On 09/09/09, Apple released iTunes 9.0. The software had a beautiful UI but it was a little buggy as it would hang every time I tried searching for a podcast show on the iTunes store.
Twelve days later, Apple released a new version of iTunes – iTunes 9.0.1 – that, they say, will fix the iTune store related issues. This is not a small patch as you’ll have to download the full 100 MB installer again in order to fix your existing copy of iTunes.
Now that’s OK but the real problem with this whole software upgrade process is that Apple tries to push products on your system that you don’t require.
For instance, when I clicked the "Download iTunes" button inside the iTunes application, it opened another dialog box that offered me to install Safari, an iPhone utility and MobileMe Control Panel (?) on my Windows computer.
These could be useful software for iPhone users or Mobile Me subscribers but for someone like me, who neither uses an iPhone nor the Mobile Me service, these options are completely useless.
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/software/problem-with-apple-software-upgrades/9984/
Reader Comments
I do not understand your concern regarding the option it provides for other tools. I understand if it installs on its own without asking you… but it provides an option to select what you want… and I think that’s how it should work.
Written by Venkatesh on 09.25.09
Apple is hardly unusual in doing this. Try upgrading Java – you have to watch carefully to stop the updater installing a Yahoo toolbar.
However, Apple doesn’t do itself any favours with this approach. If it brought up a dialogue box saying “you might also want to download these while you’re at it” but, by default, turns the checkboxes off, I think that would be better. The updater could check whether you have an iPhone because the iTunes config files would surely have that information – although that raises concerns about privacy.
However, this is still better than the approach Microsoft takes in XP where you have to keep hitting “later” to stop it rebooting the machine for an update unless you’ve disabled auto-updates.
Written by Chris Edwards on 09.25.09
I think – and that’s what’s been the default for some time for MobileMe, after many had complained about this same behaviour – that those items should not be preselected. That is good behaviour at least in my view.
Written by Gir on 09.25.09
This is pretty much a Windows user issue. It’s how Apple has run Software update in Mac OSX since day one. I suspect this is just a difference between how Apple and Microsoft upgrade their systems.
We Mac users have trouble understanding what your complaint is. Are you complaining about being offered a choice? Most of those complaints are that “other windows users — not them” will negligently click and run this. What not stop being so interfering and let them decide? When did you become their mommy?
If you don’t want a particular update, then check the box off and run it for only those items you want. The next major upgrade will update them anyway. Those files are rather small in Snow leopard. If I decide to investigate an application that I have been ignoring, then it is usually up to date when I do. I don’t have to wait while the app upgrades itself.
Software update tends to keep us Mac users current, which is a good thing. If we don’t want the update to run now, you can schedule it for a time when you aren’t on the system.
Written by Louis Wheeler on 09.25.09
Amen to that. All software developers should take note of it. Incremental updates please, especially for minor fixes(like the above) and stop asking me to restart my computer if all I wanted to do was view a PDF file or play a MP3.
Written by johnbondjovi on 09.25.09
I think Amit’s complaint (if so, I concur) is why offer to install additional software updates for software that is not installed in the first place. iTunes should only offer to update iTunes and if MobileMe is installed then offer to update that. Safari should have its own update feature.
Let us not open the Pandora box discussion of a Diff update Vs a full (100 MB download) update.
Written by Ram on 09.25.09
I don’t even bother with iTunes anymore now that Zune 4.0 is out…
Written by Quikboy on 09.25.09
Amit, I agree with your complaints. The same happens to me and annoys me as well. Just two days back I download iTunes 9.0 and then there is an update and I upgrade to stay on the safer side. But I HATE it that they keep asking me to install Quicktime, Safari and another thing ever so often! Its not a rarity but it happens quite often. On another note, my iTunes keeps crashing now too. Only solution I find is to uninstall and reinstall everytime it crashes which gets annoying to say the least. I wish there were decent substitutes to iTunes offering the iTunes store and podcasts.
Written by Tanuj Lakhina on 09.25.09
Re: Ram
The reason Safari 4 is bundled with iTunes is that you must have Safari 4 installed to run iTunes 9. It’s part of the system requirements, listed on every download page.
An installer for iTunes 9 should offer Safari 4, otherwise the install would be useless as iTunes wouldn’t run.
Re: “They offer me stuff I don’t want.”
You can permanently remove software from the Apple Updater application. Google it.
Written by Aperios on 09.26.09
I like the option.
Written by Neil Anderson on 09.26.09
It’s just 1 more opportunity for Apple to try and PUSH you something you don’t want. :)
“Hey, you didn’t want it when you installed 9.0 however now were going to give you a small patch 9.0.1 and figured you have probably changed your mind”. :)
Written by MrGroove on 09.27.09