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My Top 6 Download Annoyances
Capping download rates. Asus...Oh, Asus. Some days I just want to fly over to Taiwan and slap you right in the mouth. Do they not realize that it works out the same whether I download for 2 hours at 9k or 4 minutes at 256k? I actually stopped building with their mainboard partially because of the crappy download speeds.
Falsely advertise as being free. I subscribe to a number of free software feeds, and there's nothing worse than seeing a cool application show up that someone has called free just to get it listed. You're not helping your app's popularity. In fact, you're probably turning off just about anyone that might have wanted to use it because they're ticked that the download was either stripped-down or only a trial.
Download a download manager first. Thankfully, I haven't seen the Adobe Download Manager in quite some time, but there are others out there. I don't need or want your help downloading. If I need help resuming my download, I've got DownThemAll, thanks.
Trying to sneak toolbars on to your system. I'm willing to admit that most reputable apps give you a pretty obvious warning during the install, but it's still annoying. Even good ol' CCleaner does it. Offer a second installer with a toolbar for those who want to support your free app that way, and let the rest of us donate on our own.
Downloading other apps you didn't ask for. Apple, I'm talking to you. It's been talked about before, and I'd really like it if iTunes would lay off with the "Oh hey, I heard you guys wanted to try out Safari" business. If I let the iTunes updater run, it's probably because I want iTunes updated, not because I'm hoping Apple decided their nifty new application is something I just can't live without.
Uninstallers that don't work. Yes, I've got Revo Uninstaller and the hunter mode works great. That's not the point. If the installer works for your app, don't let me catch your uninstaller popping up error messages about not being able to remove something. Maybe your theory is "my app is so cool, no one will ever want to uninstall it!" Well, you're wrong, and the least you can do is make it easy for people to remove whatever your application brought with it.
What about you? What puts a burr under your saddle?
Comments
36
Subscribe to commentsJenAug 27th 2008 11:20AM
I so agree with the above. Its also a pain to have to register or login in to access the download (Adobe, vmware, etc).
For your point: Downloading other apps you didn't ask for...the new windows messenger is so bad for this. You have to download a few different apps t hat hook into windows just to chat online? Bring on Pidgin, its even portable!
Lee MathewsAug 27th 2008 11:21AM
I agree wholeheartedly...The Live installer is a colossal PITA.
bugmenotAug 28th 2008 8:38AM
@Jen: yeah and also having to register first before being able to post!
get the firefox extension BugMeNot and you won't have to register first before doing anything.
trickycooljAug 27th 2008 11:27AM
GAH! iTunes! You hit it right on the nose. I just got my first non-ipod player and was converting things into a new non-iTunes library and lo and behold "would you like to download all our Apple garbage to your Windows based PC?"
UM NO. One more reason iTunes is going to the trash as soon as I get my library sorted and converted.
kojo87Aug 27th 2008 2:11PM
i just wanted QuickTime on my computer and next thing i know im getting iTunes and Safari. i cancel the download and 5 minutes later its doing it again without asking. thanks Apple. thats really going to make me buy an iPod or any of your products. Im gonna go play with my Zune now
NickAug 27th 2008 11:44AM
How about those stupid toolbars that all these free apps want you to install.
KhaledAug 27th 2008 11:39AM
It's probably the same as one of the points, but I HATE how Gigabyte is including the Yahoo toolbar with the motherboard driver installer.
CHECKED BY DEFAULT and at the very very end of a long list of drivers ... grrrr
XerloqSep 1st 2008 1:25PM
On the download manager point - I hate it when you click through 5 links to download something. I understand picking different versions, but referring me to a download page to a version page to a mirror page to a history page to another download page to an executable page to a source code page is really annoying.
I also don't like sites that throw download.php files at my download manager.
DiRTAug 27th 2008 11:48AM
And why MUST I download Quicktime with iTunes. I don't want iTunes as it is, but there's stuff the people don't seem to realize they can sell elsewhere.
BufsabreAug 27th 2008 2:05PM
exactly how i felt a while ago, they added one thats just quicktime but for the longest you needed both and that PISSED me off horribly, i dont want itunes, foobar kicks its but anyday
JamesAug 27th 2008 11:48AM
I can live with toolbar installers if it means free-app distributors make a couple bucks. As long as the installer has a big, clearly-labeled "NO THANKS" and the toolbar uninstaller works (SEPARATELY from the app uninstaller), that's OK by me.
Otherwise, I agree with everything on the list. I'd add programs that don't have an auto-update mechanism. It's 2008. Chances are your product isn't "done" yet, and also that your user is always online. Why not automate the process of getting the latest/greatest version?
OldCatAug 27th 2008 11:58AM
Oh I can't agree more!
They just don't bother acting smart.
JimAug 27th 2008 11:58AM
Hell, I just wish Apple would learn about the concept of PATCHING. Why do I have to download the ENTIRE ITUNES INSTALLER every time Apple needs to include a tiny security patch?
I mean, could you imagine if Microsoft made you download the entire 400MB Office installer every time they issued a patch for Word or Excel?
michas_piAug 28th 2008 3:12AM
Actually, that's what Microsoft does for every Office 2008 for Mac update. XBOX HUEG download sizes that take a while to expand and install.
During installation I see Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and the other programs getting full re-installations. What happened to issuing small updates?
The worst part, though, is downloading a huge update, installing it, and then discovering that Microsoft AutoUpdate detected yet another gigantic update for Office. That's right, no combo updates like the ones for Mac OS X. Sigh.
biophilAug 27th 2008 1:12PM
I also hate that some websites have you clicking "download here" buttons for 3 times until you get what you want
biophilAug 27th 2008 1:12PM
oh and let us not forget the worst: Windows update "Do you want to restart now" with no option to say not in this session...
MarkAug 27th 2008 2:04PM
Check out http://lifehacker.com/software/top/get-rid-of-windows-update-restart-nag-183976.php
Stuart HallidayAug 27th 2008 5:03PM
Hehe you just turn off the Auto-update service, takes 5 secs. Type in "net stop wuauserv".
Better still make it a batch file once and double click on it!
Be aware that it is in your interest to reboot as you're not protected until you do.
You could of course simple install the updates when you click on restart then you'd never see the Auto-restart messages.
EJ HillAug 27th 2008 1:12PM
Yeah, I spotted some I am TOO familiar with. Sun Microsystems also had that irritating Sun Download Manager ... and yes those damn toolbars ... and that bloody iTunes ... Good post ... I'm forwarding it to Apple, Yahoo, Adobe and Sun (amongst others) right now ;-)
DavidAug 27th 2008 1:12PM
Nobody's mentioned "quickstart" helper apps that launch at startup like Adobe Reader SpeedLaunch, and Quicktime's qttask...the worst thing about these is that they not only install the registry entry without asking if you want it (and usually don't give you the option to remove it through the program), but when you manually remove it they put it back!
Also, what's wrong with just doing a quick version check when the application is launched? Why do software makers think it's ok to install apps that run in the background all the time, whose sole job is to periodically check for updates?? For instance Java Update Scheduler and the InstallShield Update Service do actual work how often - once a week? But they're ALWAYS in memory! At least Adobe Update Manager waits until you launch an Adobe product.
Finally, I don't mind web-based download managers, if they help dial-up users download large files with resume support, etc. But at no time should the download manager have to be installed on the machine first in order to install the app you really want - it should launch and then go away when it's done. Also, I should always have the option to download the file without your download manager if I choose, and that option should be just as prominent and easy to choose as your "recommended" solution.