Safari update bait and switch drives Windows users up
By Leslie Poston
Safari has struggled to gain a foothold in the Windows market since it first got released in a Windows compatible format. How then did the program triple its Windows user base in just one month?
The answer lies in a recent Safari “update” that has fallen under fire for being what some call a bait and switch tactic by Apple to grab more market share against Internet Explorer. While in beta under version Safari 3.0, the software never really became popular outside the Apple sphere of core fans. Then came version 3.1, and that all changed.
How did Apple do the impossible? It seems it was through the limited time forced Software Update that had everyone so up in arms about not being able to choose whether they wanted to upgrade Safari to 3.1 or not. In fact, many people who were “updated” using Software Update had never installed Safari on their machine for use at all.
The problem with the updater raged for about a month, finally finding a resolution at the tail end of April 2008. All future Software Updates are listing it as an optional upgrade, and not a required one, now. Apple loyalists doubt their favorite company could be that underhanded. However, Apple is known for being secretive and for dramatic launches, so this seems completely in character based on that criteria.
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