Apple installed a control panel applet for its MobileMe online sync and storage service on Windows XP and Windows Vista systems when they were updated to iTunes 7.7 -- the second time this year that it's bundled new software with an update for an existing program.
The anti-malware organization that rebuked Apple for similar tactics in April said it has not had a chance to investigate, but on a general level the group objects to software that's installed without prior user approval or knowledge.
[ Read the related story "MobileMe: What you need to know." And discover the top-rated IT products as rated by the InfoWorld Test Center. ]
Computerworld has confirmed that installing iTunes 7.7, the version required to access Apple's new iPhone- and iPod touch-specific App Store, also installs a MobileMe control panel in both Windows XP and Windows Vista. The control panel, dubbed "MobileMe Preferences," is used by subscribers to log into the service, set sync options for Outlook or Internet Explorer, and access MobileMe's online storage.
People who are not yet subscribers are taken to an Apple marketing Web site if they click on the "Learn More" button under a "Try MobileMe" heading.
The end-user licensing agreement (EULA) that accompanies the iTunes 7.7 update makes no mention of the MobileMe software that's installed on the PC, nor are there any notifications elsewhere during the setup procedure. Also, uninstalling iTunes does not uninstall the MobileMe control panel applet. Instead, users must select "Apple Mobile Device Support" from the "Add or Remove Programs" applet in XP or "Uninstall or change a program" in Vista to uninstall the software.
Apple's decision to include the MobileMe preferences applet without telling users reminded some of the dustup last spring when the Cupertino, Calif. company offered Safari 3.1 to Windows users via the Apple Software Update tool, even if they hadn't had Apple's browser on their PCs previously.
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