The other day on one of my systems, I decided to update Google Earth for the latest and greatest options, features and what not that I wanted to look into.
Now if you know me, you know that I have a very concisely controlled work environment on some of my systems. With that said, I’d like to admit that I have installed the web browser Google Chrome on my systems at work and my laptop. I WILL NOT install it on my desktop. I have the oddest experience with Google apps. It changes my mouse response speed. So rather than have my mouse cursor speed across my monitor real estate in a small flick of my wrist, it takes several swipes to get the cursor across the screen. In other words, it goes into granny gear.
So I don’t install some things onto some systems.
Last week, I installed the update to Google Earth, and noticed that odd message that Chrome is updating Google Earth. WTF is that?
I was wondering if maybe they’ve just set up their installer from Chrome to do new or different actions. Yet when I was done updating Google Earth, there it was, the web browser Google Chrome has installed itself on my system.
I NEVER ASKED FOR, OR WAS ASKED TO have this application installed.
I have been a strong proponent of Google as they’ve climbed the computer success ladder and slowly took over the domain that Microsoft has tried to own. Microsoft has driven a wedge between us when a previous version of Word (Or Office) was set up to update the operating system itself. They were busted for that and that’s old news I’m sure… I hope. Who knows.
But now Google is acting like Microsoft and injecting software in places it’s not wanted. So do I start looking for another mapping software? There are plenty of options out there for me. I can use the tools at Runner’s World, or Map My Run to figure out the details I’ve been mostly using Google Earth for.
Not to mention that nasty insidious GoogleUpdate.exe was brought along with this update or install. GoogleUpdate is a very smart utility that is really hard to get rid of! It’s become a hobby of mine trying to keep my system free of it.
It shows up in my running processes. I delete it from memory. It shows back up. I find that Google installs things in my scheduler, so I delete them from the scheduler. But it keeps popping up on and off. Sigh.
So Google, in your effort to take over the world, or take away peices of the pie from Microsoft, don’t become like Microsoft. Give the user options. Don’t force them on us. That’s all I’m saying. It might just be business, but you need to think of the humanity, the personalities that make up your business. That’s the real life-blood to your success.
Don’t ever forget that while open-source software becomes more and more popular.
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