Apple apparently likes to do whatever it can to push its applications and services onto as many Windows users as it can. A good example of this is when trying to download QuickTime where you are required to install iTunes as well. Similarly Apple recently pushed Safari onto Windows users as an “update” regardless of whether it was previously installed.
They are at it again, but this time with their rebranded .Mac service called MobileMe. If you want to use MobileMe on your Windows PC to sync email, contacts, and more you’ll need to have iTunes 7.7 installed. What’s the big deal? It turns out that MobileMe ships with every iTunes 7.7 download, and by installing the latest version of the media player Windows users will see a new MobileMe Preferences icon added to their Control Panel:
Most people will probably never venture into the Control Panel to see the added icon, but as Apple demonstrates anyone using MobileMe on Windows is required to have iTunes 7.7 in order to get the needed functionality. So if you just want iTunes you’ll also get MobileMe, and vice versa.
Man, they sure know how to push stuff onto people. I’m surprised they don’t just bundle Safari, QuickTime, and iTunes together into one big package. In Apple’s defense Microsoft does do something similar with their Windows Live Services. When trying to install only Live Writer or Live Photo Gallery you also have to install the Sign-in Assistant, which isn’t required for the apps to work properly.
[via BetaNews]
I really hate iTunes. Occasionally, people will ask me to set up their new computers and a lot of them want iTunes. It’s really annoying to get JUST ITUNES. I always replace Quicktime with Quicktime Alternative.
No doubt. I hate all Apple software for Windows.
##Id_String1.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762## (aka “Bonjour Service”) is the worst. It blows my mind that they would use that for the display name.
I actually quite like iTunes. I’ll admit that it uses more memory than I’d like it to, but it’s organizational capabilities are where it shines, in my opinion. That it can keep your music library organized into folders based on the tags of your music makes it very easy to use the file system to find the music you want. When I traverse the file system of my wife’s machine, for example, it’s atrocious because she doesn’t use iTunes to play her music.
Pity there’s no iTunes Alternative or Lite version without all the shit.
I do have to say that I used to feel the same way as you but I decided to really give it a chance, and it turned out to not be so bad. It just takes getting used to, I think.
Now a Lite version might be a good thing for Apple to pursue – some other media players need that too, like Winamp… They all seem to be becoming bloated.
I do agree that iTunes does a fantastic job of organizing music. Overall I’m pretty happy with the media player itself, but it’s the other stuff that comes bundled with it that can cause the frustration for people.
Whats the use of pushing mobileme when its a paid service?? $99 for a useless service? who will pay?? Its doubtful if people will use even if was offered for free!
Yeah, the MobileMe bundling thing stinks, but I may have found a way to circumvent that. When downloading iTunes, extract every MSI file in the installer package using 7-Zip or whatever. Then install everything except MobileMe.
If you already installed iTunes on your PC, extract the package, right-click the MobileMe installer and select “Remove” (or something similar).
Remember to be careful though. I have not tried this myself.
Where’s the sense in installing both QuickTime (which came bundled with iTunes) and QuickTime Alternative?
Great tip Pieter, but not many people will (be able to) go through such lengths. They shouldn’t have to anyway. This is simply outrageous. Imagine all the software makers putting entries across your computer that you cannot use (or even remove..), unless you pay?! What kind of mess would that be!
Imo, there is only one way Apple can remedy the damage they did with this and the Safari “mistake” (corrected later): fire the one who is responsible for this.
cheating abd deceiving is synonymous with Apple.
I haven’t confirmed this yet but Bonjour protocol drivers also appeared on my system after an iTunes 7.7 install. Uninstallation is easy (typical add/remove programs).
I’ve never been fond of Apple’s software ports to Windows. They always felt sluggish, eating up more memory and CPU resources than necessary. I also, always found the software to be very buggy on Windows.
Apple loves to try and force the use of their products/services to their detriment. It’s for this very reason, that I refuse to buy another iPod, b/c they rigged the new ones so that you can’t sync your iPod to anything but iTunes on a Mac or PC.
I’ve also completely uninstalled all Apple software from my PCs b/c of their poor quality and bundling of undesired software.
Plus, I can find better FOSS alternatives to do everything that Apple software like iTunes and QuickTime does.
More people use it than you think. You get a decent amount of file storage, and a lot of Mac applications can synchronize data with it.
You little sneak! I’m actually surprised Apple made it that “easy”.
If I recall correctly Bonjour has always been installed with iTunes. I think it’s required to locate other iTunes on the network.
The performance definitely isn’t the greatest on Windows, but I’ve never had too many troubles with them being buggy.
It sticks something in your control panel without asking, for a service you have to pay to use? How is this not considered Malware?
Apple get away because of all this simplicity crap that anyone will buy, when what they’re basically doing is pushing sub standard flashy software at people. iTunes has not a single redeeming feature, I mean its a media player and doesn’t even have a standard playlist, only some stupid party shuffle thing that you have to right click to access. QuickTime is also a balls ache, mainly because people continue to use it – I’m just glad VLC plays the files and QT Alternative gives me the DLLs so I don’t have to look at it. Finally Safari, a browser so bland and featureless that “porn mode” (aka private browsing) is touted as a feature.
Stick to the iPod and iPhone, and let the big boys do the computers, k?
I was kinda wondering the same thing. Because I didn’t see anything in the EULA saying that it would be installed, and so it really installed the MobileMe without my consent.
I bet somebody could sue them then! I just found a way to make loooooooooooots of doe…
It would be even more interesting if a class action lawsuit was started where all the people who installed iTunes could get money from it.
You can avoid installing the MobileMe part by extracting files from the installer and installing QuickTime and iTunes.
@anon: Thanks for the tip, but I already metioned that little trick.