Safari 3.1 Update on Windows Machines
Further Update: It appears that Apple is listening to it’s followers these days. They have updated the Windows version of Software Update after all the furor the sneaky installs of Safari caused.
Update: Jesper also responded to Gruber’s comment of interesting. Bottom line - he really doesn’t like this move from Apple.
Interesting read today on microsoft-watch (via Gruber). In an article named ‘Apple’s Windows Invasion’, Joe Wilcox reports that Apple’s Software Updater offers Safari 3.1 even if Safari was not previously installed.
Curious move I’d say. I’m not sure what to think about this yet. I can see why Apple would do it - Joe lists a lot of good reasons.
But for a company that you would assume would like to start eating into Microsoft’s dominance of corporate America, this would seem like a good way to further alienate the IT departments of those very corporations. Joe well articulates the concern:
It’s one thing to let employees install iTunes and something else for Apple Software Update to offer another Web browser.
I know full well the anti-Apple sentiment. My employer is Windows only and I’ve had no luck changing anyone’s stance. And I’m in the IT department.
Joe also makes a great point about the risk unsupported browsers are to a company:
Enterprises should be concerned about rogue browser installations, for reasons I shouldn’t have to state. Safari is fairly new to Windows and has yet to really show that it has can muster the security to withstand the associated attacks. Mac OS X is a quaint neighborhood where little Safari was safe. By comparison, Windows is a gang-ridden ghetto: life is survival, and it’s tough going.
The main reason I find this so curious a move is that it looked like Apple was making a strong push to get the attention of corporations by making the iPhone completely compatible with Exchange. This seems to be an aggressive move as well, but in a different direction. Interesting indeed.
