Gallery: 10 most annoying programs on the Internet
by Andy Smith | May 22, 2008 6:45am PDT | Image 1 of 11
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Most annoying software
And pain. For it allows what may have seemed like bright ideas at the time ('let's use it to make sure our customers have the latest software', for example) to turn into a stinking pit of misery — usually, but by no means always, after marketing gets its fangs in.
Here are just ten of the guilty parties who try to do the impossible: to make us hate the internet and wish it had never been invented — and who very nearly succeed.
This gallery was written by Rupert Goodwins, ZDNet.co.uk.
Talkback Most Recent of 247 Talkback(s)
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LMAO
Too Funny!
You forgot AOL... Must.. takeover.. entire.. computer
And to expand on java... You need version 1.4.2.3.22 for this program to work.
My most hated ones:
- Adobe Reader (Bloatware)
- Norton (It went from ok, to horrible. Why would you need more than 60% of your CPU for other programs)
- Flash (Leave me alone!)
- JukeBox (Which is actually better than its predecessors!)
- iTunes/QuickTunes (who cares what you want or need, I run the show)
6feet_22nd May 2008 -
Me too; still laughing
The article was hilarious. I went to Macs a couple of years ago, but I was on Windows boxes for a long time before that. I used Foxit to read PDFs. Small, light, fast and free. I stopped using Norton (and McAfee) years ago. You don't want to know how much trouble and time it was to get RealPlayer/RealJukebox out of my Registry. iTunes has got to be one of the worst programs on this planet. Apple had to have outsourced this to some robot programmer that has no idea how real people do stuff. AOL; there's a blast from the past. I can still picture all the crap that fell out from magazines.
bluejay3132@...23rd May 2008 -
and more
so true, but how will we ever survive w/o the latest and constant bug fix from every app on the planet. just wait till everone else wants to verify if your stuff is legit
on an hourly basis.
byter_z23rd May 2008 -
You forgot
The only one I use on the list is Java & it doesn't bother me much, but you totally forgot Mozilla Firefox & all the add-ons. You usually have to restart the program for the updates to take effect but better than IE!
I'm so glad I don't use most of them anymore!
mickire@...23rd May 2008 -
Why pick on Firefox?
Loved the list. Couple of comments:
(1) Firefox is a GREAT browser, and with certain add-ons it becomes a SUPERLATIVE one, i.e. "AdblockPlus" gets rid of all the neon crap on any webpage.
(2) Flash is a tool. That's it. Don't blame the creator if someone overuses it on a page.
(3) Flash video is one of the greatest improvements of the past decade. Before, my wmv-based videos on my websites couldn't be seen by a third of my audience, due to various reasons. After converting the videos to the flv format, anyone can see them. That's how it should be.
(3) Regarding downloads that install processes that constantly run in the background, just download a terrific freeware utility called "Startup Control Panel" by Mike Lin. Then you can just go in and uncheck any undesired startup programs without affecting anything else. Beautiful.
riredale24th May 2008 -
You're right except
Flash can be a pain. It is used to deliver up epileptic inducing advertisements and open pop-up windows in violation of the preferences that a person specifies in their browser. Since I've started using a Flash disabler my pages load much faster.
While the Firefox browser itself isn't updated often, there is one plug-in (flashgot) that bothers me all the time with updates. I'm not sure why the author thinks he has to update the code so often, but he abuses the privilege and as such updates from this author are disabled. I complained on the forum about this behavior and my post was deleted.
Hopefully in Firefox 3.0, the browser loads much faster, because I really like it.
MythicalMe24th May 2008 -
Alternative to Startup Control Panel
If you have some more advanced skill with the computer, I'd recommend AutoRuns. It tells you EVERYTHING that is loaded on startup: services, programs, everything! It may not look fancy, but you can clearly see what is being started from where, has a tab with everything in it, then other tabs breaking down the loads by type. You can also delete entries to remove some of the registry clutter as well. I will say though, you really do need to know some about computers and windows, or you can get into really deep doodoo really fast. It help out, it does list in grey critical MS entries, so you aren't as likely to botch and need to reinstall windows if you mess up (or repair the registry).
Drakaran27th May 2008 -
How about a link?
Hey, Drakaran,
How about a link to "AutoRuns"?
I'm sure others are interested, as well.
bart001fr28th May 2008 -
Meddler28th May 2008 -
Thanks...
for the software tips.
sqr(cos(180))16th Jun 2008 -
And ZDnet
Don't forger the QuestionMarket.com POS that slides across your screen while you're trying to read the comments - can reaslly do without THAT!!!!
Techref606027th May 2008 -
...and ZDNET
Wow, one of those just slithered onto my screen while I was reading your post.
These are the most annoying of all!
gsteck27th May 2008 -
What ads?
FireFox + Adblockplus + filtersetG
kamahl92828th May 2008 -
What he said ^
I've never seen those ads with Firefox + Adblock + FiltersetG. I also add Flashblock for selective flash blocking.
blaacksheep29th May 2008 -
I don't know guys....
That damned IBM (i)Rational AppScan ad is right next to the posts, triggers my epilepsy.
bentedgz30th Dec 2008
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