Friday Night while doing my nightly laptop bonding time, a window popped up from Apple Software Updater informing me that new software was available from Apple, specifically I could install Safari 3.1. To the left is a screen shot. Seems innocent enough right? It took me by surprise because of the wording. It seemed to imply that I needed to update my Safari installation, however I don’t have Safari installed. I use Firefox as my browser. Confused and alarmed I opened up Windows Task Manager to find out which processes were running – maybe I had malware installed that I didn’t know about? I found this: SoftwareUpdate.exe. Then I did a google search for it, got sidetracked by a registry cleaner, and somehow managed to get back on track by finding on article titled: Apple Pushing Safari on Windows Users Via iTunes.
So I began to read:
Apple has officially begun pushing their Safari web browser into Windows users by way of iTunes……
This started on Tuesday, when Apple released version 3.1 of Safari. What makes the move unique is that Apple Software Update is rarely used to promote new software. Typically, you get the Update utility whenever you install any Apple software on a Windows machine, such as Quicktime or iTunes. Usually, you’ll only be given updates to those software. Using the same medium to push a product the person never downloaded is new territory.
Aha! Those marketing people sure are crafty! Using the updater from iTunes to gain access to hundreds of millions of iTunes users to advertise Safari is genius, though from a user perspective its a complete and total piss off. It’s a very pushy marketing ploy. I can’t comment on how good Safari is, as I’ve never tried it, so thanks Apple, but no thanks – I’m gonna stick with my tried and true Firefox. Maybe if Apple hadn’t tried to shove Safari up my ass nose I would’ve given it a shot, but now I’m pissed off enough with this trickery that I’m never gonna try Safari now. Heck after this, I’d abandon iTunes if it weren’t for my Nike+ Sport Kit that I use with my iPod Nano (which, BTW, I got for free from my bank for being a new customer).
Popularity: 4% [?]
Subscribe to my RSS feed
I use both Safari and Firefox. I write my blogs on FIrefox but read blogs on Safari, not sure why. I find both of them useful…ad so much more user friendly than Netscape or Explorer which I don’t even have any more.
I agree about having things pushed on you. Don’t like it at all. I am an Apple person..own an iPod and MacBook, but I think they are wrong for trying to make you use something you don’t necessarily wany.
Grandmere’s last blog post..Vox Hunt: In Bloom
Right, this is very sneaky on their part and I would think would turn more people (who pay attention) off to it than on.
valerie’s last blog post..Uh, whatever, Apple.
I hope the complaints do some serious damage to their reputation. It’s crossing the line big time.
Wrote more about it here: http://corvida.ilumine.net/is-apples-jealousy-of-microsoft-surfacing/
This seems so un-apple. Not impressed with the sneakiness of this. I have iTunes but have yet to been asked to Update. I am quite happy with Flock and Firefox. No need for additional browsers!
Michelle’s last blog post..Happy Egg Hunting…
This isn’t really anything new. They’ve been pushing iTunes via Apple Software Update for a while now. If you have Quicktime but not iTunes, well, when a new version of Quicktime comes out, they try to make you download Quicktime + iTunes even though that’s not what you have.
hehe sneaky yet not underhanded like Microsoft Explorer forcing updates rather than allowing the user to chose if they want to upgrade. Better yet, Explorer is no longer developed for Apple users.
It caught my husband by surprise too.
Silly PC users don’t you know we are just trying to help you out, enlighten you
chelle’s last blog post..Houston ? We are Back