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Microsoft Testing Its Own 'Google Base'
sheasie! writes "eWeek is reporting that Microsoft is readying an online marketplace, code-named Fremont, which is apparently in response to a similar feature that rival Google Inc. introduced a few weeks ago." From the article: "The software giant will enhance the Fremont listings with localized maps, and make them available through Microsoft's newly revamped Internet portal, now known as Live.com, according to the company."
Unless I can type www.google.com to get there is has no hope ;)
Microsoft seems to be blindly copying whatever is coming out of Google these days.
This is good, because this creates a competition between two companies which are both strong...no chance of Microsoft swallowing up a smaller company and becoming a monopoly in this case...
I hope this brings out the best value for the consumers.
They just copy good ideas (TM).
I think therefore I am... a Linux geek.
Looks like the City of Fremont has to sue Microsoft now over name rights.
[Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access Driver] Invalid SQL statement; expected 'DELETE', 'INSERT', 'PROCEDURE', 'SELECT', or 'UPDATE'.
That bunch of criminals who once held the defacto monopoly on desktop OS's and office productivity? I thought people got wise to those losers in the first decade of the 21st century?
Oh damn, I just blew my cover again. The temporal overlords are probably going to send me to the 23rd century this time. Bastards!
I was ready to use it but then I saw that slashdot is referenced in Categories -> Science & Tech at live.com. Maybe MS likes dupes.
Fremont is a district of Seattle here. It is more so known for its eclectic people than marketplace so I find it an interesting choice for a name. Check out the myths section @ http://www.fremont.com/
30% off web hosting. Coupon code "SLASHDOT".
all your base are belong to MS :/
ERROR 3260: Couldn't update; currently locked by user GOOGLE on machine INTERNET."
liqbase
Actually this is not so similar to Google Base, but a more direct (and small-thinking) rip off of Craigslist, as far as I can see. There is the similarity that Microsoft also have a search engine to directly map over this data, but eWeek are going much too far (also in http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1877217,00.as p, linked) in ignoring the fundamental differences between a community listing site, an auction site (where the role of the provider is much more hands-on) and the need for Google to get their engine to work with sites dynamically generated from a back-end database...
Round 3212
Microsoft VS The World
"Freedom and Justice for All" is a registered trademark of The United States Govt Inc. Not available in all areas.
It used to be that companies had to jump everytime Microsoft announced an initiative, dumping cash into project that at best would have them keeping up with Microsoft. Interesting that Microsoft is being forced to do the same now when Google moves - probably only because they're one of the few innovative compeitors that Microsoft can't just buy.
Drag n' Drop DVD Recommendations
Good Home Wanted: for our beloved bulldog, slightly overweight, mildly arthritic, not good with other dogs or anyone with long hair, attacks communists on sight (hence heart condition) but loyal to right owners. Will dance for you if fed fillet mignon. Answers to name Ballmero. Please please help as we are desperate to relocate him.
Las qué passoun
tournoun pas maï
At least Microsoft won't be able to sell all their recent Internet-based innovations (read: Google rip-offs) as true innovations. Copying off small companies and Apple might've gone relatively unnoticed, because, let's face it, Apple market share, how shall I put it, has growth potential. Google, however, is unchallenged in its area of expertise and in popularity, so Microsoft's rip-offs will be exactly that.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the light cone.
Today a leaked Microsoft memo confirms that aiming to become a market leader in the google field, is now the IT giants number one priority. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates was quoted as saying "When someone wants to know something, and someone else says, just google the internet for it, we want the first address they think of to be search.msn.com". Analysts predict that this heavy investment in the field of web googling will pay big dividends for the company. Furthermore should the company achieve its targets, Microsoft's history of dominating other industries might mean that in the future, when you are confronted with facts that don't seem quite right, blind ignorance, or a compulsive drive to outperform your rivals in meaningless fact gathering activities, your first instinct will be to "just Microsoft it".
Anyone else have trouble signing in with a Hotmail account-based Passport?
(I know, I know, but I'm not about to use any other address...)
If I try to sign in directly, it says I have to register (but only allows this from a @microsoft.com address), and if I register separately it disallows @hotmail.com (and @msn.com and @passport.com).
Its amazing just how innovative that Microsoft is these days. I mean just look at what they produce for the (allegedly) huge R&D budget they have. They've got TABS in a browser (unbelivable) and now they are either ripping off GoogleBase or CraigsList depending on how you read it.
Its great being a monopoly, you never have to innovate, just leverage your position to copy other people's good ideas.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
Microsoft claimed that protecting intellectual property encouraged innovation, in other words they don't want people copying them because they feel copying is detrimental to being innovative. If this is the case, why is it they have suddenly come up with an equivalent of the open document standard, added tabs to their new Internet Explorer, copied Google's search features to the letter, and now copying Google's other offerings (satellite maps, online books and directories). I'm not really against them improving their services, merely that in doing so it goes against what they seem to campaign for. Microsoft now just seems to be a huge company, with huge resources and huge finances and clone anything that makes money. Where's their leadership in innovation now?
MS: Google, all your base are belong to us !
Google: Hallowed are the Ori.
I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I can think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.
With Microsoft copying Google's every single move, it makes me wish that Google would go out of business and join a monastary. Balmer's already got the haircut and everything...
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
It may continue upward for awhile longer, but the rate of growth is slowing.
r aigslistDejanews.png
http://www.realmeme.com/Main/dailymeme/2005/Aug/c
Let's call it "Freebase"
If google = has it /. for an alternative
then use it
else
ask
They fitted George Orwell's coffin with rollers so he could turn over more easily years ago.
Why Microsoft has to poke its nose to every business opportunity possible? Isn't there a piece of old wisdom that states that you should only fight the battles you can win? I know this has been said before on earlier MS vs [insert the company/country here] posts, but someone ought to give these guys a reality-bitchslap.
It's not just google, it's any successful market that relies on technology.
It's called 'playing catch-up'.
Microsoft's business model is failing, and rather than wasting precious time figuring out what new things it can do, it needs to quickly copy other successful businesses, and preferably kill them off (as usual) by leveraging its monopoly.
Linux/Open Source/Anti Microsoft News
everyone who knows free streaming software should be familiar with that url. now i know why they call themself live555.com recently... ;)
i hope the deal paid out!
I struggling to think of a single time that companies had to "jump" to keep up with Microsoft due to a new MS iniative...
The internet... nope last there
Enterprise Software... nope last there
Spreadsheets, Wordprocessors... nope last there
Multi-tasking operating system... nope last there
Games Console... nope last there
Mobile Phone OS... nope last there
Desktop Search... nope last there
etc etc etc
Microsoft has NEVER dictated the direction of the market, its just leveraged a monopoly position to successfully copy other people's strategies and dominate in that segment.
The only place where MS are seen to lead is in marketing, where they announce the week after another company has done something that Microsoft will be doing that "any day now"... 2 years later you may still be waiting.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
Neither is Google innovating everything....only, google is buying out new technology instead of developing from scratch [ eg:keyhole,orkut etc].
And just because someone follows on , doesnt mean they cant succeed. Apple's ipod was not the first mp3 player,was it?
Why does yahoo do this
I am left to wonder what effect Google Base and Fremont will have on the dating sites and Craiglist style classified sites on the web and those just starting up.
Will these services by the big boys simply kill the existing ones and prevent new ones from starting up? Or will they be non-competing platforms? Anyone care to take a stab at pondering this and share some thoughts?
I've been there quite a few time.but cam someone please tell me what exactly everything2 is about? NO,reading their FAQ doesnt help!
From what I understand,people seem to keep writing on topics of their interest like blogs; But Iam sure its much more than that!
Gotta love that innovation...
Just because you can't, doesn't mean you shouldn't.
Fremont is just the beta name, Boogle or Bill's List will be the new name.
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
Microsoft is a business, not a research institution. Sure every company does research, but you are not going to criticize companies for selling screwdrivers, are you? Because there are plenty of companies doing basically the same thing there. Being a business means remaining competitive which means you either compete in an existing market or you create a new one. Microsoft does both. Just look at the market that they are creating with the newest Xbox live features. If every company limited themselves to only new ideas then there would be a bunch of huge monopolies and many failing businesses.
Microsoft have always simply followed the market.
Deleted
Google didn't become famous because of some multi-million dollar marketing campaign. Nor did they aim to destroy other search engines. It's assumed that the public came up with the term Googling, and yet despite their quietness, their quality of service spoke volumes. So loud was this boom that it rippled through the entire online community so that everyone has heard of them in a very short period of time. They didn't bribe other companies to work with them, they gave millions to worthy causes, and have a committment to running an ethical business, where shareholders take a back seat. Microsoft have had a search engine for ages, covered with advertisements and cluttered menus. They stripped this down after Google came along, threw hundreds of millions of dollars all over the world to get people to use their site, and co-incidently ended up using the same on-page advertising style as Google. Their search engine was slower, had less results, and the results you did get were less relevent. Their aim wasn't to provide a high quality and innovative service which would constantly evolve, it was to take the market from Google and put the profits in their shareholder's pockets. They would only innovate if they were forced to as part of a project to increase revenue, some of which would only go to a worthy cause if they could get enough publicity from it (i.e. it's just another PR exercise). So, to summarise, Google tinker away challenging themselves and keep relatively quiet about it. Microsoft beaver away throwing armies of developers and marketing campaigns at their service while quietly ripping off anything they can find. Microsoft don't challenge themselves, they become challenged by others. They have no will to improve themselves without threat from others taking over a lucrative market. What I've said isn't exactly insightful, it's just commentating on what appears to be happening.
Yet another Fremont Begemoth from Redmond. Good luck, Billy !
MySQL Error 1040: Can't return sig, Too many connections!
I can see it now: Only locations without an 'l','i','n','u', or 'x' will be listed, and Finland will be edited out all together....
Yes, but does it work with Linux?
Kids copy from each other in grade school. Grown up businesses don't "copy," if they see a competitor's product that shows promise, they take it, make it better (whether or not it really is better is decided "voted" on by the public with their dollars, with some help from marketing, of course ;) ), and sell it. Its what people do, its how we progress.
There was a time when cars weren't started from the inside. There had to have been one company that started that trend, in which all of the others followed. Would we be better off today if only Ford (or whoever it was) cars were started from the inside, and owners of other brands had to crank start their car from the outside? Of course not. No other brand would exist. "Copying" leads to competition, which leads to better products.
Google's start page is a blatent "copy" of Microsoft's http://www.start.com./
Is this bad? No. MS wasn't doing anything with it. Maybe now they will.
Download free e-books, lectures, and tutorials at bookgoldmine.com
Why Microsoft has to poke its nose to every business opportunity possible? Isn't there a piece of old wisdom that states that you should only fight the battles you can win?
Great question. What is Microsoft's strategic course? Gaming? Business software? Home software? I have to think Microsoft is shadowing Google with no real hope of competing directly. They are addicted to the Windows/Office monopoly. They know they need to change, but preserving the monopoly is a huge constraint. Trying to mar Google's mounting successes is their only avenue. Is it an effective strategy? I don't think so. Microsoft doesn't really know what it is in the post Windows/Office era. For all of Gates' and Ballmer's fame, I think they are running the company poorly. The stock price hasn't budged in 3 years. Without monopoly power will they ever exert technical influence? Not likely.
an ill wind that blows no good
No customer wants search dozens of fragmented commercial databases. Its much more convenient to use the largest. I remember there were dozens of auction sites before Ebay predominated. Google Base will probably upend sites like Craigs-list and the local online classifieds because it so easy and cheap to submit and search.
Wow the marketing droid in Redmond have a big hill to climb. Microsoft launches a new product/service line and the first thing that happens is people start calling it the Microsoft's version of GoogleBase. That's always a bad sign in the marketing world: it means you have a product that can only differentiate itself from the competition in nit-picky little ways but first and foremost it is identified as a knock off. Keep an eye on the hoops the droids try to go through (and the wads of cash they blow) to try and compete -- but they have already lost.
Windows Live Ideas Error Page: "Wow, we must have really messed up and are currently down. Please come back later. "
Their primary "innovation" argument has actually been something along the lines of: "Open Source software is evil because it does not reward innovation, therefore it creates disincentives to innovation."
Microsoft's embrace of software patents is explained by their second "innovation" argument, which is that truly advanced software development will only occur if it is protected by patents. If Open Source is a detriment to innovation, then software patents are a spur to innovation.
Google eating their lunch has nothing to do with either of the above arguments, and MS knows it. They've made their fortunes primarily by getting into a market after it has been established by someone else (Excel for Mac being a notable exception), copying the leader, then piling on features. In that sense they're a bit like the US government, which in the early days of the republic launched a vigorous campaign of IP theft targeted at Britain. Once America gained technological leadership, its embrace of more and more restrictive IP laws developed.
Funny how that works, isn't it?
Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
... tries so hard to fit in. Like the rich kid down the block who hasn't an original thought and thinks they can perfect someone else's idea.
Yawn... it'll be a flop like, oh I dunno, remember SIDEWALK?
Note to Microsoft: Give us a break and quit wasting effort on things you don't know about and FIX YOUR SOFTWARE!!!
"I'm not ashamed I can't function in society like I'm supposed to." - Paul Westerberg
recent Internet-based innovations (read: Google rip-offs)
OK, this is perhaps a Google ripoff. But let's look at the rest of the list. Google maps: Rip off of Terraserver (a Microsoft product). Google Home: start.com (a Microsoft product) predates it Google News: msnbc news predates it. MSN messenger predated Google's IM client. So besides this item; I fail to see where Microsoft is 'ripping off Google.' Enlighten us, please.
-everphilski-
Sorry, couldn't resist it. We all know Microsoft's branding concept of taking the most vanilla, generic words imaginable (windows, office, sql server) and trying to turn them into brands. Live must have seen like a natural extension of this approach. But with Google's "don't be evil" those 4 little letters seem to cover a multitude of cultural references. I just can't be bothered to check if evilbackwards.com is taken, if not buy it, and wait for the C&D.
Pining for the fjords
"That helped Microsoft immensely because at the time people liked the fact that they could share content using cut/copy/paste."
That was then, this is now, enter the DMCA and DRM... Cut/Copy/Paste will get you 5 years now, and Microsoft again profits immensely, only its not helping users one bit. Now, I've got to change my identity to hide from ravenous Senators just for quoting you without including a bibliography with my post.
I8-D
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Google rocks!
I'm surprised that people even find browser tabs an "innovation" no matter who put them in a browser first. Tabbed documents within an application is a very old concept. Windows 3.1 apps had tabbed documents.
Why do the Firefox people claim that Tabs are all the rage? Is that the pinnacle of Firefox innovation or something?
Yeah, I mean "base" is "al-Qa'ida" in Arabic, so why not just name the thing "Tora Bora"?
"All your base are belong to us."
Perhaps innovation would do better than imitation. Microsoft has long made a living, a very good living, off of either buying up the competition or of providing a similar product or service. Inevitably such a business model must fail, as laws of capitalism state that competitors will inevitably create better products at lesser costs both to themselves and consumers. All it takes is for one of those competitors to refuse to sell-out to Microsoft and they have beaten the beast. Guess which competitor isn't selling out any time soon? Google.
If Microsoft is near ready to test I highly doubt the idea was stolen from Google and replicated within "a few weeks". I've seen that company, they can't make a decision in that time frame let alone dedicate resources and create this product that quickly.
Innovation via impersonation.
Why does Microsoft have to do exactly everything anyone else is doing? MS does not have to be in every single fricking market. I think thats part of their problem. Maybe they should be putting these resource into Vista. Then it would suck less.
...playing catchup...
Oh, wait, when has Microsoft ever NOT played catchup?
I mean, where did DOS come from (if you are old enough or educated enough to remember)?
Richard Steven Hack - This sig is TOO GODDAMN SHORT TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL WITH! MORONS!
I wonder how many useless projects Google has planned just to make Microsoft and Yahoo waste their time.
Please, no flaming, serious answers only. I'm not pro/anti google or Microsoft, but I do have a question. I have no problem with an anti-microsoft bias, people have their reason but I don't understand how people can make the Microsoft is ripping-off google argument.
Sure google was in the internet search game before MS, but it wasn't the first, so isn't google search a rip-off of yahoo.
People constantly claim google is a great innovator, but what have they innovated, using the MS arguments.
1. Google is a rip-off of Yahoo
2. g-mail is a rip-off of yahoo mail or hotmail
3. Google IM is a rip-off of AIM, ICQ, etc
4. Google news is a rip-off of slashdot, fark, etc
6. Google desktop search is a rip-off of the older MS search, yea it sucked but it was there
7. etc etc
I guess all this makes me ask the question what is innovation?
Using the MS ripped off X argument, aren't all AMD's processors just rip-offs of intel. I mean AMD couldn't have done any innovation, but they did innovate. Innovation isn't just comming up with a new paridigm it's also taking exisiting paridigms and putting twists on them. If you say Microsoft takes things and adds no value you're decieving yourself.
So Microsoft realeases things after Google. There are a lot of programmers here, let's be reasonable. If google comes out with Google-X and MS comes out with MS-X two weeks later. MS didn't implement it in two weeks. They didn't rip-off google and go hey lets whip up an imitation in 2 weeks, both companies probably had the product in development for a long time, so how is MS-X a ripoff of Google-X if all it did was get to market second.
In other news, Microsoft has decided to drop the following projects: Microsoft Swig Turkey Rank Builind of offices on Mars BrainPlex
There is no god but Google and GTalk is the messenger of Google.
With all this talk about the lack of MS innovation, what about the lack of OSS innovation?
OpenOffice is just a direct ripoff of MS office. Firefox is a direct ripoff of Opera. You all seem quite quick to judge MS when your "favorite" OSS software is just a direct rip.
I understand that Bill Gates thinks Linux and Open Source Software are a Communist Plot to destroy his company. I also know that Fremont is the only neighborhood in Seattle with a larger than life statue of lenin. Isn't naming their next product after fremont going a bit far? Should we look for Microsoft Trotzky next?
I know this is irrelevant, but hearing the name "Fremont" makes me think happily of how Dave Barry rallied his readers to submit poems to poetry.com under the first name "Freemont," all on the theme of the dog eating mother's toes.
http://www.poetry.com/freemont/freemont.html
My submission was this:
"Rhymes with Toes"
by Freemont J. Uuvula
Her method, surely, could be slow
enumeration's limits low
we count upon the things we know
for Mother: fingers and her toes
Such tragic fate: she, hobbled, goes
her grimaced face discomfort shows
recalling errant dog's repose
who calmly chewed whilst Mother dozed
In humid breezes softly grows
a mournful, solitary rose
where Fido often sits and goes
alas; the dog ate Mother's toes
How long will you copy ? As Toshiba punch line says, Don't copy, Lead!
Concept: A listing service of items for sale. Google Base Slashdot Response: "OMG! That r0x! Oh Google it looks as though your toes haven't been kissed enough. Mmmm yummy toes. Thanks Google! Can I have your love-baby?" Microsoft 'Fremont' Slashdot Response: "You copycat monopolistic bastards! Now you're taking on Craigslist and doing so by duplicating Google? How awful you are. A pox on all your houses." CraigsList Slashdot Response: Why some of these posts are modded insightful is beyond me. How long will the Google Love last? When you think about it, giants do tend to accidentally squash peasants under their feet. They don't mean to; They just can't help it. Is it evil? Not really but there are unintended consequences. Yeah, great that Google tends to do things right but there is always a fall. I just hope it comes later than earlier.
and M$ would make a lot of money... but M$ unfortunately showed us too many times that it doesn't deserves our trust. Too bad M$, you shot yourself in the foot for a quick buck
THIS is insightful?
For the record also, OSX is just a re-branded NEXTSTEP with a somewhat better compositing software. Work has been done on it since 1986 and was released in 1989. The technology has been available since then for workstation.
It only took near ten years to Apple to realise that they should re-hire Steve Jobs and re-use this OS for their machine and thus replace the anquitity they used as desktop OS.
Windows NT itself was developped (then as a 32-bits version of OS/2) only since 1988, and was out in 1993.
Also, even if we consider the "bringing a real multitasking kernel to the mainstream desktop", Windows XP Home edition (october 2001) was still a little bit late compared to Mac OS X (september, same year).
But I think the parent was speaking about the whole MS-DOS vs. OS2 vs. *nix era (pre-Windows). Every DOS-clone maker managed do bring some kind of multitasking in his DOS clone, only Microsoft was spreading their "wait, will have it for our Next Release(tm), this time we promise, be patient" FUD.
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]