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The Linux distillery Apple’s dirty Safari installer wouldn't happen in open source
The Linux distillery Apple’s dirty Safari installer wouldn't happen in open source | Apple’s dirty Safari installer wouldn't happen in open source |
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| by David M Williams | |
| Monday, 24 March 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 4 So, why is it so bad? For the answer to this let’s turn back time to an initial installation of the iTunes + QuickTime software. Actually, I have to confess a misunderstanding of my own here. For some time I was annoyed that I couldn’t install iTunes without QuickTime. It bugged me I got this other program tagging along which alway - after every update - kept putting icons on the desktop, in the system tray and in the Quick Launch toolbar.
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When installing iTunes + QuickTime for the first time, the installer says “This installer will install iTunes, QuickTime, Bonjour, and Apple Software Update.” So far no foul. Checkboxes offer to add iTunes and QuickTime shortcuts to the desktop (collectively; I’d have preferred checkboxes for each individually), to use iTunes as the default player for audio files and to automatically update iTunes, QuickTime and other Apple software. Note the keyword here is “update.” To me, there is an implication that the Apple Software Update tool will only provide new versions of software that I already have on my system and which I chose to install.
During the installation process if you watch the status messages you will see “Scheduling Apple Software Update” just prior to “Starting QuickTime installation.” Reboot your computer - or run Apple Software Update manually - and it will dutily advise “New software is available from Apple.”
Perhaps, you could argue, even though the checkbox during installation only said it would “update” software, the tool is not being deceptive here because it says “New software” is available. Yet, read on. The very next line says “Select the items you want to update, then click Install” with Safari version 3.1 at 22.65Mb being pre-selected.
The user is told “Safari for Windows is the fastest and easiest-to-use web browser for the PC. It displays web pages faster than any other browser and is filled with innovative features - all delivered in an efficient and elegant user interface.”
The product asks users to select the items they wish to update. Yet, Safari is not an update; it is a new product. And the user actually has to de-select the items they do not want, not select the ones they do.
So, what happens during installation? Does it really force itself as your default browser? Well, the answer is no, at least not without an additional action. Let me explain. The installer does place an icon for Apple Safari on the desktop and in the Quick Launch bar as well as within the Programs area of the Start bar. It also registers the file suffix .download and associates it with Safari. Additionally, a number of routines in a library file called WebKit.dll are loaded into the registry. Beyond this there is nothing more; there is no auto-startup, there is no automated setting Safari as the default browser.
Is this so bad? Please read on.
CONTINUED
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