Peter’s Place

When a computer program has a “preferences” screen… you usually expect it to actually follow the preferences you choose.  Right?  That’s not the case with Apple’s QuickTime for Windows — a program that apparently prefers to think for itself.  And I’ve had enough of it…

Here, let me show you what I mean.  First of all, my computer loads plenty of programs when it boots up.  In order to speed things up, I figured I’d go through and block out anything that doesn’t “need” to be running the very moment the computer starts.  Given how rarely I actually use QuickTime (not many websites use the format anymore), I wanted to disable it.

 Here’s problem #1.  Even though I’ve UNCHECKED the box that says it’s OK to put that QuickTime icon in the system tray… Look what’s smack dab in the middle of those icons!  Yep, it’s that infamous light-blue ”Q” right next to the AIM icon.  And yes, this is after having rebooted many times, a good few weeks after first unchecking that box… so there’s no excuse for that icon to be there.  Also — note how the setting is only for the icon — so even if it did work, you can only assume it’s just disabling the icon.  There’s no apparent way to completely stop QuickTime from loading on startup.

Here’s my next gripe.  Look at the screen shot above.  You can plainly see that the setting to “check for updates automatically” is also checked.  So can some brainiac at Apple explain why the hell I was rudely interrupted by the below screen tonight?

Yes, that’s right — it checked for updates, found updates, and asked me if I wanted to install the updates — even though I had told it NOT to do so.  Now, this is a rare occassion!  Usually, the ONLY option is “iTunes + QuickTime.”  I don’t have iTunes, nor do I have any interest in iTunes.  Still, 9 times out of 10, when this “update” screen appears, Apple slyly tries to get me to install iTunes as part of upgrading QuickTime.

Just to see what would happen, I chose to install the QuickTime only option (and note how it only lets me get version 7.4 — I’d have to get iTunes if I wanted the newest version 7.6).  As soon as it’s done installing QuickTime — it immediately checks AGAIN for new software, and tries to sell me one last time!

Unbelieveable.  Well, since I did say back at the beginning that I barely even USE QuickTime anymore… it’s time for one last question — one I’m more than happy to say YES to: