Why do iTunes updates have to be so big?

Unless you are experiencing a problem, or really like one of the new features, you do not need to install every upgrade. Just upgrade every once in a while.

im with you on this one
you are correct thats my problem with itunes download too
it so big that your connection times out
and then your download files become corrupt
so there mountains of download and installation errors
they could at least let you update with having
to install a whole new version of itunes like other programs do!!!!

Apple supplies iTunes as a complete program for every release. They do not do patches. I have never seen a patch release since I started using iTunes 4.x.

This 'issue' has occasionally been discussed on these forums. It's an Apple decision, and one that nobody here can or will speculate as to their reasons.

In general, full update releases have better control over installs and user's 'self-inflicted errors' than do patches - especially when improperly executed. Given the breadth of iTunes installations over several operating systems and myriads of PC environments, a conservative approach is always better.

80MB is not too onerous a size unless one is on dial-up. Always download and SAVE the file to your PC, rather than run it from the Internet. Run the update after completing the download and exiting all programs and shutting down all TSRs.

Best of Luck

*Hopefully the good folk at apple read these forums give consideration to the feedback their users offer them.*

These are user to user forums so they are not the most efficient way to send feedback. Whether or not there is much in the way of monitoring by Apple beyond the normal regulation of the discussions we can't really know. THe official (and probably more reliable) way to send feedback/feature requests directly to Apple is by using this link: Apple Product Feedback

"+For me 80 MB is huge. ... There are many many people out there in isolated regions of the world that don't have ADSL.+"

For your specific situation, your perspective is correct. Unfortunately, that ship has sailed as the vast majority of computer users have some access to high-speed internet. Companies are naturally aiming their work at those who may be 'more current' with technology. This is not to minimize your situation, but to put it into relative perspective.

"+You say full updates afford better control over install than patches. What do you base these comments on? Surely a patch is just a program designed to amend a part of the codbase. Firefox manages to update this way, and I think quite successfully too.+"

I am basing my statements on:
a) My limited IT programming skills in developing small software solutions for clients
b) The several responses here on these Discussion by true IT professionals who have cogently explained the reason for preferring full updates rather than patches

Realize that Firefox is a 7-8MB program in its entirety. Compared to iTunes at 10x the size, I would assume that the complexity of Firefox is significantly lower than the functionality underlying iTunes. I will not even begin to speculate as to the practical ease of releasing iTunes patches (even though the conceptual idea appears quite 'simple').

Lastly, I have seen maybe 10 Threads on your issue over the past 4 years. Ignoring the 'me-too' replies once someone has thrown out this 'issue', that's such a small amount that I cannot foresee Apple changing it's update model. But - you can always send Apple your feedback as provided in one of the posts above.

Best of Luck

Surely a patch is just a program designed to amend a part of the codbase.

Yes but if any part of the codebase that is not patched in an update, is bad or has been modified, the new code may not work correctly.

Kammkamm, do yourself a favor and just ignore iTunes updates until the update is required to use a new iPod or iPhone. Most of them are worthless anyway, huge, require a restart, and delete and create all new short cuts for no reason.