I went to download a new copy of Quicktime from Apple today and noticed they bundled iTunes in the install. The installer clearly asked me where I wanted iTunes installed, so I chose the default:
I went back into the directory to delete iTunes and noticed another directory:c:\Program Files\iTunes\
had been created as well.c:\Program Files\iPod\
Apple:
I know the name of the game is getting your software onto my computer, but this is just scummy. What's next, are you going to tack on a copy of OS/X next time I upgrade my Quicktime? What else was installed when all I wanted to install was Quicktime?
I download and install Quicktime because I want Quicktime, not iTunes, not iPod software, nothing else. Even with full disclosure in the agreement, your bundling of software in this way is obnoxious at best and will turn off Windows/Apple fence-sitters in the worst case. We're all intelligent out here, why not let us download the individual software packages we want by ourselves?
[Edit: July 26, 2005]
I now also notice that Apple created two now processes that come up at startup. I've got an iPodService.exe running (I don't own and probably won't own an iPod, ever...) and an iTunesHelper.exe (remember, I didn't want iTunes in the first place.) Off to go clean up my registry and directories.
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[Edit: July 27, 2005]
I also had to remove approximately 50 different entries in my Windows Registry, by hand, in order to disable the services and file associations.
[/Edit]
Thanks, Apple, for making Quicktime more work than necessary. I hear that VLC plays Quicktime videos just fine, and so does QuickTime Alternative. Both of those choices quickly install only what I want and provide most of the same functions. Is this what the Apple Marketing types had in mind when they brainstormed the idea to bundle Quicktime and iTunes?
Putting a link to iTunes download on the Qucktime download page is cool. Bundling the software together (and not providing an iTunes/iPod uninstaller) is not.
To finish things off, my InstallShield for my QuickTime install has locked up part-way through and won't finish. There are no (visible) dialogs waiting for a response.
Be good net citizens, Apple, and do the right thing. Or is this your idea of "different thinking"?
I know you posted this a while ago, but thought I would mention that I wish apple would install OSX with iTunes! I have a similar issue with them, but it is in the opposite manner. I don't want QuickTime but it comes with iTunes. Not only that, but after I installed it, they took over the default programs for all of my media. Anytime I clicked on a link that had a .mpg extension it would load it in the browser. HATED IT! The task of removing all of the memory drags and processor hogs was much more than I wanted to go through. Several programs that run in the background, many of which I had to use the old DOS command kill with the process number just to end.
Sorry to tell you dumbasses this, but there are plenty of other programs on the web that will sync your iPod to your music collection. If you don't like iTunes or the "iPod" folder (WHO FUCKING CARES, IT'S A FOLDER), you should have pulled your hand off your dick and done a little research into other iPod programs.
I let that last comment through to illustrate the level of brilliance of a small minority of my readers decide to display once they get on the Internet. Note how carefully Nick composed his writing and his choice of a wide vocabulary of words. This is grade-A stuff.
Nick, I see you read the post carefully as my point was that I didn't want iTunes installed automatically when I installed Quicktime on a Windows PC. I went out of my way to say I don't want any software for an iPod or iTunes on my computer. I'll try again: I don't use an iPod, I don't want iTunes. It's not just a folder, it's services that tie up memory and a whole slew of unnecessary registry entries for software I didn't want and will never use.
I'm quite aware that there are a number of "other programs on the web (Internet?) that will sync your iPod to your music collection." I'm not trying to do that. The other commenter wanted iTunes but no QuickTime, another shortfall of Apple's aggressive product cross-marketing. iTunes can work quite well for managing subscriptions to Podcasts and a personal music collection... WITHOUT AN iPOD.
Thanks for your constructive input and for adding value to this thread Nick. I hope to see a lot more of your high-quality comments in the near future.
I know the original post is a few months old but I've been as annoyed as you for the exact same reason: I dont own an Ipod (I have an mp3 car system and an excellent home system that I wired throughout the house) yet I have those two programs iPodService.exe iTunesHelper.exe
running.
Whether they are resource hogs or not is not the point, I NEVER WANTED THEM on my computer, just the Quicktime. I see no difference between this and what Sony is being blasted for with their music cd rootkits.
And I did install VLC and apart from a quirk here and there, I now use it as my default player because I dont worry about codecs and you can program your own hotkeys and the one that are already programmes like space bar to pause-play, double click the screen to go to fullscreen and back are logical.
It annoys me beyond belief how often Apple gets a free pass from geeks just because they make 'cool' stuff. If Real Player did this, you wouldnt hear the end of it.
They make a nice OS but their proprietary formats are as far from open source as you can get, they try their best to stop users from opening their own cases and they pull stunts like this bundling.
Cool or not, this action puts them in the same league as slimy corporations like Real and MS.
If I ever feel the need to buy an mp3 player, I will intentionally buy another product but Apple.
Iriver does ogg so that is a plus in their favor.