Got iTunes for Windows? You might have Safari now, too
Posted by Nanci Barthelmess on 21 March 2008
[Updated to include a link on another related piece from Tom Krazit at Cnet. - Nanci]
Yesterday Apple used it’s Software Update system to send out updates to iTunes, and it offers to upgrade your Safari, Apple’s web browser, even if you don’t have it installed already.
The biggest problem with this is that most users will see that there are two updates and just click the Install button without paying that much attention to what’s getting offered. (Windows users should really know better than that after some of the borked updates Microsoft has sent out, but that’s another matter.)
The problem, as John points out, is that it’s a terrible misuse of a user’s trust in automatic update systems. I haven’t heard of Safari taking over as the default web browser through this update, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was happening. Steve Jobs makes no secret that he wants to get Safari for Windows a bigger market share, but this could be one more case of Apple shoving software down their user’s throats, just like they did when they put out a QuickTime for Windows update that brought iTunes along for the ride, whether the user wanted the iTunes software or not.
Tom Krazit gives a very appropriate reminder.
 Look, people, it’s 2008: You’re responsible for what you install on your PC.
He’s absolutely correct.It’s wrong how Apple is using their Software Update system to shove Safari down people’s throats, but as I said above we do need to pay attention to what’s getting installed on our computers. While Safari isn’t malware, this is the exact reason why viruses, worms, and other malicious software gets spread so easily. As the caption accompanying his opinion piece says, “If you don’t want to download Safari for Windows, don’t download Safari for Windows.” As my brother Peng would put it (thanks to his Air Force training), pull your head out of your arse and pay attention to what’s getting offered. You do get the option to decline Safari, so if you get it installed you have pretty much waived your right to cry about it.
You can get more info in Apple pushes Safari on Windows via iTunes updater and Tom Krazit’s Think before you install from Cnet. Thanks to Asa Dotzler for bringing John’s blog post to my attention.
24 March 2008 at 1:12 pm
I was just reading some comments on other sites and I have to laugh at how many Apple users are pointing fingers at Microsoft’s bundling IE with Windows and saying how Apple should be allowed to market Safari however they want. There are also a lot of people pointing out that all you have to do is clear a lousy checkbox and you don’t have to worry about getting Safari, so clear the damned checkbox and stop your whining!
But they’re ignoring one sneaky little point. The program being utilized is called Software Updater. It shouldn’t be a tool of the marketing department. It’s bad enough that Windows users keep getting offered the latest iTunes update every time iTunes gets an update even if they’ve made a conscious decision to not opt-in to use iTunes because all they want is QuickTime. Now they have to look out for not only iTunes marketing but Safari marketing as well? What the hell is this?
Windows users: Pay attention to what every piece of software wants to add to your computer. It’s the 21st century. If you want a computer you have to be responsible for what goes on the damned thing.
Apple lovers: If Software Updates would stop being used as a marketing tool people would stop bitching about it being one. I don’t care how long Jobsie has said they’d use iTunes to push Safari for Windows, if a user has made a choice to not use iTunes, and has already used the Ignore feature in the updater, then Apple needs to get a clue card and realize that while the user may need QuickTime to view some content they don’t want Apple’s other software. Apple needs to separate the marketing and tech support departments and respect the already voiced wishes of their users. You can’t expect customers to want to use more of their products when marketing insists on treating them like crap.