Monday, 21. April 2008
Apple Plays Smart to Amend Software Update Tool
Apple has amended its software update tool for Windows, so that it differentiates between new applications and program updates. The latest version of the Software Update tool for Windows, version 2.1.0.110, now clearly lists software that can be downloaded via the service and groups the updates into those for applications already on the user's computer and updates for new software. The new version of Software Update also gives users the ability to turn off the service.
While the changes to Software Update for Windows are welcome, there’s still room for improvement. Asa Dotzler, Mozilla’s director of community development, calls the changes “an important, though not sufficient, improvement.” The issue is that new software, while clearly labeled as such, is still checked by default. That means that, unless you’re careful, you still may end up with Safari installed alongside your iTunes update.
The alteration comes after Mozilla chief executive John Lilly took Apple for using the iTunes updater to push Safari on Windows users, something he described as bordering on "malware distribution practices". "Apple has made it incredibly easy -- the default, even -- for users to install ride along software that they didn't ask for, and maybe didn't want," said Lilly, then in a blog post. "This is wrong, and borders on malware distribution practices."
Apple has refused to confirm the reasons behind the new split screen updater or whether it is likely to leave Safari unchecked in the future, saying only that the change helps customers identify between software updates and new applications.