Safari market share tripled on Windows after Apple gambit

This article is both pointless and slanderous to Apple.

You mentioned that Apple’s act was “disgraceful”, and was equivalent to “malware”.
Then let me ask you this. What about Microsoft bundling its Internet Explorer with Windows? Is that no lower or more disgraceful? By doing that, Microsoft is trying to monopolize the browser industry because the installation of Internet Explorer no longer becomes an option, it becomes mandatory. Why do you not flame Microsoft for that?

You also mentioned that Apple “shoved [Safari] in their [Windows users'] face(s)”. Again, the same can be applied to Microsoft and Internet Explorer.

Furthermore, Apple includes Safari in Software Update because it wants to give Windows users another choice and to tell them that Internet Explorer is not the only browser in the world; that there are always other ones to turn to should you grow tired of Internet Explorer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Even so, users are given an option to choose whether or not they wish to install Safari. If they do not read install lists before pressing Install, it is akin to not reading documents before signing them – they have only their own incompetence to blame.
Regrettably, the same cannot be said for Internet Explorer.

That is all I have to say in defense of Safari and Apple.

On another note (directed towards “StinkyWeezilTeet” who posted the Acid3 test link), the Safari web browser version 3.1.2 we are familiar with on both Windows and Mac OS X does not pass the Acid 3 test as of October 2008.
However, nightly builds of WebKit, the open-source application framework on which Safari is built, is the only engine that can pass the Acid3 test with pixel-perfect rendering and no timing issues. An executable version of WebKit can be downloaded for both Mac OS X and Windows from http://nightly.webkit.org.

ex ped: Don’t shoot the messenger!

I’m glad Apple made this move. Reason is simple. Most people don’t realize that there is more than one choice for a web browser. Plus being a Microsoft beta tester, having used Opera, Internet Explorer, AOL Explorer, Flock, Firefox, Safari, and MSN Explorer side by side on a Windows machine Safari really out performs them once it opens. Microsoft needs to scrap their ideas behind computing and start learning from Apple. Sure it was a rather shady move by Apple but it’s about time they did something. Microsoft was doing it for years. Still are by forcing you to update IE for things, along with all the websites that force you to use a Windows machine.

I say go Apple. And before anyone says I’m an Apple loyalist. I use Windows Vista Ultimate on both my Macs. I love Ultimate and think that perhaps Microsoft might be turning around. I also use Linux from time to time. I’m only loyal to a company if they treat me right. Which Apple has done. I don’t agree with some of the things they do. But I won’t be loyal to a company that treats it’s customers like they don’t matter. Which is all I’ve gotten from Microsoft.

All browsers are insecure in one way or another. It’s just how the user takes it. Which means pay attention folks. It’s common sense.

Yes, it was sneaky. Was it wrong? I don’t know. I saw the update, I read the available options, I un-clicked Safari. I thought it was strange but it didn’t take me more than 5 seconds to deny the download.

Perhaps Apple should be punished for it, considering Microsoft would be crucified for the same act. However, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to read a pop-up window prior to downloading. Come on people, take two seconds and figure out what you’re putting on your computer.

Mostly I just don’t care.

And as long as we’re all advertising our fanboy-ism: long live Mozilla Firefox.

its quite clear that IE IS MORE SECURED AND A BETTER BROWSER THAN SAFARI. I THINK APPLE SHOULD BE PUNISHED IF MICROSOFT WAS PUNISHED FOR THIS SAME ACT

What is funny are those who are blinded by their loyalty to either apple or ms. In fact, most people have never really tried both browsers for any length of time. Safari, while might have less configurability (it doesn’t include many of the useless configurations), it is faster and has ease of use. Add more features usually = harder to use. I refused to be a lemming for the longest time with the ipod, but it was given to me as a gift. There is a reason why no instructions are provided, you don’t need it. If you don’t understand how to use apple software, it is because you have used an unintuitive PC for so long you don’t know how to think logically to get something done. After my Dell finally took its last virus and died, I got a MBP. It took me about two weeks to figure out to stop over thinking it, and how easy it was.

In terms of bundling, give me a break. You can’t download anything without something being bundled, so pay attention. If you don’t want it, it is a click away from removing. Yea real shady of apple to include it in itunes updates/software. Give me a break.

most compatible my ss… neither the fastest ;) you’ve never heard of Opera obviously ;)

I immediately took it off my system each and every time I had to update my Quicktime/iTunes in the last few months. I really don’t need or want more bloatware on my pc. If I had wanted to use Safari, I would have bought a Mac. I’m perfectly happy with Mozilla Firefox.

As a Windows Safari user from day one I’d say the usage of Windows Safari has nothing to do with software update protocol. It has everything to do with iPhone, the browsing speed and the crisp display that is easy on eyes. I believe the reason 3.1 takes off simply because it is so much better than 3.0 as well as other browsers (Firefox, IE). 3.1 is not only faster but it is rock solid stable and addresses the compatibility issues with some web sites that 3.0 had.

Isnt this the same thing Microsoft was crucified for? You know bundling I.E. and Windows Media Player into windows in an effort to crush netscape and real. Now not only does apple force people to use Itunes with their me too mp3 player, they now try to trick me into using their use quicktime player and now their equally useless browser. Safari adequate no where near as fast as I.E.7 or Opera and no where near as configurable as Firefox. So maybe this is apple’s attempt crush Mozilla who knows.

Kris, did you really read the article?

This wasn’t about overall usage, it’s about the number of people who visited Net Applications’ website.

Have you visited there? I haven’t. I would imagine that the vast majority of people who read this article haven’t even heard of “Net Applications,” let alone visited it.

I imagine that the percentage of people visiting Apple.com would have a much different browser use percentage than that of this little-known and little-used website.

The article is misrepresentative and foolish. Your comment simply adds to that.

ex ped: I’m afraid you are wrong about the data, Don. It’s not visitors to Net Applications’ website that is being sampled, but visitors to their clients’ websites. This is how they put it:

We use a unique methodology for collecting this data. We collect data from the browsers of site visitors to our exclusive on-demand network of live stats customers. The data is compiled from approximately 160 million visitors per month. The information published is an aggregate of the data from this network of hosted website statistics. The site unique visitor and referral information is summarized on a monthly basis.

Net Applications is often criticized for making too much of a small sample, but its not as small a sample as you suggest.

If Windows Vista hung for an hour during the install for Safari, it should illustrate to you just how lousy Windows Vista was designed. The hanging issue has nothing to do with Safari, rather the new “inferior, we’ll send out the 750MB Service Pack shortly” Windows Vista platform your running on.

Market share tripled??!! Get real Mr. Philip. A ZERO.14% increase is big news for you?? Get some reality.. and of course some sanity into your headline first.

ex ped: The math is pretty straightforward, Kris. And it’s news not because the market share is very big, but because Apple’s controversial strategy finally managed to move a needle that was hovering between 0.04% and 0.07% for nearly a year.

Yeah its the same old trick that is used when installing other software that comes with the stupid ie toolbars. For example Google and Yahoo toolbars are all over the market and I can’t stand toolbars, just like I can’t stand itunes and pushing software through in update, which too me is even worse than providing it when you install something else. Apple will have many many more oppurtunities to do these things as itunes and quicktime are some of the most security risk software on the market and needs to be updated on a weekly basis and I assume Safari will be no different. Thats the security model of Apple and security by obscerity is not going to work for you newbie Apple fanboys especially when the software is running on the most targeted OS(windows)ever, you better get a call out to Symantec or Nod32 or something.

What is the evidence that any Windows users are trying it out?

I got it without iTunes. I quickly dispensed with it, it does not come up to Firefox in configurability. It is pretty and quick, but not oo useful.

I thought it was a very Microsoft thing to do. With that said it isn’t too bad of a browser, but deffinately not faster than IE or Mozilla on either of the computers I’ve used it on.

And, I suppose, if IE hadn’t been “shoved in our face” back in the 90s by including it in every version of the Windows OS, most of the world would be browsing with Netscape today.

Philip, why do you call it a ‘gambit’ from Apple? do you really know what a gambit is?

ex ped: a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage. The risk Apple took was that it might annoy some people. The advantage was that it might increase its market share.

It is impossible for an ordinary consumer to add to the default search engine list. Either an easily fixed bug they refuse to address, or a deliberate attempt to set monopolitsic behavior.

If it’s checked as default, that is because you downloaded it earlier.

Microsoft argues in court that I.E. can’t be taken out of the operating system (a total lie, and very easily was disproven in court.) Microsoft builds their entire business on this same ‘tactic’.

You had Quicktime installed already. By Microsoft’s definition, Safari is a logical part of that.

It was clearly marked, and free software. It is not malware, and is in fact the fastest, most standards compliant browser available. Boo hoo if you didn’t want it. If you weren’t running WIndows it would be easy to delete it and be done with it.

Nothing about this was underhanded in any way on Apple’s part.

The Safari upgrade was not forced on Windows iTunes uesrs. It was an option. An option I am glad I accepted. Safari is far more compatible with the HTML standard, than all other browsers available for Windows. Go ahead and run the test on your browser at http://acid3.acidtests.org/.

I guess we’ll really know how effective it was in the coming months-to see what the actual attach rate is (as opposed to people just trying it out).

A browser is no use just sitting on the hard drive, regardless if you were “Tricked” into downloading it, or it came shipped with every computer.

“although it’s not clear how many Microsoft (MSFT) Windows users would ever have tried Apple’s (AAPL) Web browser if it hadn’t been shoved in their face.”

Dont be so bitter you missed the stock pick of the year.

I just caught that pop up on my ever more frequent iTunes updates and deselected it. Coupled w/ iTunes still running slow on my quad core machine, I’ve decided not purchase another iPod and not get the iPhone when my contract’s up in Aug even though I considered waiting for a 3G.

I was very frustrated with Apple by this tactic, as the attempt at a stealth “update” to add Safari failed on my Vista workstation, hanging and consuming over half my CPU for an hour until I realized the cause and killed the errant installer process. It definitely behaved like malware, in my opinion.

Since I didn’t get Safari installed as a result of that mess, I was curious to see the revised protocol. Safari does now show in a “New Software” category, but is CHECKED by default versus UNchecked as the article states. It seems like either Apple is not telling journalists and consumers the whole truth about their revised protocol, or there are bugs in that revision.