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Firefox Creator No Longer Trusts Google

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the watching-the-watchmen dept.

watashi writes "Blake Ross the man whose scratched itch became the Firefox browser explains on his blog why he has a problem with Google's policy of promoting their own products over competitors' in search results. His main gripe is that the tips (e.g. "Want to share pictures? Try Google Picasa") result in an inability for other products (perhaps even Parakey?) to compete for the top slot on Google."

4 of 528 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Blake Ross, Step Down by blakeross · · Score: 4, Informative

    Okay, I'll take the bait: no, none of this is based on any atom of truth.

  2. Re:I presently work for Google. by a.d.trick · · Score: 4, Informative

    Wait, so are you a Google acountant or a security professional. Don't tell me you changed jobs yesterday.

  3. Re:Why shouldn't they? by mcrbids · · Score: 4, Informative

    So far Microsoft hasn't tried to stop me using Linux.

    Don't confuse covert action with inaction. Microsoft has definitely tried to stop you from using Linux. They've done everything that they could possibly get away with to prevent you from using ANYTHING but Microsoft products on your PC.

    But it was covert - you didn't witness the exclusive deals, threats and haggles yourself, your vendor(s) did.

    You might remember a certain antitrust trial, in which Microsoft played one of the sides? Perhaps you were sleeping under a rock or something...?

    --
    I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
  4. Re:MOD PARENT UP by Anpheus · · Score: 5, Informative

    First, to make it clear, I'm replying to this to put my post nearer to the top, but that's because I'm egotistical and have a bias towards exaggerating the value of my own posts. So please, feel free to ignore the nice tidbit below:

    It appears what TFA is about is incorrect. Why? Google for "share pictures." Picasa is the second ad in the blue box.

    Google for "blog." Blogger shows up below the paid ads, as mostly plaintext with a blogger logo.

    Google for "videos." Google Video shows up in the blue box, second ad.

    Is it just me, or does it seem like they aren't favoring their own ads at all? There might be some algorithm sorting them, as when I search for some other terms Google comes up first (gmail comes up before AOL mail,) but in other cases Google's service shows up last in the paid ads.