Posted on 05/10/2012 9:29:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The biggest lawsuit in Microsofts history dominated the 90s, when the company battled accusations that it was stifling browser competition. Rival Netscape couldn't survive, but the Windows giant was ultimately forced to strip Internet Explorer from its operating system in a landmark ruling.
That conflict may be brewing up again.
Mozilla, the developer group behind the popular Firefox browser, argued Wednesday night that Firefox is being banned from certain versions of Windows 8, the forthcoming tablet-centric OS from Microsoft -- returning Windows users to the dark ages before competition.
The upcoming release of Windows and Microsofts browser practices regarding Windows 8 Metro signal an unwelcome return to the digital dark ages where users and developers didnt have browser choices, wrote Harvey Anderson, Mozilla General Counsel, in a Wednesday night blog post.
A Microsoft spokesman declined FoxNews.com requests for more information. But the competition had plenty to say.
Anderson argued that Windows RT -- a version of Windows rewritten from the ground up to support the ARM processors powering nearly every tablet and smartphone today -- prohibits any browser but Internet Explorer from running the classic Windows desktop.
This means that only Internet Explorer will be able to perform many of the advanced computing functions vital to modern browsers in terms of speed, stability, and security to which users have grown accustomed.
Given that IE can run in Windows on ARM, there is no technical reason to conclude other browsers cant do the same, Anderson wrote.
His words were emphatically echoed by Google, maker of the Chrome browser.
We share the concerns Mozilla has raised regarding the Windows 8 environment restricting user choice and innovation, a Google spokeswoman told FoxNews.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Windows 8 on ARM isn’t a monopoly though so they can do that if they want.
You don’t have to be exclusive to be a monopoly, current laws call you a monopoly at over 80% of the market. Which Windows the desktop OS is. Of course this is all about their tablet which almost certainly will not be 80% of the market anytime this decade, so for this discussion it really doesn’t matter.
>> Do you think before you write?
Sure I do.
The question is: are YOU capable of thinking more deeply than your superficial selfish single interest?
>> you cannot write software for the upcoming Windows 8 RT. Why? Because MSFT has decided that you can’t.
So it’s your constitutional right to be able to force your code on any OS you choose? Hmmm... must be another one of those “penumbras”; I don’t remember seeing it directly.
>> Chrome is Google’s OS
No sh!t. Really?
>> and they also provide tutorials and access to the extensions you need to write code for their OS.
You keep *saying* this like it *means* something. Like there aren’t tutorials for Microsoft APIs? Enough of them to choke a hippo? Do you think before you write? Seriously.
Why would they do that? Haven’t they learned their lesson from getting their pants sued off multiple times?
A Bill the Cat “Aaaack thbbbbbbbtttttpt”
Heh - good one.
Wow, this will be something to consider when I adopt Windows 8. Better make a note of it right now!
(Anybody have a calendar for 2063?)
OK, now I understand.... you don't know what you are talking about.
Some Windows apps rely on the powerful Win32 APIs Microsoft has built for programmers, apps like Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Word. They wont run on ARM-powered Windows devices (basically any Windows tablets).
Those APIs are necessary for modern browsers, argued Mozilla spokesman Asa Dotzler -- and only Internet Explorer will have access.
Without that access, no other browser has a prayer of being competitive with IE, he wrote.
MSFT is withholding the vital documentation on WinRT from developers. This is what they did previously in United States v. Microsoft - and they lost. This doesn't just affect people writing Browsers, it can and will affect many 3rd party developers. Please read and inform yourself - your ignorance is painful to endure.
wonder how many corps are going to be using win8, my company still is using winxp on all the desktops.think using server08 too..
“Guess Ill go to Linux when my Vista machine finally ceases to meet my needs.”
You just might like it! I got fed up with MS years ago, starting with XP’s copy protection. Make too many hardware changes, and XP acts like you’ve stolen it. Then the unnecessary redesign of Vista’s user interface, forcing me to relearn how to operate Windows. Uh-uh, not doing it. That’s when I jumped ship. Someone had given me a new Dell loaded with Vista Ultimate. I took that suckware off and installed Ubuntu Linux. Been happy with that computer ever since. I run different versions of Linux on six computers and have never had any headaches over keeping viruses off my machines either.
I guess some Linux detractors will come along and tell you how hard/limited/terrible Linux is. Whatever. Some people continue to live with abusive spouses too.
>> Please read and inform yourself - your ignorance is painful to endure.
You’re a snotty little puke, aren’t you?
>> This doesn’t just affect people writing Browsers, it can and will affect many 3rd party developers.
Well, actually no, it really *won’t* affect non-browser developers much at all. Maybe you could cure *your* overbearing ignorance by delving into some articles with more technical meat in them. Here’s one that treats the issue more fairly, although it’s significantly more technical than that Fox News (snort!) crapola you peddled, and so may be beyond your rather limited technical grasp.
Now go back to Occupying Seattle or whatever trivial pursuit whiles away your day.
Looks like the screen shot of their crappy windows phones.
I’m going to start buying Apple PCs. I like the Unix based OS much better anyway.
Going to spend my money on a Macbook Pro.
This is non-sense, I’m running Windows 8 right now with FF as my browser. Windows 8 is about the best browser I’ve ever used. Turn youir computer “on” and your up and running in less than 30 seconds. I’m having some problems with Java Script but it has not been upgraded for win8 yet.
OK I blew it, it is talking arm processors. Helps to read before ranting. I get irratated with all the Flak about Microsoft though.
And if you would read the source you gave, you would see
Todays web browsers need deep, deep access to operating systems and hardware. On Windows RT, it appears right now as though only Internet Explorer will be given that kind of access. Back in February, Steven Sinofsky posted that apps for Windows RT (Windows on ARM at that point) had to adhere to a different set of rules. Code that uses only system or OS services from WinRT can be used within an app and distributed through the Windows Store for both WOA and x86/64.
You just confirmed what I've been saying for quite a while. MSFT is withholding and locking developers out of RT, this is what was challenged in United States v. Microsoft - as I've repeatedly mentioned (and you've repeatedly failed to comprehend).
Do try to learn, put on the Big Boy pants and think before you post. I don't know what you are talking about - you keep making MY point, then attacking and sounding more and more ignorant with every attempt.
While I agree about Apple in some ways, I do remember them saying that they wouldn’t allow flash to be installed on some of their products like the iphone. I think there was a battle between Apple and Adobe if memory serves me. This is the reason that I went to a Motorola Droid Razr instead of an Iphone when I upgraded my cell phone a year ago.
But I do prefer the Macbook Pro to anything Microsoft (small and flacid?) has to offer.
You are amazingly technically illiterate.
What part of “deep, deep access” don’t you get?
An API to gain OS system services (which RT furnishes) and “deep hooks” revealing the entire technical underpinnings of the OS (which it does not) are two very different things, snark-tart. So, no, while you can blather about how it proves your point, it does no such thing.
You’re not worth any more of my time. Bye now.
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