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Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
21–30 of 468 posts
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#22Bundling third-party software with installers already happens and will continue to happen whether this company exists or not. If they can improve upon that experience somehow: - Reviewing the software before allowing it to be bundled and weeding out the bad eggs. - Adding user reviews inline with the list of software to install. ...then there's a possibility that they can make this a pleasant, legitimate experience f…
There's no money in being nice to your victims.
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#23I think one of the main problems here is that large companys use these shady distribution methods. Nobody gives them any crap about it.
I can't count how often I clicked 'no' when some installer tried to install Bing toolbar or Google Chrome.
Chrome is/was offered as crapware in the Flash or Adobe Reader installer!!!
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#24The crapware situation on Windows is horrible. I'm a Mac/Linux user but from time to time I have to power up my Windows VM.
A few days ago I wanted to install the Partition Magic trial on my Win XP VM. Having left Windows around 2005 I figured that typing "Partition Magic Win XP download" in Google would be helpful.
I got a handful of "reputable" download sources like CNet and the like. I went there and was bombarded by 20 (dramatization) different download buttons. I clicked the one that seemed most promising and somehow ended with a new Zip-Archiver installed ...
So I went back and found the Partition Magic installer. It was an installer with 'added value' that asked me three times to install some toolbar crap. I ended up with one of those toolbars installed because unchecking the box and clicking on 'next' obviously is not enough. You have to click the decline button instead of next.
Now I would consider myself computer literate and yet still I didn't manage to install a simple utility without littering my system with crapware. I can only imagine what hell the internet must be like to inexperienced (read: normal people) Windows users.
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#25Bundling third-party software with installers already happens and will continue to happen whether this company exists or not. If they can improve upon that experience somehow: - Reviewing the software before allowing it to be bundled and weeding out the bad eggs. - Adding user reviews inline with the list of software to install. ...then there's a possibility that they can make this a pleasant, legitimate experience f…
There's no money in being nice to your victims.
I think they can still make money without hurting anyone's experience.
(Edited because I misinterpreted your comment the first time.)
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, Windows freeware developers offer their software for free. Their choice. If they agree that they 'deserve some compensation' for their work, they should sell it.
Why does Gittip exist then? It's funny that some developers should be compensated for the positive externalities of their work, but only the ones you deem appropriate. Working with this company would be choosing to 'sell' your work in a more accessible way. If you don't like it, don't install the bundled software and mail the dev a dollar
I'll just hack your bank account and take your money to compensate for the positive externalities of my work. If you don't like it, use a stronger password and mail me a dollar.
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#27part of the problem is that, despite wishful thinking to the contrary windows is /the only/ large platform for desktops and the Windows 8 App Store might as well not exist, so the 'app store' argument is fundamentally flawed.
worse though is that this kind of stuff has ever been tolerated. its obviously shady... tricky adverts and sneaky buttons should be just as illegal as any other con or fraud. then they would not exist.
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#28My friend just found this gem in their privacy policy
“We gather personally identifiable and may include information regarding your geo-location, ip address, operating system, language setting and information regarding whether recommended advertiser software has been accepted, downloaded, installed and any reason for failure installing. None of his information is personally identifiable.”
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#29Bundling third-party software with installers already happens and will continue to happen whether this company exists or not. If they can improve upon that experience somehow: - Reviewing the software before allowing it to be bundled and weeding out the bad eggs. - Adding user reviews inline with the list of software to install. ...then there's a possibility that they can make this a pleasant, legitimate experience f…
How do we know what a "bad egg" is?
Just because some behaviour is acceptable to "InstallMonetizer" does not mean it will necessarily be acceptable to me.
Besides if they are seeking to maximise revenues for investors there will always be that incentive to find ways to justify bundling more intrusive stuff.
Re: Y Combinator is funding the future of spam in Windows
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's no money in being nice to your victims.
I think they can still make money without hurting anyone's experience. (Edited because I misinterpreted your comment the first time.)
Their users (scumware peddlers) aren't susceptible to market pressure from the poor bastards who end up with their vectored garbage ruining their computing experience. Where's the incentive to make less money, once it's nut-cutting time?