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Software trying to update when it is started is such a common pattern, despite almost always going against user intent. When I start software, that's because I

Software trying to update when it is started is such a common pattern, despite almost always going against user intent. When I start software, that's because I want to use it. It's pretty high on the list of times I don't want it to become temporarily unusable while it updates itself. Doing the same with vehicle firmware is a sad but predictable state of things.

rjsw 3y ago
Zoom asks if you want to update after a call, which seems the best time for it to me.
- dylan604 3y ago
  I just use the browser version, so I assume it is always the latest version. This is one of the compelling arguments for everything is a web page/app. A single centralized place version millions of separately controlled copies.
  - schmookeeg 3y ago
    And the equally compelling anti-argument against everything-is-a-web-page is every time I go to a website I haven't been to in awhile (and some I use on the daily), I need to swat away a cacophony of "What's New! Let's Take a Tour!" popups, like so many cobwebs. :)
    - dylan604 3y ago
      of course there are people that want to be examples of "you're why we can't have nice things" or "ruining for the rest of us"
- D13Fd 3y ago
  Is that true? Maybe it's different on Mac OS, but for me (on a Mac), Zoom wants to update every time I open it, and often fails. It's very annoying.
  - wongarsu 3y ago
    I also have to frequently update it before the call on Windows. Maybe it works as intended if you use it daily, but as someone who only occasionally uses Zoom for external calls I'm in the habit of always opening it a couple minutes early to have time for software updates
  - leros 3y ago
    I am a few minutes late to meetings probably once a month because Zoom forces as an update right as I'm logging into a meeting.
jeffbee 3y ago
I can think of several devices I own that never do this. 1) My LG webOS TV. Somehow it always does its thing in the dark. OS and application updates have never been visible to me. 2) My car. Even though it can update over wifi, and by other means, it never tries to do it unbidden. You have to invoke its maintenance mode, at the time of your own choosing, if ever. 3) Google/Nest Wifi, OnHub, et cetera. Always up-to-date, never noticed it updating at any time in 8+ years. However, I can also think of devices where the updates are prominent. macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android are all in your face about OS updates, and Android will even throw up a notification that some app updates are available, as if I want to think about that. ChromeOS is a little better in that it silently downloads and installs updates, and they are applied almost instantly, but it does prompt you to apply them.
- ceejayoz 3y ago
  My Eero wifi defaults to 4am for updates, which is changeable, and it warns me with a push notification the day before. I appreciate whoever implemented that particular subsystem.
- vagrantJin 3y ago
  how do car auto updates work? I would inclined to believe that maybe the manufacturer sends out an email or sms to notify you of am update and then you choose the time, while also being given a change log of what exactly is being updated. otherwise what would prevent a bogus server asking for an update you have no idea about and installing something malicious and - whoopsie daisy - your car grows legs and disappears?
  - jeffbee 3y ago
    Yes, I have a proper car from a real car company. They shipped working software the first time and "updates" are actually recalls for which the owner is notified, at the time of annual service for minor issues, or by mail for major issues.
- thesuitonym 3y ago
  You probably turn your TV and Nest on less than once per year. It's much easier for always on devices to update when they're not in use than an item like a scooter, which when it's off, it's actually off. That said, I don't know why you would ever connect a transportation device to the internet. All of my vehicles are too old to connect to the internet, but when I finally have to replace them, the first thing I'll do is physically remove the Wi-Fi/cellular antenna
jajko 3y ago
One of very few things I hate about current Samsung phones - there are popups about updates of their preinstalled (and uninstallable) apps from their own store. I always ignore it, and within few hours there is another notification how they were updated. Seems like most idiotic approach, illusion of choice, effectively frustrating users.
- krackers 3y ago
  Also they randomly decide to "Optimize" apps on startup, making a startup go from 30 seconds to 5 minutes or something. Better hope you didn't turn on your phone to dial 911.
082349872349872 3y ago
Somewhere I saw an observation that the SF trope of "humans discover ancient technology, attempt to use it, hilarity ensues" fails suspension of disbelief for contemporary audiences, because we all know that right after the protagonists discover the ancient alien tech and switch it on, it'd be bricked for a good part of the next decade trying to retrieve and apply patches dating to when the Myriapoda first walked on dry land... Last update applied at z=??? Looking for updates... Update server found [Alpha Centauri C] Retrieving updates... 0% of ??? YB
MasterScrat 3y ago
I used Windows 10 for the first time in years this weekend to play games While playing, Windows would switch from the game to a stupid "Restart your computer now or in 1 hour?" modal - with no option to get it to permanently go away. And it kept popping up every hour. Infuriating. See screenshot here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/8kismw/wtf_microsoft_just_let_me_work_and_ill_reboot/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/8kismw/wtf_micro...
- D13Fd 3y ago
  To be fair, in Windows 11 this doesn't happen -- it detects when you are in games (or tries to) and withholds the messages.

rjsw 3y ago

Zoom asks if you want to update after a call, which seems the best time for it to me.

dylan604 3y ago
I just use the browser version, so I assume it is always the latest version. This is one of the compelling arguments for everything is a web page/app. A single centralized place version millions of separately controlled copies.
- schmookeeg 3y ago
  And the equally compelling anti-argument against everything-is-a-web-page is every time I go to a website I haven't been to in awhile (and some I use on the daily), I need to swat away a cacophony of "What's New! Let's Take a Tour!" popups, like so many cobwebs. :)
  - dylan604 3y ago
    of course there are people that want to be examples of "you're why we can't have nice things" or "ruining for the rest of us"
D13Fd 3y ago
Is that true? Maybe it's different on Mac OS, but for me (on a Mac), Zoom wants to update every time I open it, and often fails. It's very annoying.
- wongarsu 3y ago
  I also have to frequently update it before the call on Windows. Maybe it works as intended if you use it daily, but as someone who only occasionally uses Zoom for external calls I'm in the habit of always opening it a couple minutes early to have time for software updates
- leros 3y ago
  I am a few minutes late to meetings probably once a month because Zoom forces as an update right as I'm logging into a meeting.

jeffbee 3y ago

I can think of several devices I own that never do this. 1) My LG webOS TV. Somehow it always does its thing in the dark. OS and application updates have never been visible to me. 2) My car. Even though it can update over wifi, and by other means, it never tries to do it unbidden. You have to invoke its maintenance mode, at the time of your own choosing, if ever. 3) Google/Nest Wifi, OnHub, et cetera. Always up-to-date, never noticed it updating at any time in 8+ years. However, I can also think of devices where the updates are prominent. macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android are all in your face about OS updates, and Android will even throw up a notification that some app updates are available, as if I want to think about that. ChromeOS is a little better in that it silently downloads and installs updates, and they are applied almost instantly, but it does prompt you to apply them.

ceejayoz 3y ago
My Eero wifi defaults to 4am for updates, which is changeable, and it warns me with a push notification the day before. I appreciate whoever implemented that particular subsystem.
vagrantJin 3y ago
how do car auto updates work? I would inclined to believe that maybe the manufacturer sends out an email or sms to notify you of am update and then you choose the time, while also being given a change log of what exactly is being updated. otherwise what would prevent a bogus server asking for an update you have no idea about and installing something malicious and - whoopsie daisy - your car grows legs and disappears?
- jeffbee 3y ago
  Yes, I have a proper car from a real car company. They shipped working software the first time and "updates" are actually recalls for which the owner is notified, at the time of annual service for minor issues, or by mail for major issues.
thesuitonym 3y ago
You probably turn your TV and Nest on less than once per year. It's much easier for always on devices to update when they're not in use than an item like a scooter, which when it's off, it's actually off. That said, I don't know why you would ever connect a transportation device to the internet. All of my vehicles are too old to connect to the internet, but when I finally have to replace them, the first thing I'll do is physically remove the Wi-Fi/cellular antenna

jajko 3y ago

One of very few things I hate about current Samsung phones - there are popups about updates of their preinstalled (and uninstallable) apps from their own store. I always ignore it, and within few hours there is another notification how they were updated. Seems like most idiotic approach, illusion of choice, effectively frustrating users.

krackers 3y ago
Also they randomly decide to "Optimize" apps on startup, making a startup go from 30 seconds to 5 minutes or something. Better hope you didn't turn on your phone to dial 911.

082349872349872 3y ago

Somewhere I saw an observation that the SF trope of "humans discover ancient technology, attempt to use it, hilarity ensues" fails suspension of disbelief for contemporary audiences, because we all know that right after the protagonists discover the ancient alien tech and switch it on, it'd be bricked for a good part of the next decade trying to retrieve and apply patches dating to when the Myriapoda first walked on dry land... Last update applied at z=??? Looking for updates... Update server found [Alpha Centauri C] Retrieving updates... 0% of ??? YB

MasterScrat 3y ago

I used Windows 10 for the first time in years this weekend to play games While playing, Windows would switch from the game to a stupid "Restart your computer now or in 1 hour?" modal - with no option to get it to permanently go away. And it kept popping up every hour. Infuriating. See screenshot here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/8kismw/wtf_microsoft_just_let_me_work_and_ill_reboot/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/8kismw/wtf_micro...

D13Fd 3y ago
To be fair, in Windows 11 this doesn't happen -- it detects when you are in games (or tries to) and withholds the messages.