I think self updating is a form of taking control away from the end user. Since Growl is about giving control to the end user, that seems a bit of a bad idea just from a design stance. It's a nice thought though.
I have no opinion on the menu item. Myself, I don't use it, I could see it going away or staying. We shouldn't change our first time experience for users just because some apps decided to do things in a way we don't like at all. The sentiment to hide Growl though is well meant, but I'd rather take on some hate email and get these people a bit more knowledgeable about what is actually on their system, than to have it run on their systems for years continually updating with no knowledge about Growl at all. Good ideas though, keep them coming. Keep in mind that any change we make isn't going to apply to any software package that bundles Growl, since they'll continue to install the older version, but we should prepare for the long term of this. I don't see this issue disappearing overnight. Changes now may show up in later updates to these apps if they decide to continue to ship Growl in this manner, so anything we put into 2.0 could be a great bit of help. Chris On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 5:35 PM, Leandro de Oliveira <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, > > It seems most people are discovering that Growl has been installed on > their systems after seeing a notification about a new version of Growl > and that they should update it. Maybe Growl could self-update in the > background like Google Chrome does? > I think Growl does not need a tray icon, it's already integrated with > System Preferences and the tray icon seems to be mainly a shortcut for > preferences. Maybe Growl should not show a tray icon by default? > > These two things would "hide" Growl a little and people would just use > it thinking it's part of some app they installed, it would be better > if people would use Growl knowing about it but the reality is that > other apps will bundle it and there is little or nothing that Growl > developers can do to avoid it. > > I'm not a Mac user so I'm sorry if I'm missing something. > > 2010/10/25 Christopher Forsythe <[email protected]>: >> On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 3:23 PM, Yves Boudreault <[email protected]> wrote: >>> I recently discovered that growl had installed itself on my computer >>> without my knowledge, and started annoying me with messages to either >>> update or reinstall it. I was seeing notifications appear, but as I >>> just installed MacPilot, I thought it was part of its tools. Now that >>> I finally investigated this, found a Growl system preference pane, and >>> shed light on this product, I am furious that I was fooled and my >>> computer violated. Even if I'd like the product, there is no way in >>> the world I'd want to use it now. >>> >>> What would you think if I went in your house in the middle of the >>> night, and installed a hidden camera, or messed up with your computer? >>> I don't think you'd be very pleased. And I do not buy the "there is >>> nothing we can do about it". You are the developers of this product, >>> then fix it's installing protocols. Or maybe you are not very good >>> developers and should look for another job. >>> >> >> >> This is like blaming the manufacturer of the cameras for the people >> who broke into your house and installed the cameras. >> >> We don't know who installed Growl, we don't like that it happened. >> We're not responsible for their actions. But we'll gladly help you, >> and try to figure out what app did this so that we can warn the next >> person. >> >> Frankly, every time I see one of these emails it makes me just groan. >> You don't understand our position starting out, you just assume that >> we're to blame. We get this constantly, and then we have to deal with >> it. >> >> Let's be nice and let's get things fixed up on your computer. >> >> Chris >> >> >>> I know why you named your product Growl, because it's exactly how it >>> make me feel, growling... >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Growl Discuss" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/growldiscuss?hl=en. >>> >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Growl Discuss" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/growldiscuss?hl=en. >> >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Growl Discuss" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/growldiscuss?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Growl Discuss" group. 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