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Re: [OT] Disk image creation
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Re: [OT] Disk image creation


  • Subject: Re: [OT] Disk image creation
  • From: Michael Watson <email@hidden>
  • Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 19:26:03 -0500

Apple's not perfect, and I think they've got this one quite wrong. Lessee here.

1. When you put in a CD and open the icon, does it install your program on the Desktop and eject itself? No? Score card:

Internet-enabled images: 0.

2. When you double-click a zip file on the Desktop and an app appears, does the zip file delete itself? No? Score card:

Internet-enabled images: 0.

3. If you back up software you download, which isn't a bad idea necessarily, an Internet-enabled disk image kicks a bucket of suck all over your plans. Before you double-click the image and it does its thing, it just looks like . . . a disk image. Inconsistent behaviour that results in deleting stuff people might want. Argh. Score card:

Internet-enabled images: 0.

4. I was going to put that on another computer, but I wanted to look on this one first. Thanks for making me download that thing again. Score card:

Internet-enabled images: 0.

5. When Software Update downloads the latest iTunes update and installs it for you in the background, you never see the temporary package. It's buried--out of sight. Disk images you download from Web sites aren't like that. Users have an expectation that when they see something on their Desktop, it's not a temp file that the computer is going to remove automatically. I downloaded it by clicking on a link, I saw Safari say it downloaded to my Desktop, I see it next to my HD icon, it's "my" data. Score card:

Internet-enabled images: 0.

With no points on the board, the Internet-enabled disk image doesn't get anywhere near the playoffs, and probably should get kicked out of the league.

It's great to make things easier on users, but Apple hasn't convinced me that this feature improves the overall user experience enough that it outweighs the significant problems presented by it.


-- m-s



On 06 Mar, 2007, at 19:07, Alexander von Below wrote:

"[An internet enabled disk image] improves the manual install experience by performing a few tedious tasks for the user."
http://developer.apple.com/documentation/DeveloperTools/Conceptual/ SoftwareDistribution/Containers/chapter_3_section_3.html


In the case of this particular app, I have to agree. The user expectes "MyProduct.app", right? With an internet enabled image, she will find this in the default download location. I would think, as expected.

But, "Mungo only pawn in game of life", I am glad to listen to arguments telling me that internet enabled images are a work of the devil. So, if you wish to expand, please do.

Alex


Am 07.03.2007 um 00:58 schrieb Michael Watson:

I gotta say, this is really annoying. If you distribute software, PLEASE don't use "Internet-enabled" disk images. Nothing is more confusing than data deleting itself.


-- m-s


On 06 Mar, 2007, at 18:28, Alexander von Below wrote:

# Internet enable the
hdiutil internet-enable -yes "$DISKPATH"


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References: 
 >[OT] Disk image creation (From: Laurence Harris <email@hidden>)
 >Re: [OT] Disk image creation (From: Alexander von Below <email@hidden>)
 >Re: [OT] Disk image creation (From: Michael Watson <email@hidden>)
 >Re: [OT] Disk image creation (From: Alexander von Below <email@hidden>)

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