In a post on July 16th, Microsoft has announced that Internet Explorer 8 will not be the default browser on Vista and XP in order to "respect users current default settings." After so many years of being considered a monopoly by the public and their peers, it seems that Microsoft is trying hard to accommodate personal preference, rather than shoving programs onto people ala Apple with Safari. Due to complaints by the European Union and feedback from testers, this change was considered a high priority by the company. It seems to me that Microsoft understands that when you would like to use another browser, you are actively seeking the provider, such as Firefox or Opera, and you would really like to use it because you are installing software onto your machine.
The update to Internet Explorer 8 comes as a dynamic update, according to Microsoft, where the company does not need to re-release the program in over 60 languages. The update is expected to be put into play in mid-August of this year. Formerly, IE was set as the default automatically during express installation, but now the choice of default browser is able to be made in both express and custom installations.
At what point will another company such as Apple be seen as a monopoly? I think that it is very mature of Microsoft to give the choice of default browser, as opposed to Apple's promotion of Safari. According to Slashdot.com, it is quite difficult to install Windows on an Apple computer without first requiring additional software. With Microsoft being touted as the most popular operating system of all time, including video game consoles like the Xbox and other devices that require computer hardware, it raises the question 'What is a computer?' The traditional view of course, is a monitor, CPU, and keyboard. However, with all of the new leaps in the permeation of technology into our lives, we should consider MP3 players, Smart Phones, and video game consoles computers as well.
The update to Internet Explorer 8 comes as a dynamic update, according to Microsoft, where the company does not need to re-release the program in over 60 languages. The update is expected to be put into play in mid-August of this year. Formerly, IE was set as the default automatically during express installation, but now the choice of default browser is able to be made in both express and custom installations.
At what point will another company such as Apple be seen as a monopoly? I think that it is very mature of Microsoft to give the choice of default browser, as opposed to Apple's promotion of Safari. According to Slashdot.com, it is quite difficult to install Windows on an Apple computer without first requiring additional software. With Microsoft being touted as the most popular operating system of all time, including video game consoles like the Xbox and other devices that require computer hardware, it raises the question 'What is a computer?' The traditional view of course, is a monitor, CPU, and keyboard. However, with all of the new leaps in the permeation of technology into our lives, we should consider MP3 players, Smart Phones, and video game consoles computers as well.
As I stated in my recent application (http://asmartpixel.com/stormfront/), I am a mac lover since I switched back last year. So, of course I have to write a follow-up to this.
First, Microsoft has been "shoving" IE into people's lives since 1995. To compare Apple's technique of pre-installing Safari to IE, is crude. Safari is a much more sophisticated piece of software with a better rendering engine at it's core, the new Safari 4 featuring the "Top Sites", and having development features built right in. IE has always been loathed by developers because it's just simply not adequate to today's progression of the web.
What defines a computer? Regardless of whether we are looking at a desktop, laptop, iPhone, or Xbox 360; it's all the same hardware inside today. What's important today is a usable computer. Users want to get their information at the fastest possible speeds, with the least amount of hassle. Apple's user experience is unprecedented by any other company today. Whether it be their brilliantly designed laptops, the mobile office-to-go iPhone, or down to their engineered batteries.
If Microsoft is so keen on giving options, perhaps they should explore the option of releasing DirectX to the open source community, or explore the option of using OpenGL like everyone else; so that finally the argument "I can't play games on Mac" will be over.
Furthermore, when Snow Leopard is released in 2 months, the world will see Apple for more than a pretty face once OpenCL enables their computers to be much faster than the competition.
Not trying to start an OS war, just don't make Microsoft out like the good guys because they were basically threatened into providing an option.