Mandatory Automatic Updates - Google Toolbar

The other day I mentioned that I wasn't a big fan of mandatory automatic (ie, no user control) updating of software over the Internet. Not only do I feel more comfortable being able to control when and how I update, but I worry that automatic updates may step on one another and potentially create problems where none existed. And then there's always the concern about shifting licensing agreements being tied to automatic updates.

At the same time, I recognize that mandatory automatic registration and updating of software is exactly what software manufacturers have always wanted. By tying activation of software to mandatory online registration and then adding mandatory automatic updates, vendors can keep pretty tight control over who and how their software is used. Here's another example of the trend -- no control automatic updating of the Google Toolbar utility (and no complaining, since the fine print in the license agreement requires users to agree to that behavior). I bet we'll see more of this in the future.