Apple improves software download utility for Windows with version 2.1

Apple has responded to critism of its “Software Update” tool for Windows. In version 2.1 users now see a split window with two separate lists for updates and new software.

The complaint from many security (and other) sources had been that users of the old version often ended up with new software they had not intended to install. The confusion was caused by the new software being included in the list of “updates”, which users would install believing they were required. The concern was users upon finding they had unintentionally installed software they may not want on their computer would be less likely to trust updates from any source and thereby forego necessary security updates across the board.

One of the most publicized critics of this practice, Mozilla’s CEO, John Lilly, says Apple has still not gone far enough. Even though the new software is now listed separately, the boxes are checked to download it by default. The boxes for optional software should be left blank so the user may check them only if they wish.

There are other vendors that have this detrimental habit of pre-selecting by default optional software in addition to the software the user intends to download. One example of this is additional toolbars, which many people have downloaded unintentionally and then had to uninstall. It is such an annoying practice that many will boycott a particular product for that reason alone.

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