Apple has begun to use iTunes to distribute the latest version of their Safari web browser, and the company now finds itself in the midst of a growing controversy for using questionable tactics to “trick” Windows iTunes users into downloading Safari.
The controversy arose on Wednesday, when Apple began including the Safari web browser as part of a software update for both their iTunes and QuickTime for Windows products. Macdailynews.com is reporting that many Windows users feel that Apple’s inclusion of the Safari web browser with iTunes and QuickTime updates undermines their trust in Apple.
The updaters “allow” users to update their browser to Safari as part of a general iTunes or QuickTime update, but many users have mistakenly installed the browser because the “install Safari” box comes pre-selected with the software update, and many busy users simply rush through the procedure without reading exactly what they are installing.
Apple is being roundly criticized for this tactic of pre-selecting the option to install Safari on Windows computers, and many Windows users feel that it is an attempt to deceive, something reminiscent of the tactics Microsoft routinely employs — but not what Apple is known for.
Software manufacturers have been using this sneaky tactic for years. Google, for example, seems to look for any opportunity to push its Google toolbar, and many software application updates contain the Google toolbar pre-selected by default to install on the user’s machine. Yahoo and many other companies have used similar tactics. But Apple users have come to expect something different than these Microsoft-like dirty tricks.
Technically, the biggest complaint about what Apple is doing is that the software updater for iTunes is installing Safari version 3.1 by default on Windows computers, even those that have never had Safari in the past. Critics contend that if a previous installation of Safari was detected on a Windows machine, offering to update the browser by default would not be such a big deal.
But when Apple uses a pre-selected update box to “push” its software on Windows users, it does nothing but anger users, and undermines the trust many people have in the company.
While there is no denying that Apple’s Safari is an excellent web browser, and that many users might be better off installing it than settling for Microsoft’s Windows Explorer, that’s not really the point. Any update tactics that give the appearance of tricking the user into installing software are not worthy of Apple’s good name, and will likely do more harm than good to the company’s image.
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I don’t like this marketing trick by Apple. One thing is their good name and that we trust Apple not to do this, but another thing is that the product they are “forcing” us to install is not really related to the product we are updating.
They are already “making” us install quicktime when install iTunes, but Safari too, that’s a whole different topic.
It would be like when you download Firefox, we would also be forced to install Thunderbird.
By the way, I really like Safari and Apple, I just don’t like the marketing :-)
Comment by Jens P. Berget — March 30, 2008 @ 12:26 pm