04.30.08
Microsoft Plays Unfairly on The World Wide Web Again
“I am convinced we have to use Windows – this is the one thing they don’t have. We have to be competitive with features, but we need something more — Windows integration.”
–Jim Allchin, Microsoft
What?!?! Using Windows Vapourware™ (7) as an anti-competitive tool against next-generation threats such as Google? Microsoft got plans!
We brought up this issue in the past and appended supportive references. Now comes another update from Mary Jo Foley in the form of an internal memo from Microsoft.
Microsoft internal memo details Windows 7-Windows Live ties
[...]
The memo — an internal planning document for what Microsoft calls “Windows Live Wave 3 — dates back to August 2007. In it, Chris Jones, Corporate Vice President of Windows Live Experience; David Treadwell, Corporate Vice President of Live Platform Services; and Brian Arbogast, Corporate Vice President of Mobile Services share their vision for how Windows Live will evolve to be more tightly linked with Windows, Internet Explorer, Office, MSN and Live Search.
This seems like another case of making people’s choices — on ‘their behalf’ — at OEM-level. Remember the crucial role of the OEMs? Microsoft understood this even a decade ago. People are virtually forced to buy Windows and whatever comes along with it, be it Internet Explorer (to eliminate Netscape), Media Player (to eliminate Real Networks) and in the future maybe a hypervisor too (to weaken or eliminate VMWare). Windows can’t even be given away or returned for a refund.
I own that copy of Windows, just like I own a book. I can decompile it, I can sell it (so long as I don’t sell multiple copies or otherwise violate the copyright laws). I can install it on multiple machines (again, so long as I don’t run more than one copy concurrently. See the copyright laws for details on what is and is not allowed).
Microsoft has acknowledges by now that a lot of the future is tied to the network and it continues to play aggressively in order to catch up. In addition, further to its abuses with online media (e.g. BBC to its rescue!) and after pulling some ActiveX disasters comes yet another failure from the BBC. It’s reportedly discriminating against Mozilla Firefox again, which is interesting because of the BBC’s partnership with Microsoft.
The redesigned BBC News website is struggling to work with the Firefox browser.
Might they have hired some Web developers from Microsoft, just as they recruited for their media division? The BBC must really be watched after getting as close as it has to this abusive (and convicted) monopoly. That’s the same company that might soon be embargoed in Europe for endless bad behaviour. Never let the sweet talk lead to trust. █
Related readings (external):
- BBC Director General grilled by MPs on iPlayer
- BBC Corrupted
- BBC iPlayer Protests
- Beeb slammed for ‘fawning’ to Bill Gates
- BBC may lose chunk of licence fee
- BBC: Death by a thousand top-slices
- BBC Says Microsoft, Sony Too Controlling on Streaming Video
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.