I consider this to be a common problem.
How many times have you hit the "update" button on various things the last couple of years?
Could it not have been done automatically?
Smartphones are typically good at this, however, I would have liked a mode that said: only update apps when the phone is charging and I am on wi-fi. I am charging my phone once a day anyway, so that would have been nice. Tablets could of course follow a similar approach.
There are several problems with not updating automatically. For example, phishing attacks. A pop-up dialogue saying I should update something? Yes, that will unfortunately be indistinguishable from a friendly application actually requiring an update for inexperienced users.
For things that run on desktop computers, how about you update anytime EXCEPT when I want to use the program?
Grade A: The user never really notices.
Grade B: Automatic updates on start
Grade C: Automatic updates on close
Grade D: Manual updates on start.
I propose the following: whenever the application is running, attempt to download the patch if it does not interfere with the user experience. Then, at a suitable time, install the patch automatically.
There are arguments for having these popups: what if I don't want to, etc..
There are also technical challenges.
But honestly, some of you are not even trying.
The iTunes updater is officially the worst in this regard. It pops up without warning, it asks, then it makes me wait for it to check if there is YET ANOTHER update. It's insane.
If you have a game open, you can assume that they have the bandwidth. Steam updates automatically. Windows does it too. So I don't know if this is something we really need to worry about. Dropbox sync automatically, and provides ways of limiting the bandwidth usage if need be (and allows pausing of sync).
Bandwidth. What if the user is on a connection where they pay by the megabyte? Dilemma.
What if the user actually does not want updates? Dilemma.
If the updates really are that big, simply provide a non-intrusive dialog box.
Honorable mention here: Some computer games, like StarCraft II, will allow you to play even before the
How many times have you hit the "update" button on various things the last couple of years?
Could it not have been done automatically?
Smartphones are typically good at this, however, I would have liked a mode that said: only update apps when the phone is charging and I am on wi-fi. I am charging my phone once a day anyway, so that would have been nice. Tablets could of course follow a similar approach.
There are several problems with not updating automatically. For example, phishing attacks. A pop-up dialogue saying I should update something? Yes, that will unfortunately be indistinguishable from a friendly application actually requiring an update for inexperienced users.
For things that run on desktop computers, how about you update anytime EXCEPT when I want to use the program?
Grade A: The user never really notices.
Grade B: Automatic updates on start
Grade C: Automatic updates on close
Grade D: Manual updates on start.
I propose the following: whenever the application is running, attempt to download the patch if it does not interfere with the user experience. Then, at a suitable time, install the patch automatically.
There are arguments for having these popups: what if I don't want to, etc..
There are also technical challenges.
But honestly, some of you are not even trying.
The iTunes updater is officially the worst in this regard. It pops up without warning, it asks, then it makes me wait for it to check if there is YET ANOTHER update. It's insane.
If you have a game open, you can assume that they have the bandwidth. Steam updates automatically. Windows does it too. So I don't know if this is something we really need to worry about. Dropbox sync automatically, and provides ways of limiting the bandwidth usage if need be (and allows pausing of sync).
Bandwidth. What if the user is on a connection where they pay by the megabyte? Dilemma.
What if the user actually does not want updates? Dilemma.
If the updates really are that big, simply provide a non-intrusive dialog box.
Honorable mention here: Some computer games, like StarCraft II, will allow you to play even before the
RSS Feed
