Bonjour for Windows

Bonjour, also known as zero-configuration networking, enables automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on IP networks. This update is recommended for all users to improve the usability and compatibility of your existing Bonjour installation.

MobileMe Control Panel

With MobileMe, your contacts, calendar, and bookmarks are automatically kept in sync across your PC, iPhone, iPod touch, and a suite of web apps at www.me.com. The MobileMe Control Panel is required for setting up sync on your Windows PC. This update provides better support for syncing a large number of contacts (more than 2,000) and prevents syncing of data between Microsoft Exchange Server and MobileMe, a configuration that is not supported. For more information on MobileMe, please visit www.apple.com/mobileme.

Safari

Safari is Apple’s blazingly fast web browser for the PC, Mac and iPhone. It’s easy to use and is filled with innovative features — all delivered in an efficient and elegant user interface. Safari 3.2 introduces protection from fraudulent phishing websites and better identification of online businesses.

Let’s talk about Apple’s Software Update situation. I am a user of the Quicktime product. This means I have to be extra careful not to install iTunes on my Vista laptop. Why? Because the default option of downloading Quicktime also includes iTunes as a package. See for yourself I am including the screenshot from Apple’s Quicktime download page.

So now I have Quicktime on my hard drive. I have dodged the iTunes bullet, or so I thought. But wait, Apple is not finished. The software update that occasionally tries to contact the “mothership” suddenly pops up with a default option to install Safari + iTunes + Quicktime. Whoa! What happened there? That was the magic of Apple Software Update system. If you use Quicktime, the Software Update “intelligence” automatically assumes that you will need Safari and iTunes as updates to keep company the lonely Quicktime software. You can clearly see the screenshot below as to what I mean.

How To Disable Apple Software Update

If you click ‘Quit’ the update will pop up again in a few days asking you the same thing over and over again till judgment day. How do you get out of the Apple Software Update cycle? Click Edit > Preferences and select Never to the How often question. Once done click OK and Quit to exit. And 3 – 2 – 1 … freedom. No more Apple updates for you.

PS. Apple … (sigh) … you should have known better.