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Facebook, Microsoft Team Up Against Google
Pickens writes "In a move that could be the biggest threat to Google's search standing yet, Microsoft and Facebook announced that they're teaming up for social search. When someone uses Bing's search engine to look for a new car or a book, she can see which ones her friends liked. While industry watchers say this is an interesting move for search, what's most notable is that Facebook turned to Microsoft for this deal and not to the market leader, Google. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says there is a specific reason he wants to go with Bing: 'They really are the underdog here. They're incentivized to go out and innovate. They have all these smart people and are trying to do all these new things.' The real importance of this week's announcement is that it highlights the growing strategic conflict between Facebook and Google, says analyst Ray Valdes. 'There is a battle for the future of the Web, and it is not about search engines, but about the social Web.'"
Plus they gave me a bonus.
So is this a deliberate attempt for Facebook to allocate resources towards Diaspora? Are they deliberately fueling the two headed monster that will replace them?
There is a battle for the future of the Web, and it is not about search engines, but about the social Web
There is a battle for the future of people's *privacy*. On one side, ordinary people. On the other side, spooks and profiteers who tell us that "privacy doesn't matter".
Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.
This seems like one of those things that sounds like a cool idea but never takes off. Most people probably aren't hugely interested in seeing which cars their friends recommend. I think most people are still in the mindset that if they want someone's opinion on something they'll ask them directly. Maybe there are some interesting uses for this, but the cars example in the summary seems pretty bland.
I can see it now.... I'll be shopping at Walgreens.com and there will be popups on that say what kind of Hemorrhoid cream my boss uses, and that my Aunt Grace just bought a some warming KY-Jelly.
Some things need to stay private.
incentivized to go out and innovate??? Someone forgot this Bing technology which microsoft has innovated so greatly is mostly just yahoo under the hood. based on the core technology alone, one could surmise they dont have many intelligent folks working long hours on this. I suspect the real reason was a nice, greasy palm full of cash from microsoft.
as for the social web i could take it or leave it, mark. People forget the original "social web" was IRC and usenet. All you've offered arguably is a clever sand box for market research and a communications system that doesn't challenge anyone to engage in a real conversation.
Good people go to bed earlier.
...the "Push" of this decade.
It's actually a wonderful analogy. The social web traps the bugs (read: users) and allows the spiders (read: companies) to suck them dry. Eventually the social web gets tangled, and a new spider comes along to spin more line.
"Their search engine sucks."
"They gave us a lot of money"
"They're rich and desperate. Ka-ching!"
Log in or piss off.
The idea of Facebook and Microsoft teaming up together is very scary. Two companies riddled with security flaws... Those running the botnets are smiling from ear to ear because they see more victims.
When someone uses Bing's search engine to look for a new car or a book, she can see which ones her friends liked.
And with a map interface, we can all see which cliff all the other rodents are leaping off today.
Have gnu, will travel.
If I care about my friends' opinions on a particular topic, I ask them about it.
This is just so silly - doubly so, given the typical Facebook user's definition of "friend". Tell me, if you're doing a search - do you honestly care what random "Facebook Friend" Joe Schmoe, who you last met 20 years ago in daycare, liked or didn't like?
#DeleteChrome
Google's working on cars that drive by themselves.
What the fuck is Microsoft innovating?
Facebook is just a fad...
Most folks/corporations/ip-rights-holders don't mind being "liked". But if you publicise loudly enough that you "dislike" them, they might sue to stop you.
As a consumer, you are only allowed two votes: Consent or Abstain. There is no Dissent.
Eventually there'll be no Abstain.
OMG!!! Ponies!!!
Honestly , now to do a _bing_ search I have to log into a facebook account or how is this suppose to work? Also what about privacy issues ? XSS attacks ? How is this anonymously allowing me to search and bettering my privacy at the same time ?
The real reason is because both Microsoft and Facebook see eye-to-eye when it comes to user security. ;)
Both eyes are blind.
Microsoft's business strategy "be evil" seems a much better fit for Facebook.
I really am regretting ever creating a Facebook account. If things carry on in this direction, I shall delete the thing soon.
Those of us who found serious problems (mainly privacy-related) with Facebook from the very beginning, decided not to participate at all, and said so, tended to catch some flak for it. As in, something other than a well-reasoned rebuttal to the position. Usually this was in the form of someone's personal offense that I would point out a flaw in their favorite new service, or that I would steadfastly value the privacy they seem to have given up on.
"If things carry on in this direction" indeed. I think this is like many political proposals. People tend to look at short-term effects without considering that these represent movement in a particular direction. The path that the momentum is taking can be identified early on and the destination can be known long before the end of that path is reached. It is something of a law of nature that events tend to unfold, to evolve, to become more so, to continue along their current direction in a straight line unless some counter-force alters that path. The longer something goes on the more inertia it accumulates; the more inertia it has the greater that counter-force (or backlash) must be to have any effect.
I for one identified early on that Facebook and similar sites appeal to a form of vanity I do not personally possess. Even if I did find that tempting, vanity is not a rational reason to participate in something. They do this while coming with disadvantages I find unacceptable, such as the loss of control over any personal information posted there (read their privacy policies, they make this quite clear) and the extensive use of personal information for tracking and marketing purposes. As another poster has pointed out in reply to you, you have no real assurance that your account is ever truly deleted even after going through a needlessly complex process to request that this be done.
The pattern here is a valuable one to recognize and simplicity itself. When many proponents of something display that kind of denigrating personal offense when you question the purpose or usefulness of that thing, and resent that you question it rationally at all, it should be a red flag. I've rarely or never seen anyone do that when the object in question is an inherently good or useful thing that can stand on its own merits. The regret you express can be described as a lesson about popularity, trend, and bandwagon appeal and the unwarranted power these can have over your decision-making. To be sure, it is a valuable one.
It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
That "in general" is where Google has won every single time, and why Microsoft fails time and time again to remain relevant. A single feature does not innovation make, nor will this minor feature matter to anybody who isn't shallow. Might as well argue that you prefer Microsoft's color scheme or fonts.
As long as Microsoft continues to launch unsuccessful products despite massive advertising campaigns, they will continue to stagnate and fall further behind Google and Apple.