience.
 
Veri said:
The not-for-profit "Mozilla Foundation" wholly owns the for-profit "Mozilla Corporation" which receives revenue from Google for searches from the default pages. Now, when installing Firefox, I never remember being asked whether I want to contribute toward this tax dodge.
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Almost every web page you ever go to makes a few cents for someone. Many ads are paid for with a flat advertising fee or by number of impressions. And if you click on an ad you're definitely making money for someone. However, this doesn't have anything to do with whether it is moral have an op-out approach (rather than opt-in) for installing software or other things that affect me in some way. (It really doesn't change my life or my computer in the slightest if I help make a few cents here or there for Mozilla.)

I, for one, am sick of "opt-out" being the default. Any time you register for someone online now, there are usually several check boxes that are conveniently pre-selected, indicating your desire to receive large amounts of spam. Really, this type of thing is nothing new. It is no different that pushy salespeople who you have to fight with. I had to argue with a car dealer recently to get them to remove a bunch of bogus dealer-added crap that they wanted several hundred bucks for. Of course, now I hate the car dealer, so that worked out well. Getting ripped off, installing software I don't want, or getting spammed are things that actually do affect me.
 
I honestly don't get what the big deal is?! I really don't care... I've seen other companies do this, but they just took a different approach. But no one ever exploded about it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you get a chance to CANCEL, or uncheck Safari? If you somehow install Safari, can't you close the installation?
 
Good, they should never have done this in the first place... bundled software sucks.

Maybe a link on the itunes download page would have been better...
 
clevin said:
Its really just reduce the untrust-ness by 5%.

IDK, apple really need to understand how sensitive windows users are towards this type of act.
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Are you serious? Windows users should be used to this behavior from Microsoft. And while I'm on the subject of Microsoft, they certainly slide their crappy messenger and Silverlight software in Mac Office and I don't want any of that crap.
And please before anyone says we should expect better from Apple, why? Apple and Microsoft are the pirates of silicon valley, at the end of the day it's business.
 
I don't agree with Apple's move here. It's not about which browser is better, it's about pushing software on people. Sure, they have the option to deselect, but I can't tell you the number of times I have installed Google Toolbar (which I despise) simply because I forgot to uncheck the "Also install..." during some completely unrelated software update. I work in IT, so it's not lack of knowing what the option means. It's just habit of clicking through a standard update without reading every word on the screen. The option for Safari should appear, but be deselected by default.
 
This is a step in the right direction. I agree it should be unchecked by default. Its quit annoying to have to unchecked that every time. I'm happy with firefox on my windows systems; I'll stick with safari on my mac though now that it has improved.
 
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