OpenCandy - Would you like fries with your software installation?

Filed under: Windows

OpenCandy - Would you like fries with your software installation?

by Brad Linder Nov 12th 2008

Because no space in this world is immune from advertising, you're about to see ads start popping up in software installers. OpenCandy, the company providing the technology says software developers can use their software in one of two ways. During the installation process, users will either see:

An option to install a similar application
An ad

But if you ask me, both options are an ad. Not that there's anything wrong with that. In one case, you may see a paid advertisement, while in another case you may see a recommendation to download an application. Whether the developer of that application paid to get the software title in front of you or not, there's clearly an exchange of value taking place here.

Anyway, the offers to install additional software are always opt-in. So you won't accidentally install unwanted software just by clicking Next over and over. And the way OpenCandy handles additional software installations is actually pretty nifty. Near the end of the install process, you're asked if you want to add an extra application. If you choose yes, the first installer will finish up, and then you'll automatically download the new program and its installer will launch.

Tags: ads, installer, opencandy

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mike Cerm said 4:22PM on 11-12-2008

WinDirStat is a great application, and you should probably have it installed anyway. I have a portable version that I keep on my keychain-drive at all times.

I wouldn't mind if installers would suggest other apps to download and install, as long as it's not selected by default in the installer. Lots of installers try to trick you installing Google Desktop Search, or the Yahoo Toolbar. So far I haven't been tricked, but I bet there are a lot of people who just hit next, next, next, and wind up with crap they don't want.

Sunira said 4:56PM on 11-12-2008

I didn't like the add-on autoselected bloatware that comes with installers and unless this is a replacement, I'd rather not have an additional step in my install process. Most of the time, I download an application after I've done research on it and I'm very very unlikely to install another app based on an ad I see.

Matt said 9:23PM on 11-12-2008

Even if you opt out, you'll still get an (empty) "OpenCandy" folder on the root of your C:\ drive, which I guess is the installer cache for the bloatware. That's stupid . . . I ran into this happening when I installed MediaInfo the other day.

Chester said 11:54AM on 11-13-2008

thanks for the comments all.

@Matt - agree its stupid. :-) that's a bug that will be fixed in our next update.

- Chester at opencandy dot com

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