After Criticism, Apple Software Updater Gets UI Makeover
Apple has made a small but significant tweak to its Automatic Software Update utility to make a clear distinction between security patches and new products being pushed out to Windows users. The UI redesign, which adds a new box labeled New Software, follows intense criticism of Apple's recent decision to bundle its new Safari for Windows browser alongside an iTunes+QuickTime security patch. Here's a look at the new WASU 2.1:  The company is still pushing Safari down to Windows boxes (pre-checked by default, unfortunately!), but that download is clearly marked as new software, an important distinction that shows Apple is paying attention to the loud grumbles from its user base. Behind the scenes, there are some major changes to how WASU works, according to people familiar with Apple's thinking. Here's the skinny: 1. When a Windows user qualifies for new software only, the updater will NOT show Software Update unless the tool is run manually. This means that users won't be prompted in most cases until security/reliability updates are really available. 2. The Updates list will always appear, even if it is empty, and instead of saying "Updates are available," the UI will say, "New software is available." This is only a slight change, but it makes the UI more accurate. 3. The tweak also removes the nag factor because Apple will now only prompt the user if there are critical security updates available. |
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Comments (11)
Best to avoid iTunes all together and stick with Zune Marketplace, thats what I do.
Posted by jim waite | April 17, 2008 9:27 PM
Thank you Apple for at least admitting to this mistake and correcting it.
Posted by Brandon Paddock | April 17, 2008 9:43 PM
checking the box to install a new app by default is still wrong.
Safari has a pretty poor track record for security, doesn't support things like EV-SSL certs yet etc ... so by installing it by default rather than requiring a user to confirm opt-in they're providing a potentially broader attack surface (do they make it the default browser / auto-launch as well?
I rank anything that chooses to auto-install a toolbar, browser "helper" object or plug-in that you don't explicitly ask for (eg Google toolbar in a Java install) as crossing the line.
This is no different
Posted by Offbeatmammal | April 17, 2008 11:31 PM
Because of this annoying updater, I started to dislike Apple a lot. This is a small improvement, but I still wish they made the checkboxes for new software unchecked by default.
I didnt install the software before, why do I need to need to say 'no' everytime?
Posted by Thijs (Shenzhen) | April 18, 2008 12:48 AM
iTunes has so much it is almost impossible to avoid it.
You CAN avoid Comcast - now reading customer's emails and reviewing customer's email attachments, throttling customer's computers and sending names and download information of identified copyrighted files to music and movie companies in an attempt to send their own customers to jail.
If you are a Comcast customer you're a fool.
Posted by The OS2Guy | April 18, 2008 1:23 AM
The pre-checked state of that checkbox must go.
Posted by Chris Quirke | April 18, 2008 4:08 AM
@Jim Waite - iTunes does stink, but Safari is a good browser. Maybe they should offer to uninstall the former by default.
Haven't used Zune Marketplace either. Nothing is as user-friendly as piratebay.org.
Posted by Blowski | April 18, 2008 9:06 AM
Have they taken out the default media settings for Quicktime? Last Quicktime update screwed with all of my Media and Image associations.
They also persist in adding desktop and quickbar icons which is REALLY annoying and obtrusive. If I want those, I will ask for them.
This "our way or the highway" attitude of Apple is getting old.
Posted by Myles Eftos | April 18, 2008 9:33 AM
As a web developer I would like to see all Windows users having (and using) Safari. Safari is the only program still running, when everything else is crashing on my Windows computer.
But Apple show convince users to do that. Why should a user use an application he didn't install by himself? So Apple should put an ad on the installer telling why Safari is great and why everyone should use it.
Posted by Nico | April 18, 2008 10:15 AM
"Because of this annoying updater, I started to dislike Apple a lot."
"The pre-checked state of that checkbox must go."
"This "our way or the highway" attitude of Apple is getting old."
A couple of thoughts:
1. You can't satisfy all of the people all of the time.
2. Nobody is perfect.
3. Remember, this whole issue (while being a valid criticism and good correction) is in contrast to a company that lied about sending private information from user computers back to Redmond, and whose software shoves updates into your computer even when you have checked the box to be informed first so you can choose.
Posted by Michael Linehan | April 18, 2008 12:34 PM
Okay, how's about this:
Neither Apple nor Microsoft nor any other unnamed company should proffer new software in an opt-out mode through a tool whose alleged main purpose is to provide updates.
There was, as I understand it, one update that Microsoft made that follows the description you gave, and that was an update to the update logic. While you could make an argument that it's possible to have your update program in a situation where it's going to need an update in order to follow your instructions to notify you about upcoming updates, we still gave Microsoft the same kind of complaints then that we're giving Apple now.
Pointing to other offending companies has a few disadvantages:
1. It smacks of "why'd you pull me over, officer, when there are so many others speeding". It's not a defence.
2. You have to be sure that you're right in your deflection.
3. You run the risk that the other offending company has already changed their behaviour, so that your favoured company is shown not only to be wrong, but more wrong by being stubborn in leaving this as an "opt-out" rather than "opt-in" push of new products.
Posted by Alun Jones | April 18, 2008 2:09 PM