UnBox Calls Home, A Lot

SachiCALaw writes "It turns out that to use UnBox, the user has to download software from Amazon that contains a Windows service (ADVWindowsClientService.exe). Tom Merritt over at C|Net reports that the service tries to connect to the internet quite frequently. Even tweaking msconfig could not prevent it." From the article: "So, in summary, to be allowed the privilege of purchasing a video that I can't burn to DVD and can't watch on my iPod, I have to allow a program to hijack my start-up and force me to login to uninstall it? No way. Sorry, Amazon. I love a lot of what you do, but I will absolutely not recommend this service. Try again."

Comments

No car, you insensitive clod

[tepples]

if not, I get in my car and drive out to BestBuy, MicroCenter, or if I'm desperate, WalMart.

A lot of people don't have a car, and bus lines often stay closed for 36 to 60 hours at a time. For a lot of people, time is money; at U.S. federal minimum wage, spending a half hour isn't worth a $2.50 discount.

Re:Wow, what's next?

[rmallico]

yeah... i guess the market share that us windoze users are just all idiots... which is also probably why so many fortune 500 companies are using it or are moving to active directory or migrating from notes/groupwise to exchange. Linux has its place and while its getting better its not in the 'ease' of use for the folks out there who are making that decision with their money it appears. I love my Ubuntu 6 desktop that I dual boot to on my thinkpad like any other *nix guy here... but there are some things that are still easier to do in windows and while you want to blame the OS, try looking at the company developing the application (itunes or unboxed) that is doing this in the first place ?!?!?!?! t

This is not hard to understand.

[twitter]

I'd hate for some dork like Bill Gates to use my software to make money and prop up his little Windoze empire.

So, you, the author, want people with your code to do as you say in one way or another?

Yes, I make that one tiny demand: if people distribute free software I write it remains free. Other than that, they can do whatever they want. I do not want Bill Gates or anyone else using my work to make anyone else check a box saying "I agree" to not helping their neighbor. I'd consider than an abuse and because of that I'll use the same copyright laws others use for same. They can't have it both ways and everyone can have free software because of it.