I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Apple Changes Update Policies - Still No Biscuit

Tales from the Crypto — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:32:42 GMT

As I have mentioned in other posts ( Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple , MacBook Air debuts;

re: I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Alun Jones — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:09:52 GMT

Actually, I am trying hard to think of an analogous situation at Microsoft - they don't seem to offer me "updates" that install extra software, all the updates from Microsoft take existing software that I already have installed, and move that software up to the most current version at the time the update is released.

This "update" to "QuickTime + iTunes" is an update, plus the installation of an extra piece of software that is not a required component of QuickTime.

I have to ask you, Gaz, with Apple irritating the content creators and the content consumers alike by piling extra software on them, what's the big advantage to using QuickTime - have you compared it to other codec packages, or is there something special that you only get from QuickTime?

I guess what I'm saying is, this behaviour is irritating enough for me to remove QuickTime completely from my computers - how far until you feel like doing the same?

re: I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Gaz Baker — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:09:47 GMT

I have the same problem, I have Quicktime (Pro) and I'm fed up of having to untick Install itunes every time there is a update, why can't I just get updates for Quicktime why I'm I always offered itunes + quicktime. Always have to tell it to ignore. Windows Update to tell it to ignore and thats it gone. Why can't apple do the same, with a option to hide itunes

re: I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Harry Johnston — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:10:53 GMT

A couple of comments have mentioned Quicktime Alternative. Last time I checked, this actually installed Quicktime - it just put it "under the hood" where you couldn't see it easily. In terms of security you're (at best) no better off, and the legal status of QA is unclear to me.

Just thought I'd better raise a cautionary flag for any other readers. :-)

re: I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Mosh Jahan — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:44:21 GMT

Totally agree with you Alun. I hate it when extra services are installed and left to autostart. I do have an iPod but even so I never installed iTunes because I know just what a mess it creates. Instead I use Anapod because I don't want Apple to manage my MP3 library for me. I also don't need Quicktime and on the rare occasion that I do, I use VLC or an alternative codec/player combo for a lot less than the 20+Mb Quicktime needs to download and install.

re: I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Alun Jones — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:43:27 GMT

My Creative Muvo "just works" when I plug it in.

I can't remember the last time Microsoft installed something that it didn't tell me up front I was going to be getting. Again, I have the choice - that wasn't offered me by Apple.

Consider this, Jay - maybe if I didn't have to re-affirm my choice not to run iTunes or iPod every month, you wouldn't see a blog post from me "every month" complaining about this software being foisted on me.

I'll stop blogging about it when Apple stops crapping on my system.

re: I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Jay — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:25:54 GMT

I find it amazing that microsoft installs approximately 86,394 services and bits of software on your machine without consent, but apple bundles the common software people want from it into one package and you write a blog post every month about how this is spyware!

Further, due the nature of the windows platform, in order to deliver a non-crappy experience, Apple must bundle software together, so that when someone plugs in their ipod, it "just works" rather than requiring 12 hours of effort and a PhD in microsoft to get it configured right.

re: I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Aaron — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:43:08 GMT

I've recently removed the Apple Updater application, which I thought would be nice to have so that I can check for updates, but try getting it to not run automatically.

Have you checked out QuickTime Alternative? This will install just the codec and you can then use Media Player Classic to view .MOV files.

re: I didn't want iTunes - now I've got iPod, too?

Arthuroz — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:30:23 GMT

I totally agree with you. I am also sick & tired of unchclicking and unchecking various kinds of additional software that is constatntly trying to get installed on my workstation with commonly used apps.

As far as .mov files are concerned I switched to QuickTime Altenrative (currently QT Lite) long ago.