flash player spyware
- Started
- Last post
- 24 Responses
- abstrakt
http://www.macromedia.com/cfusio…
So apparently Macromedia Flash and Shockwave players are being bundled with WeatherBug and maybe even Yahoo Toolbar (I can't confirm Yahoo yet.) Anyways, my boss didn't like this so he called up Macromedia and tried to talk to somebody, but didn't get too far. This is ridiculous.
- imakedesign0
why would they do this?
- seed0
I hope that's not true. It doesn't really help the case of getting people to download a 'simple plug-in'.
- abstrakt0
i have no idea...
- jevad0
"Those who do not wish to take advantage of WeatherBug can opt-out of the offer. Users will not receive more than one third-party offer during the Shockwave Player installation process."
- abstrakt0
oh ok. people were making it seem like you had no choice. at least they ask you. but still, some new user goes to a website and it asks them to download flash, then they start bugging them about WeatherBug. that's stupid
- toastie0
this is really fucked up. I am the only nerd out all the nerds i know that is a strong supporter of Macromedia. Now i don't know anymore.
- jpea0
yeah, just gives more ammo to the slashdot nerds to absolutely hate flash and any person who makes flash. damn, we won't be in the 'in crowd' around there anymore ;-)
but yeah, bad move macromedia, even if you can opt out
- spiralstarez0
Isn't the weatherbug just a sub of the yahoo toolbar that is bundled with the Flash player? And that is what you opt out of?
Anyway, I dig Flash and Macromedia, but if they don't reverse this I'll drop them like a turd faster that ex-lax.
- mrdobolina0
you'll just stop designing flash because they bundled some other software with the plugin? C'mon.
- spiralstarez0
Well probably not completely, but in the past I've developed a lot of programming skills to make apps in Flash.
I've since been learning other technologies and will stick with this rather than pursue learning more Actionscripting app building skills.
Severely hurts their profile and probably marketshare probably in terms of usable (not just animation) web features.
You don't think?
- mrdobolina0
you're right, after you qualified it.
- toastie0
there's nothing wrong with stopping using a technology that supports this kind of behaviour. It's not a standard, despite of its wide use. It has potential to become one, but if they do shit like this, i dont want their standards.
- spiralstarez0
yeah I mean it more from a consumer of their software perspective...
As someone who's actually paid for their software to develop things for the web, it's impossible to overlook the fact that this move decreases the legitimacy of the software as web design/development tool
- mrdobolina0
I dont know that I would call it spyware, exactly.
- toastie0
it's not as bad anymore, but at some point it was definately spyware. I work in IT support, and trust me, that fucking thing is (at least WAS, in which case it's still inexcusable) spyware.
- jpea0
weatherbug and gator.
worst things ever invented (software wise)
- seed0
I am getting sick of Flash anyway as I have a G4 and Flash sites crash my browser frequently.
- toastie0
I look to google for my next-gen technology and look at what they're doing WITHOUT flash.
- jevad0
You wouldn't believe some of the shit we do here not using flash...
- mrdobolina0
google makes a toolbar...