Google Demands Microsoft Pull YouTube App For WP8

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday May 16, 2013 @12:07AM from the or-else dept.

First time accepted submitter exomondo writes "Google has given Microsoft until May 22nd to pull their Windows Phone 8 YouTube app from the marketplace and disable it on customer devices. It not only includes a built-in ad blocker but also allows users to download videos and doesn't impose device-specific streaming restrictions outlined in the YouTube Terms Of Service. A Microsoft spokesperson said in part: 'YouTube is consistently one of the top apps downloaded by smartphone users on all platforms, but Google has refused to work with us to develop an app on par with other platforms. Since we updated the YouTube app to ensure our mutual customers a similar YouTube experience, ratings and feedback have been overwhelmingly positive. We'd be more than happy to include advertising but need Google to provide us access to the necessary APIs. In light of Larry Page's comments today calling for more interoperability and less negativity, we look forward to solving this matter together for our mutual customers.'"

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Nope by Anonymous Coward · 2013-05-16 00:31 · Score: 0, Flamebait

Wow. So Microsoft is mad because someone else won't give them details on a closed API?
What a difference a decade makes. How's it feel, Microsoft?
No. Microsoft is using the "need for an API" as an excuse against Google. It is Google who is mad, because Microsoft produced an, apparently, good and highly featureful YouTube app, one that has a built in ad blocker and the ability to locally save/record videos. Now Google is whining about breaches of ToS and Microsoft is saying; 'but, but, we need an open API.'
Both sides of this story have turned into green eyed monsters of jealousy. Frankly, I'm laughing at Google here. They are getting a taste of what they've given Microsoft on more than a few occasions.