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Shady business practices work: Apple dramatically increases Safari users
Apple's Safari web browser may be hot stuff on the Mac, but since launching a Windows version a little while back, not too many Windows users have bothered to install the browser. So what does Apple do? Simple, the company sneakily adds Safari 3.1 to the Apple software update utility so that you download it automatically if you have any Apple software on your PC -- even if you've never installed Safari on your computer. In other words, a whole bunch of Windows iTunes users suddenly found a copy of Safari on their computers.
While a lot of folks criticized Apple for shoving unwanted software at the general public, the strategy appears to have worked. Net Applications reports that Safari's market share of the Windows browser space rose from .07% to .21%. That's still a ridiculously tiny number. But it's bigger than it was. So the message is clear: Give the people what they don't want. Some will be too lazy to uninstall it. And they might even try using it. Ugh, did we just write that?
[via Fortune]
Comments
36
Subscribe to commentsMikeMay 3rd 2008 9:09AM
I don't agree that it is "the same" as Microsoft for the reason that you cannot delete the crap Microsoft installs, while (I assume) you can delete the crap that Apple installs. That, IMHO, is a very big difference.
This whole issue is really the fault of the major evil that plagues the world today: corporate marketing schemes.
NeoprimalMay 3rd 2008 8:18PM
Good luck teaching them that. It's worse off because they'll find something that another company does reprehensible but let Apple do the very same thing and it's either that it had to be done or some other ridiculous reasoning/logic.
Honestly, I give mad props to Steve Jobs for doing whatever the hell he's done to these people, they're seriously brainwashed and will continue to spend money they don't need to spend to buy apple products.
They're like those Moms that defend their crazy, murderous children. If MS had 'fans' like that Vista would be a complete success.
Anyway, I'll argue with the crap Mike is spewing when I find out if Safari and Itunes can be removed from Leopard. Until then, all I will say is that I respectfully disagree that sneaking a web browser into someone's computer through what is SUPPOSED to be, a software UPDATER (not installer, mind you) is in any way comparable to an OS shipping a web browser and media player built into it.
RelequestualMay 7th 2008 12:58PM
I was just about to say the same thing, but it appears you got there before me. Apple are no better than MS, exactly the same as. This is what branding is all about, people thing Apple are nice and kewl and friendly. sorry apple fan boys
mustiMay 2nd 2008 8:34AM
Just because you have the browser on your HD does not mean you are using it, and metrics cannot tell you have it on your HD! You have to SURF to get the metrics.
DS, wake up. please.
BufsabreMay 2nd 2008 8:36AM
why are people so damn passionate about software?
we can use what we want, ms comes with all their crap, apple comes with all their crap, linux doesnt come with anything made by the linux org besides the kernal
win: linux
baz.karimMay 2nd 2008 9:49AM
I thought this was one of the most ridiculous things. If this was any other company (i.e. Microsoft), we would be, and we do, complaining and complaining and complaining. It doesn't make a difference if it is Microsoft, Apple, or...I don't know, anything else -- installing "stuff" (no matter what it is) without my permission is not cool.
-- Karim Baz
AndrewMay 2nd 2008 11:27PM
You are giving them permission to install Safari by leaving the box next to Safari checked and actively clicking on the INSTALL button.
Who doesn't read whats being installed before pressing an Install/Update button?
Do you press OK/Install on every pop up window you get without reading?
I really dont understand what all the fuss is about - Software companies have been doing this for years - think back to Macromeida/Adobe Flash plug-ins, Real Networks player, MS Windows Media Player etc
AbscissaMay 11th 2008 2:27PM
"Software companies have been doing this for years"
And that somehow makes it ok?
IampriteshdesaiMay 2nd 2008 9:59AM
Apple Sucks hard!!!
iPod and iPhone rock no doubt- even macs might rock(i havent got one) but iSteve Jobs and his deamonic Apple suck. All Apple software for windows suck- Mac fanboys don't blame Windows for it. Firefox and hordes of quality software are built on it. QT is the worst one. iTunes uses more memory to play a damn MP3 than all other media players put together. The latest move by apple is the end of my association with anything mac. I HATE you Steve iJobs. IE7 and WMP11 are farrrrr better than all mac craps. The EU takes action on MS for bulding WMP but allows Apple to put in iCrap
David MartinMay 2nd 2008 9:59AM
Everybody is complaining about what Apple and MS does, and tries bashing each other. Well think back a few (several) years ago when you had to use tapes, or catridges each time you wanted your computer to do a certain task. Do you really want to be there? Thats why MS and Apple due what they do, not because they are bad people but because they are trying to give you everything you want (or not) without having to ask for it. I cant say nothing about Linux because I have never used nor tried to use it. If you are pissed about the practices of the bad apple and the ms meanies then dust off your commodores and... I will soon see you back on your PC's and Mac's real quick. ;P
JoeMay 2nd 2008 11:15AM
This proves that proverb, "It's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission."
KarnatosMay 2nd 2008 11:28PM
Thanks for writing this article; it reminded me to check for it, and then uninstall it (yet again).
Thanks for the reminder.
TombpsycoMay 3rd 2008 11:23AM
Rotten Apple
Is Steve Jobs trying to be Bill (take all the money) M$ Gates??? I don't want iTunes, but I'm stuck with it just to get Quik Time. Now they are trying to force Safari down my throat!! Why??? I use FireFox!! I am sick of Forceware. As far as Quik Time goes, I've tried other alternative QT like software an have had problems with it. Why can't I get just QT anymore. I don't want or need any other Apple software.
MysteriusMay 3rd 2008 8:18PM
Actually, the second option on http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/ doesn't say it includes iTunes, so that might work for you. Just make sure you don't install Automatic Updates, or uninstall it.
Captain ObviousMay 5th 2008 9:28PM
I don't know about some of you other people, but I just right clicked on updates I didn't want in Windows and clicked hide, and that was it. With the Apple update on the other hand, I had to install iTunes to put some music on my friends iPod, and it automatically installed Apple Update, and started to cram forceware down my throat. Then, when I uninstalled it, iTunes wouldn't start and "Repaired" itself. When I looked back. There Apple Update was again, cramming forceware down my throat. Also, I have a quad core and iTunes takes 27% of my CPU to play an MP3, and then freezes!!! I don't know if some other people have tried this, but if you use iTunes on mac, notice how it works perfectly, then try on Windows. It has to do things like buffer music before I play it. It's obscene.
KarstenMay 5th 2008 11:34AM
what's all the fuzz about, shit is free; actually this is the first Safari I ever liked, it's fast, it does a nice job of everything - but why the Hell must it look like a Mac thing on the Windows box, it looks so damn ugly - that is about my only gripe - and of course they want your money, what did you expect? :-) k