This is dangerous, remember Microsoft lost that case of IE and had to pay tons of money. I would hate for my little Apple to be on the news that way, and lose 100s of millions on this instead of research. I know they have 18 Bilions but don't waste it.

Just don't forget Microsoft never left the choice to users to install or not to install IE....

This is ONLY if the user has installed Apple Update Software (I would imagine most people who use Windows OS probably have it automatically installed if/when they installed iTunes).

I think it allows the user to know that Apple has software that's compatible with their computer, and IF they want, they can download it. To be honest, it really doesn't matter. I think if MS cared about the Mac OS, they would do the exact same thing. But they don't, so they don't.

When I install a Java update or Shockwave, I do *NOT* want the %$#@~! Google Toolbar.

When I install iTunes, I want iTunes. If I want Safari, I'll download Safari.

HERE'S AN IDEA: When I first launch iTunes, show me a splash page about Safari and ask me if I want to download it then.

DON'T MAKE PEOPLE MAD AT YOU!!! Don't include bloatware downloads. Don't be Microsoft.

Big deal!

Windows users can just decline to download Safari. It's not like iTunes won't work unless they download the browser. THAT would be bad.

Must be a slow news day...

Fanboy, apple completely turned around and do exactly the dunb things that they used to criticize others company. Be careful with what you'd say from now on...

I haven't had a windows computer for a few years now and this is the kind of thing i hated. But...Apple is giving the user the option to install it or not to install it which is a completely different picture. I'm sure there are users out there who haven't heard of firefox and are tired of IE, so this is an option for them.

Well iTunes on Windows won't work without Quicktime, but that was necessary when they introduced video downloads. To keep iTunes from being a massive program like Windows Media Player it piggie backs Quicktime to play video.

I don't understand this. Why are people falsely reporting this so blatantly. It is NOT "iTunes Software Update". It IS "Apple Software Update". It has never been written, defined nor stated by Apple or any representative of Apple that the "Apple Software Update" is for currently installed applications. It is a tool that displays a list of available software updates for Windows users from Apple. If you have installed the "Apple Software Update" program, you will see these items -- and THEN have the OPTION of installing or not. It's not complicated, a non-issue and all this talk about how this is a slippery slope and a backdoor type thing is crazy talk. The POLL should include an option for "Article is misleading, innacurate and it isn't 'iTunes Software Update', it's 'Apple Software Update'. Quark Houston, TX

Apple has been doing this for many months. This is not something that just happened. Why the sudden spot light on this?

I say, think ahead ... in a hundred years it won't matter really. For those with an event horizon of next Tuesday, it matters. This is going to be optional, but beyond that, why not bring a bit of a browser war back. Safari still has a long way to go to catch up with Firefox, so perhaps this is a way to get there. The more people use it, the more pressure Apple will be under to improve it.

I think that if a user is happy with one software from a company then they would like to know if there are other compatible software titles available from that company, and since this is a free software all the better. It is an option that the user can decline. With Safari for Windows out of beta now I think it is a good idea for Apple to offer it through the Update system. I have every available browsers on my computer and often compare sites in different ones. Sometimes when one browser has a problem loading a site I will open it in another to see what the site should look like. I also like to be able to open my personal site and blog in different browsers so I know that they look ok in whatever browser people use to see my site.

I'm more of a windows person and here's my take.

It's fine. My browser of choice on windows and mac is still firefox. Safari is my close second on both platforms. Safari is better than IE anyday. But there are still some things/sites only IE can run properly.

Allowing win users the choice for safari is fine. But let's hope apple plays both ways. like amazon music store app on the iphone.

I don't think this is anything like M$. Microsoft crushed the other browsers by bundling a free browser with Windows. Apple is giving users the option to install Safari, not installing it with iTunes without an option.

Well, it's not iTunes update. It's Apple Software Update. No problem with this. It's like Google do in Google Updater in Mac.

Infact, I am using Safari now as my main browser :P So I consider it as a smart move.

Birger :)

I see no problem with this. It's not forced, and it's not annoying. It's just as easy as unchecking a checkbox if you don't want Safari and use Software Update.

This is nothing like what Microsoft did. By having Explorer preinstalled, by breaking standards in it, and by having ISPs distribution it for free with net-setup packages force to use non-standard features that would break other browsers, MS made other browsers less viable. The more people there are using a standards-compliant browser such as Safari on Windows, the more websites there will be that'll work well on other standards-compliant browsers as well. That'll help users of Linux and Macs as well as Windows users, and it'll help with iPhone compatibility too.
Many of the less educated users may become more aware of alternative browsers as a result of exposure to Safari, and perhaps be more likely to try others as well.
Firefox will certainly not lose it's appeal since it has support for some other wonderful features, some like Adblock and NoScript available through support for plugins. The same goes for Opera or any other browser that offers the user something good. Safari is a refreshing choice since the interface is very clean, and it is fully functional for free, with no ads or malware built in.

I wish Apple offered iChat for Windows. Look at the ad and link filled mess one gets when installing AOLs client.

Doesn't the updater have checkboxes in the column marked "install" in front of each item? Unselecting a checkbox would skip an item if that is the case.

People should be grateful to have Safari on Windows... the more choices the better - especially when they support OPEN standards. Then no one is locked into anything. Freedom!!!

Yeah, this is totally a Microsoft move. Obviously this vote will be heavily skewed due to the nature of this blog.

I'm a windows user and i love safari. I have moved from firefox to safari. If Windows users don't read what they are downloading or don't know how to use the uninstall button that is not Apples problem that is the windows user problem. There is a reason that windows users get virus on there computer and it's not 100% Microsoft. The user of the OS has to know what is put on there computer and be smart about it. This just shows how many people don't read before they install. Safari 3.1 is so fast. I love Itunes and my ipod. Am i a fan boy? no, I just like stuff that just works.

... ok maybe more like some high winds. Some rather inaccurate comparisons/analogies are being made ... typical of much public discourse these days.

Yes, it is a bold move by Apple to push their product, but how does allowing the user to choose equate with not giving the user a choice. It doesn't ...

No problem with Apple's move. It's called Apple Software Update, and tells you what is the latest software available from Apple. The user has the option not to download; the user shouldn't automatically install stuff anyway without looking. It definitely made it easier to load Safari, which I'm using right now to write this. By the way, except for plug-ins, Safari has caught up to Firefox.

Its actually quite well thought! I mean, Apple actually doesnt compell you to install Safari. Its only just giving you an option that there is an Apple Web Browser and you can go ahead and try.
Nobody's forcing you. You could simply deny!

And for the EU case, Microsoft was actually forcing people in many ways!
Firstly, IE was installed with every copy of Windows sold out there.
Secondly, they made sure that the windows software update and the Microsoft site will both only work on the Internet Explorer!

BFD...no one is being forced to download and install Safari. You don't see the Apple software updater constantly bugging you to change your settings so it can automatically download and install everything it wants to...LIKE WINDOWS DOES.