14 DAY TRIAL // Remember Self Aware Safari? Sure you do, especially as a Microsoft Windows user also running iTunes. Following reports of Apple's web browser sneaking its way onto Windows-running platforms through Software Updater originally set up for Windows users 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 so far points out that, whatever Apple's intentions were, and whatever harm they may have caused, Microsoft has had worse such attempts.
TUAW reckons that John Lilly, CEO of Mozilla, probably has the most pertinent and significant impression towards Apple's pushing Safari 3.1 onto Windows users. Mozilla's man calls the decision downright "wrong," adding that in doing something other than "updating" with an "updater," Apple has betrayed the public trust.
The Inquirer chooses to make a small joke on the same burning topic, noting that "some iTunes users report that the box to sign up for Safari appears pre-ticked." Nevertheless, Windows users, as badly hurt as they are right now, did and still do have the option to just click cancel and stop the Safari 3.1 web browser from installing.
Really now folks, can't you just say no to the update? Maybe Windows is too hard for you...? And if so, why don't you go with a Mac? It's a drag-and-drop frenzy. You can't miss! (wink).
However, as mentioned above, one person in particular thinks Apple's move is nothing compared to Microsoft's ways of pushing software onto its users. We couldn't agree more, but that still doesn't take the blame off Apple.. As TUAW themselves note, a warning should have been in order, on behalf of the Cupertino-based corporation.
Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs, did hint at the possibility of sending out updates for Windows platforms other than those aimed at the iTunes service.