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Something really irks me about Spotify. When you install their application, they chose to have the application auto open when you first load your operating system. It's an opt out scenario, where basically after I have to close it enough times to get annoyed, I then have to go to the settings to disable.

My question is, how could they have come to the conclusion that it is a good idea for their application to open on initial load of the computer? I mean imagine, if Apple or Microsoft decided that it's a great idea for iTunes or Window Media to open automatically, as if we all use our PCs primarily as an oversized iPod.

What sort of testing could have given them enough empirical evidence to show that the millions of their users would want the application to open automatically?

Myself, playing music is not usually the first thing I want to do when I turn on my computer. It would generally come some time after my work flow has been established.

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FWIW, I usually always have iTunes open on any machine I use. So, point being your experience may not be the typical one. – DA01 Mar 7 at 2:10
That's fine, and I understand that. But how did they decide that auto open is going to be good for the user experience overall? We've just established our 2 different requirements, but what about the other millions. For example, you can't really A/B that, as you can't control the user's start up. Might they have surveyed? Or is there other ways? That's what my question is. – Chris Paynter Mar 7 at 2:16
Oh sure, I guess that was what I was getting at. One theory is that they interviewed their users and found most like to have the app open. But I certainly don't know that for sure. I don't think anyone but the Spotify UX team can answer that. – DA01 Mar 7 at 2:19
OK cool thanks. From my perspective, I would have rather be asked first time I opened the app whether I wanted to have it auto open. The survey would be built right into the actual functionality itself. – Chris Paynter Mar 7 at 2:26
This isn't really an answerable question, its more or a rant disguised as a question, something covered in the faq as something not to ask. If you have a specific problem yourself that needs solving then we can help there, but not with this question in the current form I'm afraid. – JonW♦ Mar 7 at 8:44

closed as not a real question by JohnGB, Benny Skogberg, kontur, JonW♦ Mar 7 at 8:41

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

1 Answer

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Nothing bothers me more than applications that autorun. The only exception being virtual disks programs. Zune Software, Dropbox, messengers are all disabled on all machines. If I can't disable it in the applications (Msconfig does not count) or better yet at install, then I uninstall it.

I don't really know that this is tested, or maybe they make it for lowest common denominator. The users who want it to run, barely know how installs work, and couldn't be bothered to enable autorun by any method other than an auto-opt-in.

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