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MacUpdate tests changes in face of challenging specialist market
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Nov 20, 2015, 05:18 PM
 
Recent changes in selected downloads at aggregate file site MacUpdate.com have caused some consternation among long-time users, including some optional offers for other programs that appear while users are installing an update. Though the optional installs (including a SearchAssist browser toolbar and alleged "clean-up" program MacBooster) are marked with clear "skip" or "install" buttons, many of MacUpdate's users are concerned about the safety or usefulness of the offers. MacNN spoke with the founder of the site to get the story straight from the source.

The site, which has been running for 17 years and offers over 40,000 Mac apps, lists updates to apps on a daily basis in a list format, along with key information about the app, developer contact or site information, reviews and comments from other users, pricing information for paid apps, as well as discount offers on selected apps. The site is free to use, but offers a paid option ($20 every six months) that removes all ads from the site and allows users to handle downloads, installs, and the cleanup of installs automatically with a MacUpdate desktop app.



MacNN recently had a conversation with MacUpdate founder J. Mueller to get some clarification about the changes, which don't impact users of the MacUpdate Desktop software or other paid site subscribers. Mueller described the testing of the as mostly a learning process for him and his team on what is happening with other download sites, and more in the interest of finding out what others are doing badly. He noted that most visitors come to the site, read the list, download their updates and go -- leaving little opportunity for users to support the site so that it stays functional.

This is, says Mueller, precisely what led some of his chief rivals -- sites like CNET's Download.com and Softonic.com -- to experiment with adding additional installers, advertising or app discovery offers appearing while a file is being downloaded, and other possibilities to generate income. Sadly, he added, these sites haven't adopted standards for what types of programs can pay to be included in downloads, resulting in known malware sometimes accompanying the legitimate file the user is trying to get.

"Fear not," Mueller said in response to a question about whether long-time users should be concerned about MacUpdate's testing of similar techniques. "We are not planning to go in the same direction [as CNET and Softonic]. We are learning about this process ... and testing it on only one percent of our hosted apps. We are focused on problem-solving, and the Mac community is very important to us." He added that more information would be made available to users once the testing phase is further along, but that the goal of the optional install offers is to learn about how the process works, how users who see it respond to it, and how to avoid the mistakes rivals have made.

Custom installer free users see on some downloads
Custom installer free users see on some downloads


Currently, a percentage of files (including some well-known app updates, currently including Firefox but previous tested on a Skype install) will download a combo "MacUpdate installer" rather than the direct updated file for visitors to the site who are not members (a limited membership is free of charge). The installer will post offers for optional additional installs, such as the Search-Assist toolbar, but does not require that users install it. It does, however, require that users click the "skip" button if they don't want it, or the "accept" button if they do. The unadulterated Firefox update is then installed, and if the user chose to add the toolbar, that is installed as well.

Optional installer included with Firefox update
Optional installer included with Firefox update


Long-time users, including Thomas Reed of Malwarebytes.org, have expressed concern that the optional installs may constitute "adware" or otherwise give themselves privileges that the user is not aware of or didn't intend to agree to if they opt to install the extra software, and that the move opens the door to malware or "nuisanceware" developers, such as MacKeeper, paying to get their software included in a future form that removes the explicit user agreement action.

Mueller acknowledged the concerns, but said the optional installs would not go in that direction, and instead portrayed the move as a way to offer legit developers more opportunity for app discovery and to improve the overall install process -- alongside a way to monetize the services offered by MacUpdate when the majority of users don't pay to become update subscribers. The MacUpdate desktop application, and the "MacUpdate installers" that include other offers, both intend to make the install process more like the "clean" technique used by iOS applications, in that all the package-opening, install progress, and file cleanup afterwards is handled by the more advanced installer rather than the user.

His message to the community is that the current experiment is exactly that: an experiment designed to help the team learn more, and discover the advantages and disadvantages of install-based advertising or app-discovery offers. The site wants to find out how many users opt to take up the offers, how many refuse them, how to make the offers more attractive, and of course how to monetize users who are using the site's services but not otherwise supporting its operation. "Advertisers now consider an install ad opportunity much more valuable than [the traditional] display ads," Mueller noted.

Paid users do not get the augmented installer packages, he said, and are "very important people to us. We want to get more into app discovery, and we want to give paid users more flexibility to go beyond just updating their present apps and into how to better find new apps." The clean, automatic installs that paid users currently enjoy can be adapted to free users, since many users do not really understand the install process (or uninstall process) well, and can have many leftover files or encounter issues as a result.

"We're focused on learning and problem-solving, and evolving to keep up with the industry as it is today," he added. "At the end of the day, I think we're going to come away with a better service and a better site ... the key here is for developers to support the concept of an enhanced installer process, and understanding the value of the installer" as a moment where they can both make the experience easier and reach the user directly with relevant information, offers, or related app discovery.
     
Flying Meat
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Nov 20, 2015, 08:58 PM
 
I do understand the need to make some money from an effort, even if it's just to cover the expense of the service (...but you know. hopefully more), but I think these types of "feature adds" are generally/largely not that helpful to the user.
I'll admit, I have made great use of the service in the past, as it is generally the best place to shop around, and/or download the update and go.
Much like news and info sites, user want the news and info. Pop-up videos/ads (sound or not) that obscure content really diminish the value of previously useful sites.
I don't begrudge a site their sidebar or page bottom advertisements (definitely NO audio or insane flashies please). Heck, I don't even mind scrolling past a clearly marked block of advertising halfway through an article as long as they don't pop up something when my cursor invariable crosses over them.
     
Carrier Wave
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Nov 21, 2015, 01:57 PM
 
I've been a paid member of Macupdate since 2007. I appreciate the site for its ability to email me when my apps have been updated (or when they drop in price), and they periodically offer bundle deals at good prices. Also valuable is the user-powered lists of alternative/competitor apps for any given app - that's opened my eyes to a lot of apps I otherwise wouldn't have known about.

Once I had a problem with my Mac and when the Genius at the Apple Store decided to download the newest version of something (can't remember what) he went to the now-departed Versiontracker.com site. But the site stuttered and wouldn't let him download. I suggested Macupdate, which he hadn't heard of(!), and the site allowed for a fast download.

Although I have the option to use the Macupdate app to download apps I just never felt the need to use it.
     
panjandrum
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Nov 23, 2015, 05:38 PM
 
I had to uninstall malware a teacher installed by downloading from the previously safe MacUpdate and not realizing that the installer she received was not the actual installer. I've added MacUpdate to that school district's internet blacklist and emailed all my clients to stop using MacUpdate as a place to discover and download Mac software. Someone else will hopefully step-up as a safe place to find and review Mac software.
     
Mike Wuerthele
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Nov 23, 2015, 06:06 PM
 
Panjandrum, you realize that the problem is better solved by education, right? Your users possibly using out of date software may be more of a danger than periodically cleaning out a search-bar or whatnot.
     
panjandrum
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Nov 24, 2015, 03:03 PM
 
Or, you know, maybe MacUpdate could not add malware to their "custom" installers? The fact that they would do this, even as a "marketing test" dictates that they deserve to be blacklisted. Education only goes so far unless you are will to go all the way to "don't ever install anything." Anyone can, and will, make a mistake. The point being, MacUpdate was safe and trusted. They betrayed that trust. Point the blame at the people responsible for the problem, not the victim. They could have done any number of other things; they could have eliminated direct links except to paid subscribers. They could have disabled reviews except for paid subscribers. They could have prominently asked for a small donation when you initiated download (put one more step between the link on MacUpdate and the actual, legit, installer). They could have, but they didn't. Instead they did something everyone in the Mac community sees as being pretty much unforgivable. Sure, the Windows community is used to this, and has been used to this for years (decades really). Please don't defend companies trying to bring the Windows experience to the Mac platform.
     
Mike Wuerthele
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Nov 24, 2015, 03:54 PM
 
We wrote the piece in the first place, and most other venues are staying away, so take that as you will.

I'm not blaming the victim.
     
chefpastry
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Feb 9, 2016, 07:05 AM
 
I'm with panjandrum here. MacUpdate is dead to me.
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