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Microsoft Kills Off Mac IE, Blames Safari
aliebrah writes "CNet reports that
Microsoft will not release any more major upgrades for Internet Explorer on MacOS. They cite competition from Safari as the reason for this decision, and say that Safari is a better browser for Macintosh systems. Ironically, they also say that they can't compete with Apple, because Apple has better access to the underlying operating system."
Yeah, that must be rough. Today's SlashDotFunQuiz is to predict the order in which, impact when, and years until these other Mac products get the axe: Media Player, MSN Messenger, Office, Outlook, and Virtual PC.
Why MS would need access to Darwin source would be a more valid question. You probably never done any programming. Otherwise, you would know that any program that creates windows would need to use the window manager, and that having the source would help tremendously. Actually, all the system libraries that you would ever interface to in MacOS are closed-source, just like on Windows.
The only reason Apple open-sourced the Darwin core is because it performs no functions that could ever give anyone a competitive advantage. Having it open-source turns it into a source of free labor.
MSIE may have 97% of the browser market, but what kind of "market" is it when the product is free? I've always been Netscape-centric & that's just the "corporate standard" at our house. My wife, who is not computer savvy, made this comment when she had to use MSIE to access a site: "This Explorer thing is CHEESY. It just feels cheap & thin after using Netscape." She should be getting paid big bucks by CNET for her opinions, IMO!
"Obviously, I'm not an IBM computer any more than I'm an ashtray" (Bob Dylan)
Of course Microsoft would want more web browser competition, that's what they need right now to keep the states off their back..... But the web browser doesn't even compete with them since it's on the mac, and ms was making the software for free for the mac anyway... So now it's a great situation for MS, as almost everything it does is. And they put the focus on Apple for doing exactly what MS was accused of doing. HAHAHAHA. Sucks for Apple. And Apple users, too. For some reason, Everybody wants choice on Windows but in the mac world, everybody gets just one choice per application category? What the hell? How can just having safari be good for the mac? Isn't competition good? Now the direct competition is Windows versus Apple. We are right back to the pre-web browser era (or soon will be.) Except that Windows just like back in 1990, is installed in more computers than Apple. HAHAHAHA. Ya this is really good for Apple. One web browser. Hidden API. IT is much better for MS when it's biggest os competitor ( a non-competitor ) is accused of the same stuff as it is... ha! This is not good for macs. (As an operating system)
Cover your eyes and click this link!
Is Safari better than Mozilla(Firebird)?
I don't find that the KHTML/Konqueror browser works that great with a large number of web sites.
On Linux I mostly use MozillaFirebird (what a stupid name, phoenix was better) and when things don't work I'll run Opera in "IE" mode. Konqueror is not even on my list, it works with less sites than Mozilla. On Windows I use Firebird and rarely have problems (sometimes I have to back off to IE). On OS X I've been using Mozilla, but I admit that I don't use my Mac very much.
So why is Safari so popular on Mac when Mozilla is available? Is it because Firebird isn't available? Although the whole Mozilla suite is kinda chunky, I think Firebird would kill Safari.
The ratio of people to cake is too big
no kidding. all the slashbots and zealots seem to conveniently forget that apple's market share has been decreasing even with all these new gee-whiz gadgets that cost an arm and a leg. i believe they have about 3% share of the pc market now. but leave it to slashdot to turn this into a wild conspiracy and victory dance when the larger issue of apple is ignored.
SIG:Slashdot: indymedia for nerds.
I imagine the conversation with the guy assigned to work on a mac project a microsoft goes something like this: "come in here jenkins" "yes sir?" "you know those blue green supercomputers, the ones that we guard with tanks?" "yeah.." "well it turns out the potheads that use those things would like to explore the internet.." "hahah! sir, they have but a single button on their mouse! 'tis folly! wouldn't they be happier with some sort of egg or pod? We could even make some sort of cube! if you're high and time is blurred, it's almost like a hypercube." "I don't know what you're going on about, jenkins. I think mac users are mostly mammals." "sir you miss my point.." "silence! report to the macintosh bunker immediately!". So now this poor sap is on a mac, trying to write software. Twitching either his pointer or middle finger clicks the same button. He cries, now a hapless programmer held to a dungeon wall by an ADB chain. Engineering mac software is like trying to build a flying canoe: hopefully you can bludgeon someone with the oars and make your escape.
who cares about apple. people follow apple almost like it's a fad. they aren't superior machines, you can't play games, you can't do as much as you can on a pc. im glad more of microsoft's software is being taken away from them.
why do people still use apple machines?
He is an arab. He is leaving the US. Not a bad idea if you ask me.
War is necrophilia.
Hate to break it to you, but a majority of OS X is open source.
Hate to break it to you, but only the part that is open source, is what they stole from open source community...and if you knew anything about programming, you would know that it takes more than just source from the UNIX portion to write software.
"This has been a major reason for most companies not porting software to the Mac platform."
So, what you are saying is that developers are/will not port software to OSX because Apple does not provide enough source... I guess that is why all the developers flock to Microsoft - Microsoft loves to provide Windows source.
Absolutely! I have never had a problem getting info I need to code for MS. Pretty cut and dry.
Ha. You are a moron. Name me one significant application that is not avalible on OS X...
Typical response from an immature upset apple user...but I will give you an good example in the real world. I work in the radio field, and the only decent application that runs on Mac is Protools. Everything else we use is PC only...our production software, radio automation software, news delivery software, satellite control software....need I go on..moron?
"Hate to break it to you, but only the part that is open source, is what they stole from open source community...and if you knew anything about programming, you would know that it takes more than just source from the UNIX portion to write software."
;-)
Oh, I see... You know little or nothing about OS X... Please take some time to learn what you are talking about as to not seem like a jackass in the future. Darwin was not stolen... It is still open source with concurrent x86 builds. Cocoa is an amazing API. Project Builder is pretty nice as well. Does Microsoft provide developers with this? Sure they do, right? Is Microsoft's Windows Media Server open source; and will it run on Linux, Solaris and Windows NT/2000 - hmmm...
MSDN.com just gives you the info you need when you need it right? "Cut and Dry - it is not bloated at all.
"I work in the radio field, and the only decent application that runs on Mac is Protools. Everything else we use is PC only"
Ah, Radio... what a cutting edge field... I hear that is where things are headed - FM. Ha. Developers are all over it.
Protools is nice, but I am sure you have heard of Logicand Cubase right? BTW, no more Logic for pc - mac bought Emagic.
Radio Automation software - you mean a digital media player with an integrated database? (a few open source apps that cover this)
News Delivery Software.... You mean a newswire?
Satellite Control Software - well - you sure that WIN32 is the only platform supported?
All these apps that you claim are not being written for mac - where are they? You use WIN32 applications at the 'radio station' - woohoo. Your point?
Why isn't Microsoft getting any of these or these? When is the last time that Microsoft invented something as influential as Firewire? Where are these apps you speak of?
Yes, please go on - moron.
Surfing the web without IE is like
going to war without the French.