Tektodo

Pack your bags because Apple wants you to go out on Safari, the Safari web browser that is. Last year, Apple announced that it would be offering its Safari web browser to PC users in addition to Mac users. Apple has trying to carve a slice out of the browser market for itself, but is up against two formidable opponents - Microsoft’s Internet Explorer which has reigned supreme in the market for years and Mozilla’s open-source Firefox browser which over the course of the last few years has gained tremendous support.  Internet Explorer dominates with over 75% market share, while Firefox’s hovers around 17% and Safari’s around 6%.

Apple released version 3.1 of Safari last Tuesday and, in addition to making a number of enhancements to the program, also rolled out a somewhat sneaky distribution mechanism to ensure that this latest version of Safari would reach the widest number of people possible. What Apple did was include Safari in its Apple Software Update program for Windows users, despite the fact that this is not an update, but rather a full program that is being downloaded. I must say, I was somewhat surprised to see Safari on the list when updating my Apple software, considering that I had never downloaded Safari before.

Granted, users can simply uncheck the option to download and install Safari, however, the vast majority of users probably will not. When many users see an update box, they simply click install, after all, updaters usually just install components that improve existing programs on a user’s computer, which is exactly the kind of thinking Apple wants. At least Apple provides a short description as to what Safari is, but this does not ignore the fact that a software update program is simply not the right venue to offer such an application.

Mozilla CEO John Lilly has criticized Apple’s move, saying that it is harmful for the relationship between Apple and its customers. I have to agree with his belief. When consumers go to update their software, they shouldn’t have to be on the lookout for extra applications that are trying to install themselves. When I first started using Firefox, I didn’t do so because it was pushed onto me from an update program, I did so because I had heard great things about it and wanted to try it for myself. The same should be true for Safari. If Apple wants Safari to be successful, it should let the program stand on its own merits, rather than forcing it onto users. The browser market is indeed a volatile space and Apple certainly wants to increase its presence there, but doing so in this manner serves only to discredit Apple.

So please Apple, let users get prepared before you throw them out into the wild.