Some on the internet think that Apple have done enough in the change to the automatic update software I complained about here and here. I don’t. The New software should NOT be checked by default, this is an UPDATE tool, not a NEW INSTALL tool.
Offer new software, fine, but don’t make it install by default.
Funny how the same people who still complain about Microsoft being a monopoly completely fail to see tactics like this as monopolistic (tying anyone?), let alone wonder about the closed system that is the iPod and iTunes.
Anyway, seems I still have the chip.
Check the “Ignore Update” box in the menu and you will never see the evil Safari again. You should try and become familiar on how your computer works. If you can’t figure out how to uncheck a box maybe you should go back to using a pencil and pad. BTW, neither Microsoft nor Apple are monopolies.
I always thought the big battle over “web portals”, whose browser would be the de-facto on your desktop, whose website your browser would default to when it launched was ridiculous. I’m mean who didn’t realize you could just change your settings and use whatever browser you wanted. Change another setting and have your browser go wherever you wanted it to on launch. Now, however, I see the world truly is populated by people that have no clue and must be protected from the ravages of those who know they are clueless. This all goes a long way towards explaining how Windows remains the dominant operating system on earth.
At less than 4% of the market Apple can hardly be considered a monopoly, nor are they even remotely able to perform acts of a Monopoly. Unlike your beloved M$ which regularly performs such acts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly
Do you own a DS, or a Playstation, or maybe even a modern automobile? I don’t see you complaining about these being closed systems. Seems like you may want to be working on that imagination a bit more…
“Tieing” what may I ask? I have made numerous entries on websites that do the same with pre-checked subscription boxes. You’re complaining over something anyone with eye sight can comprehend. I’m happy not to have all the pre-installed scam software on PCs that I’ve never had the chance to avoid. Cleaning up that mess takes hours if successful.
What’s the monopoly here you speak about? And just how does a dialog box have anything to do with one?
Any Windows OS is a closed OS. I agree the box could be left unchecked but the over reaction from the windows community is just that. As for the “monopoly” word I suggest you look that up. Apple’s OS is more of an open system than anything MS has ever produced. Apple makes the underlying code to the OS available for download & uses & contributes to open standards. Try uninstalling IE from your system. If you made the mistake of installing safari & don’t want it…uninstall it. Simple.
How exactly is anyone tied to an iPod or iTunes. AAC is a standard format. The iPod can play Most other formats including MP3 & WAV files. WMA files are another propriety MS solution & not supported. Yet I never hear Windows users bitch about that. The DRM from protected AAC files can easily be removed. If I wanted to switch to another MP3 player there would be no real issues to deal with. The iTunes lock-In argument is full of holes.
On your criticism that iTunes is a monopolistic, closed system, you do realise that it is the fault of 3 of the big 4 Music cartels refusing to allow Apple to sell their tracks without DRM that keeps the iTunes ecosystem more closed than it could be? If Apple had its way, no music would have DRM.
2 million tracks of Apple’s 6 million are already DRM-free and can be moved to any other software package or device that plays AAC or easily converted to the MP3 format with a single click within iTunes itself to play on other devices that only support that older, lower quality format. Of course, even protected AAC files can still be burnt to unprotected audio CD format as well and played on just about any sound system in the world.
The iPod of course treats the MP3, AIFF and audible book formats as first class citizens along with AAC, so why are you throwing words like monopoly around with such abandon?
-Mart
By the way, I agree that Apple shouldn’t have Safari ticked by default, but I trust you are complaining just as loudly at everyone else who does it all the time (Microsoft, Adobe etc) – yes?
To some extent I wonder if this example of Apple’s however is targeted mainly at the vast majority who only ever follow the default path? In the case of browsers, this means those people who continue to use Internet Explorer because it was already on the machine and is the easiest, default choice so that’s all they’ve ever used.
Those cluey enough to have chosen a superior option (proactively chosen a non-default option) are already using FireFox and would, one assumes, be a little more likely to also proactively choose to accept or deny the install of Safari.
In effect, one hopes that this might be the catalyst that gets a few of them out of the clutches of the bland, feature-poor, non-standards-following, Internet Explorer which MS has only generally improved when knocked out of their lethargy by decent competition.
I dunno. Following the tactics of other major software companies in this situation is not the nicest thing to do, but perhaps we could allow that it may have some positive impacts in the advancement of standards-compliant browser marketshare and the reduction of the monopoly of mediocrity.
-Mart
What monopoly do they hold? Although it is true that you don’t have to hold 100% of a market to have a monopoly on it, Apple isn’t even close with iTunes. Remember iTunes is a media player. It’s competitors are Real, MediaPlayer, WinAmp, and a host of others. The record labels have made FairPlay irrelevant by allowing the sale of DRM free tracks (to everyone but apple) that work on the iPod.
If you don’t like Apple’s attempt to increase Safari’s market share…Don’t use iTunes. There are plenty of options.
NOTE: I was recently presented with a dialog from Microsoft on my windows XP installation that gave no details except that I needed to update. After clicking a few advanced and more buttons I found that the “UPDATE” was actually Windows Genuine Advantage. An application I never had and one that is best described as a virus with a potential kill payload. And you are bitching about Apple?
Damn! You Apple Fanboys crack me up. Do you guys have some sort of organising committee or is it just the order that eventually emerges from chaos? Makes me wish I had adsense on my blog, could have made a bundle selling Apple stickers yesterday.
First let me say that I suspect most of you have no creditibility in this area as you would have been defending Apple the first time around. Of course now that Apple had made the change, thereby agreeing with my point, its kind of left you isolated. I know, seeing Apple admit it is wrong is frustrating.
Joe, its clear you are Mac from the Mac and PC adverts with your clever sarcastic wit. I’ll actually go back to my Tablet PC, something I’m sure you are unfamiliar with. However you are right about them both not being Monopolies, its just that the people who are always first to bring it up at Dinner parties are the Macboys!
Slaws, I’m not sure if your comment is the standard cut and paste you put on any blogs who dare to criticise Steve, might even be your email signature. Anyway, thanks for visiting.
Bill Smith (wonder if that is your real name) is resorting to the cold hard facts of percentages. But of course is missing the whole point. Given the usage of “M$” I’m pretty sure I’ve met him at a dinner party.
REB, like the way you worked in the comment on Crapware, I always do start from scratch when I get a new PC, works a treat. To be clear, I dont believe Apple is a monopoly, just like I dont think Microsoft was a monopoly. My point was that if you are a person WHO did believe Microsoft was a monopoly (and lets face it, most Apple people did because it makes them feel better about their slavish devotion to a corporation) then they should also see it Apple, in iTunes and the iPod. Here they are leveraging that monopoly to try and get an advantage in another market (Browsers). This was the very simple point, and this is what Microsoft was accused of with IE (Operating System to Browser market).
Squish, I have to admit I almost stopped reading after your first 7 words. Windows is the dominant OS today BECAUSE it was open (Any developer, any hardware). Anyway, if you want to toot the “Open” argument, get some credibility, get Linux, really! To argue that OSX is more open than Windows just doesn’t make sense. Much like saying that AAC is a standard format, more standard that WMA? You were joking there right? And good on you for breaking the DMA, is that a checkbox in iTunes I’ve missed as well?
Martin, thanks for leaving a link to you blog, at least I know you are real. I agree that the music industry is at fault, though I dont agree that Apple dislikes DRM, it is a VERY nice barrier to entry for them. Ask Steve next time you see him if he would release Pixar titles without DRM? I think I know what he will say. There arent so many devices that play the protected AAC files though are there? I would hasten to add that protected AAC would be a significant number of the tracks out there. Means you have to have an iPod, but I’m sure Apple is doing this just because they have to! And yes I would complain about anyone doing this, and I would ask you where Microsoft does it? All their updates come through Windows update, and I cant remember it ever offering a completely NEW product, BY DEFAULT, through this channel which is focused on Security and Stability. Microsoft WOULD get beaten up over this behaviour, people stopped “trusting” Microsoft ages ago, its time to stop trusting Apple too! You started to make some sense, but then finished on a fairly condescending “We know best” note, which is typical elitist Apple. I tried firefox when I left MS, frankly it sucked, and I really tried, I WANTED to use it. IE7 is actually pretty good, but of course I’m sure you haven’t tried it for religious reasons.
Doug, thanks for reminding me that iTunes is a media player, it slipped my mind, though it was a tool to test your CPU and Memory Capacity. You also made my point nicely, I would LOVE to NOT use iTunes, but I HAVE to because I have an iPod Touch. Anyway, as for your “Note”, its not a virus, and its doesnt have a killer payload, dont be all dramatic!
Anyway, I learnt a fun lesson here, linkbait works, and that the cult of Apple Mac Fan Boys really do attack!
Daniel,
If you could stop with the blanket slur on all of those who commented for a minute, perhaps you might like to wonder if there may be some valid reasons for these responses.
I use Internet Explorer 7.0 every day on my Dell PC desktop and regularly under Parallels on my MacBook Pro (our network webcams and Crestron digital mixers can only be remotely controlled with IE thanks to Active X lock-in). No religion here, just recognition that Microsoft left Internet Explorer stagnant for years once they killed off Netscape, their main competition. It took 6 years for them to go from version 6 to IE 7 and only because Firefox started to make serious inroads into their marketshare.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Internet_Explorer
On the topic of DRM, Steve Jobs has always contended that it doesn’t work, from the Rolling Stones article published just before they launched the iTunes Music Store to his “Thoughts on Music” post which preceded EMI’s entire music catalogue becoming available DRM free on iTunes.
Now would Apple ever push for DRM-free video and movies from Pixar/Disney or any of the other content providers? Well, that would be a far harder task as unlike Music which has always been available unprotected on records and CDs, the movie industry has always been DRM-mad with Macrovision protection on VHS tapes, CSS on DVD and now the even more draconian HDCP on BlueRay etc. Even if Steve Jobs wanted to, he’d have far less leverage to convince the industry to drop the DRM already.
On the subject of audio formats, WMA is a proprietary format that is solely controlled by Microsoft who has very convincingly demonstrated the dangers of going this route when they knifed their Plays-for-Sure partners in the back in introducing the totally closed and incompatible Zune system. They publicly admitted that trying to license and support a DRM format across multiple 3rd party platforms was far too unreliable and fraught with incompatibilities to be viable.
In contrast, the AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) format is not proprietary – it is an open standard developed by Dolby, Sony, Nokia, Bell Labs and Fraunhofer and ratified by the MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) as the successor to MP3 which was the old standard (originally called MPEG 1 layer 3 Audio). Although hardware manufacturers pay a license fee for AAC support, the MP3 format requires royalty payments on distributed content, no licenses or payments are required to be able to stream or distribute content in AAC format:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Audio_Coding
AAC is actually used by a growing number of modern devices capable of music playback including Microsoft Media Player, WinAmp, RealPlayer, the Microsoft Zune, the Xbox media Centre, Sony MP3 Players, the latest Creative Zen models, Cowon Media Players, the Sonos system, Roku Soundbridge, the Squeezbox, Sony Playstation 3, Sony PSP, Sony Ericsson Walkman Phones, Nintendo Wii, Nokia N series phones, Blackberry, Samsung, LG and stacks of other mobile phones etc.
In contrast MP3 is enmeshed in litigation that has already seen Microsoft ordered by a federal jury in San Diego to pay $1.52 billion to Alcatel-Lucent, for allegedly infringing on their patent technologies related to MP3 compression.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070222-8910.html
Of course in iTunes, you can convert your AAC format files to MP3 with minimal loss of quality if you have an old MP3 CD player or something, but you will lose much more quality using MP3 as the starting point.
Also, protected AAC does NOT “make up a significant number of the tracks out there”. Analysts estimate that only approx 23 of the thousands of audio tracks on the average iPod out there are purchased from the iTunes Music Store. Far from a monopolistic impediment.
Ps. I thought Doug’s mention of WGA was a very apt example of Microsoft pushing an unwanted application down user’s throats through Windows Update. Considering the unwanted side affects this particular piece of software had on many unwitting legitimate users, I think Apple’s little transgression is pretty harmless in comparison. So did you take MS to task for this little bit of nastiness?
-Mart
C’mon Martin, seriously, look at the comments, did any one of them (beside yours to your credit) not include some sort of sarcasm or comment that made it very difficult to take seriously? really?
Unfortunately this just reinforces my view that it is impossible to have a serious conversation with an Apple Fanboy. I just cant help but have some fun back!
So, you do indeed add some considered comment. If WGA is your example of Microsoft software “pushed down your throat” I have this to say:
1) Sure, Apple doesnt have this problem because it is a closed system, you can only run OSX on an Apple, so piracy is not really an issue. Microsoft is not a charity.
2) The commenter, Doug, described is as a virus with a dangerous payload, is that really a constructive way to talk about it? You really expect me to take that seriously?
3) Piracy is a problem, and some users do pay for software they dont get, this does help them.
4) It’s not really the same is it? I have no argument with it at all as a user because I paid for Windows! Some users may have had problems, if so that is a bug which software has, and well, like the vast majority of Windows users it has never caused me any problems.
As for AAC, lets again be real here ok. Open is Open, not Open is not Open. Dont pretend. Ogg Vorbis, open, WMA, AAC, not open. This is all just symantics. Its like claiming OSX is more open than Windows. And like I said, fine, name one other device that can play protected AAC? Open eh?
As for the history lesson in IE, thanks, I know it, and I think Firefox is great for innovation, like competition in any market. My comment wasn’t about history, it was about now, and in response to a comment about IE7 today. Remember you descirbed it as “bland, feature-poor, non-standards-following, Internet Explorer”, and its just not true in my view. I find it a great browser, again in my view better than firefox and its massive memory chewing leaks.
Anyway, get back to the point, installing new software, by default via an Update tool is just wrong. Period. Any company any time. Why defend it?
By the way, that last comment wasn’t for you since you agree, but no other commenter did. This IS what my blog post(s) have been about.
Definitely get Adsense!
The checkbox issue means very little to those of us who can read and make an educated choice about what to install. I would argue that any user who just clicks the install choice without understanding the implications of that choice gets what they deserve…both good and bad. I have to remember to disable the google toolbar option inside every Java update. At least, Apple’s mechanism provides sufficient information and clarity for you to understand your options….that’s more than sufficient for me…ymmv.
Brian, so, in summary, you are happy with people who are perhaps not so technically savy (that is most people on the internet) being taken advantage of by this sort of social engineering? They get what they deserve? Very nice! This, of course, is instead of expecting big companies to do the right thing for their customers.
To be clear, Apple has done this intentionally, they know people will end up installing it without actively wanting to. So who does this actually benefit? I wonder. They COULD have taken the responsible approach and let people come to them and TAKE AN ACTION to get Safari, it’s’worked for Firefox, rather than sneaking it in by relying on people to TAKE AN ACTION to NOT INSTALL it.
Sufficient clarity? heh? The title bar says “Apple Software Update” not “Apple New Software Install Gallery”. It has taken a long time to educate people NOT to install anything they find on the internet except security updates. Apple is piggy backing on this, and it is quite clearly not the RIGHT thing to do.
And they way Google gets it stuff out there like that sucks as well. Its crapware for software.
Daniel, even in the previous iteration of Apple’s software updater, it stated at the top in bold letters: “NEW SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE FROM APPLE.”
If a user blindly clicks on updates without reading and comprehending what they are allowing, then they would be better served to step away from the keyboard.
This isn’t rocket science, right? Even my 15 yr old son knows better than to blindly install anything without knowing what and why. In my opinion (as a dual platform user – XP 60% of the time), this is much ado about not much.
Look, its simple, your 15yr old son is not the typical internet user, he would already be in the top percentages of tech savy people online.
You are totally overestimating the average internet user, it’s why Phishing attacks work, it’s why Malware works AND it’s why Apple did this. They KNOW that a significant number of people WONT uncheck that box, and knowing this, they shouldn’t then take advantage of it. Simple.
If people want Safari it is not easy to find, you dont have to sneak it onto their computers if it is any good. You can even include it in this update just DONT check it by default.
I think you made yourself clear when you said people get what they deserve. I think this is back to front and not the way those behind software should think. We should be looking out for our customers best interests, and that means only installing software with their ACTIVE consent.
By making the change they have they obviously agree that they were being a little dodgy, just a shame they have decided to take such a half measure and leave the fundamental problem in place.
I don’t really care whether Apple deploys an opt-in or an opt-out installer. Either way, the end user has the responsibility to make an informed decision about whether they want to install software on their PC. I could easily argue that Apple, in fact, IS looking out for your best interest by making it as easy as possible to install their web browser. That said, why would you ever click an install button without INTENDING to install. This, in my opinion, is not analogous to phishing…Apple is not trying to fool the user for some malicious or nefarious purpose. Apple would be ’sneaking’ Safari into your PC only if you neve saw a box that clearly described what you were offered and why you might want it (as Apple does clearly). That is, unless your definition of ’sneaking’ differs markedly from mine.
Owh gosh, Apple fanatics. This is too easy
. Of course that checkbox must not to be checked by default. And, because it’s an updater tool, this option must not be available! there are lots of other companies who offer sneaky software by slipstreaming extra software within an installer (updater of fresh installer) where the checkbox is checked by default and everyone hates it. It’s just a dirty marketing trick.
Jaap, Laying out the facts does not make one an ‘Apple fanatic.’ It’s a software Installer, which can include updates and new software available for install. It’s only sneaky if one lacks the 3rd grade reading comprehension to uncheck the box or leave it checked and install. This isn’t slipstreaming.
Oh geese, you bloggers still talking about this. It was a freakin’ month ago! For a 2 bot computer (6% share) company it seems to fully rule and control you. Windows rules the world, a pushed web browser isn’t gonna change that one bit. For heaven’s sake go outside, go camping, do something! Why on earth you’re writing about this 30 days later begs to ask WTF is wrong with you?
Jaap, be very careful,they are sensitive and they BITE!
Brian, of course its analogous to Phishing and Malware, they pretend to be something else (a bank site or in Apples case an “Update Tool”) and then they rely on the fact that many many users dont read or fully understand what is on their screen. IT has nothing to do with their reading comprehension, just the bewildering number of choices and the complexity of modern computing. People just dont understand, especially in this case when a “Update Tool” (see title bar of the tool) from Apple pops on the screen.
This is why “Opt Out” IS generally bad, and Opt In generally good. Read my original blog post on this subject even I FELL FOR IT, and you will just have to trust me, I’m fairly computer literate. I made the mistake of thinking I could trust Apple.
So, Why do YOU think Apple has chosen to go Opt Out rather than Opt In? Do you really think it is for the benefit of their users? Or for the benefit of their Market share?
What do you think the motive is here?
matt, seems you have nice mobile internet connection from your tent as you were able to take the time to read AND reply! Can take man man away from the internet but not the interenet away from the man!
Use a Creative zen or a zune, forget Apple, they are too smart for you or rather you are too good for them. Why settle for products that tied you to a company.
Anyway be happy an a MSfanboi and live happily, forget about the mac fanbois.
Daniel, I think Apple is using Safari as a way to spread their particular browsing solution….it’s another choice. Choice is good. I’m ok with with the box checked or unchecked. It’s pretty embarassing to admit that you clicked ‘install’ under the guise of trust. YOU need to drive the bus….don’t let MS orApple or Adobe do it for you. By the way, when you accidentally installed Safari, did your PC melt or turn into a malware bot??
You are right about the motive of Apple, they are doing it for them, not for us, their customers. But you are wrong about how they are doing it, they are using iTUNES to spread Safari.
I’m not embarassed, the thousand and one forwards I’m getting on facebook of a rather offensive picture demonstrates to me that we are all vulnerable to this. Yes, even it seems super-users like yourself.
As for did my machine turn to mush, well, you are missing the point. Not to mention the badness of installing software you dont need, especially a browser, due to the increased attack surface it gives hackers.
Of course I’m sure your opinion would be radically different if it were Microsoft doing this.
Daniel, I spend 60% of my computing time running Win XP, so I am familiar with MS update practices (WGA, etc.). I’m no super-user; just someone who is cautious enough to pay attention to every message received on my computer. Apple’s motive is obvious. So what? If you don’t want an application, don’t click ‘install.’ I’m sorry, but users who are ‘fooled’ by this just need to get a little bit educated.
I’m not speaking up for infallible super-users like yourself, I’m speaking up for the other 99% of internet users. I’m giving up as this is the point you missing and talking around. The fact is that a significant number of people DON’T uncheck boxes and apple SHOULD NOT take advantage of this. Additionally, they should not be taught to uncheck boxes on Update programs, that is bad for security, for everyone. Sure you can blame the users for being “idiots”, but Apple can easily solve this problem for ALL of us, act responsibly, and do the right thing by them.
Strange that you take such care with what you click on screen, but don’t consider the installation of a new browser much of a big deal. Its a pretty significant increase in your PC attack surface and something else to keep up to date.
The intersting thing that stands out from all this, and your view on the problem, is that Apple is not learning from Microsofts mistakes. I see it with a lot of companies, Google is another, where they get away with more because of their reputation (Google Vs MS Hailstorm), but slowly, over time its starts to wear away and the inevitabilities of being a profit making company kick in. Microsoft has been through this, worse than most, and continues to struggle, and it has learnt a lot of lessons.
That is not to say MS wont make more mistakes, it will and I will be critical of it, but my point stands, that you would be on the other side of this dicussion if this very example were Microsoft, and the general noise everywhere would be much louder!
My problems with Microsoft are tied to situations wheren their security updates scew up a user’s install…have you evr had that happen?? I have. Apple is far from perfect, but I always teach users to think before they click. It’s their responsibility….end of story.
Well, given the incredbily complex Windows ecosystem (something else apple doesn’t have to deal with) its amazing there are not a lot more problems, really!
Anyway, I genuinely cant remember an issue that I have had via Windows Update in the last, ummmmm, well, ever actually. At least nothing worse than an inconvenient reboot. Sure it does happen, of course it does, and when it does *everyone* hears about it. In the windows world even a very small percentage is a massive number of people affected.
Actually, I dont really follow your comment though, how is a user going to be able to tell if a particular security update is going to cause them grief BEFORE they install it. How would you decide to when to uncheck? Regardless, tools like Windows System Restore do a great job and are there if things do indeed go bad.
I agree with think before you click, but then there is the real world and the users I’m talking about in it. This is where Apple is harming people. Those same users SHOULDNT think too much when it comes to security updates. My advice to any PC user is *always* apply the security patches as soon as Windows Update recommends you do, to trust it.
Security overrules everything, and if it is set to download on Windows Update, then it is doing it for a very good reason.
Oh, I always download and install security updates both on my PC and my Mac…but, I don’t ‘trust’ either one implicitly. As for System restore in Windows, I’ve seen that option fail for a number of our users. On the Mac side, it’s trivial to create a full/incremental bootable clone which gets a user back to work in minutes if the worst happens to their internal drive. Windows XP is very good, considering that it’s built on a bunch of cruft…the ‘incredibly complex’ ecosystem is in no way an advantage for Windows users.
I’m sorry since when is WMA a standard? Also Windows is a closed proprietary OS…it has nothing to do with being a fanboy. I use both systems. Since when can I look at the underlying code that makes up Windows? WMA, WMV, DirectX, etc., etc., etc. are not exactly standards or open by any stretch of the imagination. Who said anything about Linux? You were comparing OSX to Windows.
Squish, its just not worth going on in any further discussion with you. If you think OSX is open, you are wrong. Just ask that company trying to sell Apple closnes this week, I mean you cant even run it on whatever hardware you like. My point stands, if you want to argue about which OS is more open you are going to need to switch to Linux.
I guess you think Fairplay is an open standard too? But again, if you want to toot that horn you are going to need to swap to Ogg Vorbis. As for anything else, you demonstrated your fanboy credentials by going completely off topics with your first sentence.
Brian, my final comment. What can I say to comments like “System Restore fails for a number of your users”, ok, fine. I’m not sure of the functionality you are talking about in OSX, but Vista has some great backup tools, so you could always go that route.
As for “incredibly complex” ecosystem. Well, that is another whole argument. Though I guess the fact that windows is on an order of magnitude many more desktops means that somebody felt the broader ranges of choices, cost benefits and opportunities were an advantage. Its part of the reason I made my choice, so I’m just going to leave it at that.
I like that company offering to sell Apples clones this week was great. Competition would be good for Apple!
Squish, its just not worth going on in any further discussion with you. If you think OSX is open, you are wrong. Just ask that company trying to sell Apple closnes this week, I mean you cant even run it on whatever hardware you like. My point stands, if you want to argue about which OS is more open you are going to need to switch to Linux.
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No where did I say OSX was open. I said it utilizes more open standards & protocols than anything MS builds. MS is the most proprietary software company on the planet. You seem a bit hard headed. So I can run MS’s OS on the same hardware with a different company name on the front of the box & that is open to you? WMA is not a standard. Explain to me why it is. If your definition is that WMA is somehow a standard because of MS’s marketshare then your logic is faulty. By your logic Fairplay & AAC are the standards because they hold 90% marketshare. No Fairplay is not a standard but AAC is, WMA is not.