Apple Software Update Deception
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For a while now, Apple Software Update will tell you the related update for a Quicktime only install is iTunes + Quicktime! No it isn’t, it is Quicktime that is installed and it is Quicktime that should be kept up to date. Not everyone wants to use iTunes!
However, we suppose it could be argued that a dependency exists that makes for a better computer set-up, so we’ll concede that one. But, now for the real gripe of this post and it is a peach and a half!
When did all Apple customers/users install Safari?
For those who don’t know, Safari is Apple’s Internet browser, in competition with Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Why is this update being offered to everyone running Apple Software Update? Proof below of how this works even on a system that hasn’t even looked at the Safari webpage, never mind going to the length of downloading and installing the browser.
The slightly good news is you can ignore the update by going into:
Tools -> Ignore Selected Update
We’re betting it won’t ignore the fact that we don’t want Safari and we’ll be offered it again and again and again as they release new versions!
However, the irritation isn’t over yet! Now Apple Software Update is popping up with a message inferring it can’t take a telling. No means NO! What part of that don’t you understand Apple?
This behaviour is totally unacceptable and reminds us of the kind of misleading approach used by the nasty people that peddle malware. Our message to Apple is to STOP this immediately and redesign your update application to be honest and only offer updates where updates apply and make it explicitly clear when the software install being offered is an optional (read as unnecessary) extra that doesn’t really affect the Apple software running on your computer at the moment.
The majority of computer users will simply install this Safari update when it is offered, even although they may never use it or even understand what it does. Perhaps we’re now starting to see the real face and business practices of Apple! The marketing droids at Apple want to be able to say they have a higher marketshare through the number of installs of iTunes, Quicktime and Safari, even if it is done in a deception and misleading way. Naught, very naughty indeed!
Apple is now betraying its customers and users. Mac fanboys feel free to convince us otherwise and comment on how this kind of behaviour wouldn’t make them flame if it was being done by Microsoft.
Update: John Lilly, CEO of the Mozilla Foundation, has posted a similar complaint about this issue on his blog. He makes some interesting points that expand upon our blog post… we heartedly recommend it to you.
Technorati Tags: Apple, Apple Software Update, iTunes, Quicktime, Safari
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
There were a bunch of articles up recently in Wired about Apple’s evil business practices, so, sadly, this isn’t a big surprise. Yet more ammo for my “reasons to avoid Macs” arsenal though.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
Thanks for the heads up.
You can’t fault their marketing as it has served their mission well! Shame they have managed to deceive so many for so long!
At least now the malware writers are starting to think of going after Macs as Windows machine become more difficult to compromise and Mac share gets to a point where they are such bit players! The quality of their coding is no more, and in some case substantially less, secure than others who’ve made the effort over the years to improve products security.