Anyone familiar with AppStream software downloader?

Factual Questions
1

I went to the Broderbund website to purchase an updated version of some graphics software for Moon Unit (Kid Pix Deluxe version 4). They showed it available for download for 15 dollars. It said I had to use AppStream Software to download it.

OK - I’ve used stuff before that allowed for downloads to be interrupted / restarted, no biggie, and it can be helpful if you’ve got a large download.

Well, purchase is made, and I go to launch the newly purchased Kid Pix software… and apparently AppStream is just a way to allow you to use the stuff on the vendor’s server, you can’t use it standalone (without an internet connection), it requires you to modify ActiveX settings in Internet Exploder… and it attempted to do something with my AVG antivirus.

Maybe I’m paranoid… but I do NOT like this.

I emailed customer support… and got a link to a happy chirpy bluebird-flew-up-your-ass-and-died web page touting this AppStream software as quite a bit better than sliced bread because you could now download BIG stuff fast and you didn’t have to wait and wheee it would automatically check for updates.

So - is anyone familiar with this? I’m putting it in GQ because I imagine there are lots of fact-based comments on the safety (or lack) of the download method, but I could see this getting moved to IMHO as well.

2

It looks like it is some kind of legitimate application server - Appstream belongs to Symantec, which ought to make it fairly reputable and malware-free, however, it belongs to Symantec, so given a choice between using it and gouging out my own eyes with hot spoons, I’d be reaching for the cutlery, but that’s just my personal hatred of Symantec.

Kid Pix 4 is available in a standalone version here:

(and probably elsewhere)

3

It’s probably legit, but I find the sudden requirements for downloader to download files silly and obnoxious. I’ve had to install downloaders for eMusic and Amazon.com music (and what is iTunes if not a downloader, too). I don’t need more crap on my computer just to download an album every few months.

4

Adobe keeps trying it too - every time I install their reader somewhere, it wants to install a download manager. Grrr. (I can usually find the link to the standalone installer, but still, grrr.)