14 DAY TRIAL // Recent not-so-good news surrounding Apple concern a certain Software Update mechanism that enables Windows users to improve the operability of iTunes, QuickTime and Safari, the latter being Apple's standard web browser. The latter, again, has been quite a PITA for some Windows users who, unwillingly, have downloaded and installed Safari thinking they were updating an existing piece of software on their PCs. Apple was bashed for failing to specify that its Software Update program was actually pushing Safari onto Windows users and so the Cupertino-based corporation has updated its Software Update program, resolving that issue.
As a result to Apple's changing the way Apple Software Update notifies Windows users that something is available for them, Safari 3.1.1, "the fastest and easiest-to-use web browser for the PC" is now available is "new software," not a "software update" as previously presented.
Following reports of Apple's web browser sneaking its way onto Windows-running platforms through a Software Updater originally set up for Windows PC owners using iTunes to fill up their iPods with media, a few influential industry names and publications alike have expressed their discontent towards Apple's move. Just one person pointed out that, whatever Apple's intentions were, and whatever harm they may have caused, Microsoft has had worse such attempts.
John Lilly, CEO of Mozilla, probably had the most pertinent and significant impression towards Apple's pushing Safari 3.1 onto Windows users. Mozilla's man called the decision downright "wrong," adding that in doing something other than "updating" with an "updater," Apple has betrayed the public trust.
The Inquirer chose to make a small joke on the old burning topic, noting that "some iTunes users reported that the box to sign up for Safari appeared pre-ticked." Nevertheless, Windows users, as badly hurt as they seemed, did have the option to just click cancel and stop the Safari 3.1 web browser from installing. Of course, that still doesn't take the blame off Apple.