Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple

Zune – So Nearly Perfect, it Hurts

Tales from the Crypto — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:17:47 GMT

For a while now, I’ve been listening to the BBC radio on my MP3 player – even wrote a program to download

Apple Changes Update Policies - Still No Biscuit

Tales from the Crypto — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:32:36 GMT

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

re: Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple

Alun Jones — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:43:43 GMT

With all due respect, Jay, that's bollocks.

Why am I attacking Apple lately? Because lately, Apple has intruded on my machine.

I've attacked Microsoft for other reasons when they intrude into my machine. Perhaps you have something in mind when you say "Microsoft is much worse. At least Apple presents it as an option." Where have Microsoft installed new software onto an existing system just because I approved installation of the default updates?

To address your comment about mindshare - I'll readily agree. Apple's marketing is amazing in its power to convince people. Microsoft lags way behind - what users 'know' about Vista UAC, they've mostly learned from the Apple adverts, rather than from Microsoft. It's all rubbish, of course, but it's an amusing message that sticks with them.

If, however, Apple truly had a better browser, a better music store, a better video viewer, they wouldn't need to do this retro-bundling to guile people into installing their crap. People would go and beg for the software if it was better than they already have.

What I'm really mad about is that I can't manage machines in my enterprise if they're running Apple software, because I have to tell the users "Oh, and remember not to install X when it's offered, because we don't use that."

Where's Apple's enterprise software update management story? They don't have one.

As for switching - as I've mentioned before, I am required to use a Mac at work for various strange reasons, and every time I try to use it, I get infuriated.

Install an update, and you have a dialog hanging around on screen demanding that you either Shut Down or Restart. No "delay" or "postpone", no way to dismiss the dialog, and if focus changes at the wrong moment, you might accidentally hit one of those buttons.

Every update requires a restart, and QuickTime seems to need a restart update once a month, if not more often.

You need to firm up your argument. Are you arguing that Apple is better than Microsoft? Then don't go with the "but officer, that big truck is speeding too, why don't you arrest him?" defence, because it doesn't work.

Are you arguing that Apple is following Microsoft's lead? Then don't make vague points without directing me to examples, because I can't find the information that makes your point. Perhaps I don't understand your point.

If I install Visio, I don't get Zune software thrown at me, even as an option. Even when Microsoft tries hard to push Silverlight, it's on an opt-in basis, rather than "yeah, you have to remember to uncheck iTunes and Safari every time you get a QuickTime update to install".

Give me a halfway decent argument, because I have nothing to respect in your arguments to date. So far, all I get is "stop picking on Apple, because in some undefined way, Microsoft's just as bad" - not even worse, "just as bad". Put up or shut up.

re: Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple

Jay — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:26:12 GMT

Of course, this is "Evil" because Apple gives you the option of installing their software, but Microsoft, which never gives you even the option to not install their software, gets a pass.

Kinda hypocritical for you to be constantly bashing apple, when microsoft is much worse. At least Apple presents it as an option.

For years Apple has offered me iPod updates as part of software update and I haven't installed them because I didn't use an iPod with my machine. I just unchecked the box and never thought twice about it.

To see windows users up in arms about this policy is hilarious! Its so hypocritical that is almost over the top.

Really, this is all about the fact that Apple is kicking ass in the marketplace, taking massive mindshare and not a small amount of marketshare. That's what you're really mad about.

But its not too late, you can still switch.

re: Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple

Harry Johnston — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:46:03 GMT

Vista is a newer version of Windows, just as IE7 is a newer version of IE. Whether you want to call this an "update" or an "upgrade" or something different is really just nitpicking.

re: Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple

aladdin — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 05:44:01 GMT

IE7 is NEVER an update to IE6, unless you think Vista is an UPDATE to XP.

IE7 introduce different respects in architechture and function to IE6, which was considered as 'weakness' compared with FF & Safari, but not in security. All of the security reasons MS persuade can be solved via patches, not a 'fresh new install'. Especially the 'update' is 25mb, larger than the original 20mb IE6 install.

And by the way, why should I have IE bundled with my Vista, if I don't use it other than 'Windows Update'? European court has made the judgement, it is 'illegal'.

re: Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple

Alun Jones — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:38:01 GMT

That's a good point - and an important difference. Silverlight is not checked by default (unlike Safari, iTunes, QuickTime, etc), so users have to take action to install it, more than simply "yes, go ahead and install updates".

IE7, by comparison to Safari, is an update to IE6, which you already had installed. Safari is an update to ... nothing - it's a completely new program.

re: Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple

KT — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:04:51 GMT

Windows Update does not try to force Silverlight on you - it's an optional component.

IE7 on the other hand is a "security update", so it is selected by default. Fortunately, the "ignore" option seems to be respected.

re: Retro-bundling - another suck of the Apple

Pieter Joost van de Sande — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 07:38:59 GMT

I totally agree with you. Apple really pushes me to install updates for software I haven't installed. Can't even remember a real update since I've installed bootcamp.