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September 20, 2005
Issues With Yahoo Messenger Installs
Yahoo IM users get more than they bargained for from News.com earlier this month looks at how the latest version of Yahoo's instant messaging client wants to make itself at home on your desktop beyond just instant messaging.
Go with the defaults, and
you'll not just get Yahoo Messenger but also the Yahoo Toolbar and new "Yahoo
Extras" with "live links" that sound like
Google AutoLink
but seem to only act that way in the IM client, from what I can see. The install
also tries to make Yahoo your default home page and search tool. It's easy to
choose not to add any of these additional features, programs and changes,
assuming you look for the right checkboxes, but many don't.
Yahoo's Jeremy Zawodny saw the story and commented that he found the practice "insulting and disrepectful." Google UI designer Kevin Fox chimes in on the comments at Jeremy's blog about dislike the tactics as well and defending Google's bundling of tools with WinZip as being "upfront."
Posted by Danny Sullivan on September 20, 2005 9:59 AM
