Monday, July 27th 2009
European Commission Welcomes New Microsoft Proposals on MSIE and Interoperability
The European Commission can confirm that Microsoft has proposed a consumer ballot screen as a solution to the pending antitrust case about the tying of Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser with Windows. This followed extensive discussions with the Commission which centred on a remedy outlined in the January 2009 Statement of Objections (see MEMO/09/15) whereby consumers would be shown a "ballot screen" from which they could - if they wished - easily install competing web browsers, set one of those browsers as a default, and disable Internet Explorer. Under the proposal, Windows 7 would include Internet Explorer, but the proposal recognises the principle that consumers should be given a free and effective choice of web browser, and sets out a means - the ballot screen - by which Microsoft believes that can be achieved. In addition OEMs would be able to install competing web browsers, set those as default and disable Internet Explorer should they so wish. The Commission welcomes this proposal, and will now investigate its practical effectiveness in terms of ensuring genuine consumer choice.
As the Commission indicated in June (see MEMO/09/272 ), the Commission was concerned that, should Microsoft's conduct prove to have been abusive, Microsoft's intention to separate Internet Explorer from Windows, without measures such as a ballot screen, would not necessarily have achieved greater consumer choice in practice and would not have been an effective remedy.
Microsoft has also made proposals in relation to disclosures of interoperability information that would improve the interoperability between third party products and Windows and Windows Server. Again, these proposals require further investigation before the Commission reaches any conclusion as to the next steps.
Microsoft's proposals will be published in full on its website. The Commission has no further comment at this stage.
Source:
Europa
As the Commission indicated in June (see MEMO/09/272 ), the Commission was concerned that, should Microsoft's conduct prove to have been abusive, Microsoft's intention to separate Internet Explorer from Windows, without measures such as a ballot screen, would not necessarily have achieved greater consumer choice in practice and would not have been an effective remedy.
Microsoft has also made proposals in relation to disclosures of interoperability information that would improve the interoperability between third party products and Windows and Windows Server. Again, these proposals require further investigation before the Commission reaches any conclusion as to the next steps.
Microsoft's proposals will be published in full on its website. The Commission has no further comment at this stage.
129 Comments on European Commission Welcomes New Microsoft Proposals on MSIE and Interoperability
You are about 3 miles off target.
There is nothing PREVENTING another 3d API from functioning. OpenGL is available.
If Microsoft put in effort to block OpenGL from being installed as they initially attempted with Windows Vista, they would have had another anti-trust case against them. Remember the longhorn beta without OGL? Or the fact that they BLOCKED installation?
Making a product for an Api is not illegal. Seriously, read the damn definition. :confused:
The API's were made available for a competitor to..... compete.
How does that not fix anti-competitive behavior?
Problem, meet solution. No use wasting everyones time, for the exact same outcome.
The illegal part was the inability for a competitor to compete with 90% of the market. The ability to compete was enabled, thus making it legal again.
You also own a patent for the Wheel. (API'S)
Noone is allowed to use a wheel, unless you make it, and use your car.
That is anti-competitive. There is no way for anyone to compete.
Now, say you share the plans for the Wheel(API'S), so Firefox can make a car too.
Firefox can now compete with you, making cars. EU and Places outside of the US also have totally different consumer rights laws.
All you're gonna do it claim any analogy is broken, because it's an analogy.
No shit it's broken. It's an analogy.
Many developers use it.
Direct X is in no way a "barrier to entry".
I could make a video game right now, without having to use direct X.
If I built a webpage, It would be a mistake to not make sure it functions in Internet explorer. That's the difference.
Licensing is only a problem if others are unable to compete. Apple doesn't want direct X, and nor would I want it in OS X. OpenGL works fine.
Kind of like you would need a huge amount of capital to compete with Wal-Mart--their dominance is also a barrier to entry. That's a problem with standards compliance (which IE isn't 100% compliant), nothing else.
Code it in OGL the first time (COUGH DOOM 3 COUGH) and Wowsers, you can port a linux, and Mac version with almost no hassle.
That is called product planning.
Direct X could arguable be anti-competitive if you want, but it is by no means a Monopoly.
Anti-competitive is allowed, as long as you don't have a monopoly.
LIST OF 3d API's
Pick one.
Not in that list is also openCL, and I'm sure a few others.
i read all the "fight" from this thread and believe me you all have right this is why Ms implement this option to please everybody.
all i can comment is that i don't like that we still have sites which work only with a specific browser..this must and will stop in the near future but till than a lot of user will have at least 2 browser installed because is forced..i don't like to be forced to use a soft that i don't consider good enough or mature.. i'm not a beta tester.
Facts:
Microsoft in no way forces you to use Internet explorer *as a browser.* Ive never had anything since windows xp force me to use it. Just set FF or whatever you want as the default.
Microsoft in no way blocks the installation or use of other browsers.
Microsoft does not have a monopoly:
monopoly "(economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller; "
www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:monopoly&ei=3ONuSqSvHsrBtwfh1JzdCA&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title
Microsoft is not using barriers to entry, as there are plenty of other browsers out there. They had to enter somehow.
Last but certainly not least... it is none of the EU or any other governing organization's business what microsoft does. Consumers should be what governs markets. If consumers wanted something other than microsoft, they would find something different. Some say "well the average consumer doesnt know any different." That may be true. However, if they wanted or needed anything different, they would find it. IE is perfectly suitable for 99% of the population.
Heres an example: I may know nothing about cars, how to fix them, how they work, etc. (i do but thats not the point) But if I buy a toyota and it breaks down every day, its totally unreliable, and I cant use it, I will go buy something else (i will research, ask friends, whatever). Then if I like the Honda (or whatever, pick a manufacterer) that I found, I will use it. The fact is though, if the toyota isnt broken, if it works just fine, and does what I need it to do, I wont go to find something new.
The problem is not microsoft, it can only be one of two things:
Either IE works just fine and most of the world doesnt need anything else;
or it is lazy, apathetic consumers who would rather a bunch of sniveling bureaucrats tell them and companies what to do instead of doing thier own research and deciding for themselves what they want... which always leads to a "like lambs to slaughter" scenario. Turned into robots who eat that big mac because its quick and easy and cheap, who vote for a president because he gets the most facetime and looks best on TV, who spend millions on botox and plastic surgery because the magazines tell them to look that way...
I suspect its quite a bit of both, personally.
The scenarios could go on forever, but the point is the evil is not the corporations like every sci-fi novel would have you believe. You think governments dont love the fact that all it takes to rile you up is the fact that you have to install your own goddamn web browser? All the while they smirk while they gain more power because you think youre getting more freedom because now "OMG I can CHOOSE my own web browser?" When in fact they're sucking the freedom right out of the very people youre paying to provide you with the operating system to run that web browser.
It makes me sick to think that anyone would see this as a good thing. The things that could be justified by this precident are just too scary.
I thinki that the European Commision went to far in this casem, as you
mentionned also that Apple will not get the heat for Safari, or in the
future, Google with their new OS platform
The "ballot screen" looks great in the beginning, but many questions
arise later.
1. Who will decide who is on the list, as we can't block new startups
make even better browsers
2. What is the procedure to follow to be in th elist
3. Who will be responsable for the browser code
4 etc
You can read more on FrederikVanLierde.wordpress.com, where I
explain more in detail and also give a proposition that could help.
ll comments are welcome :)
Frederik Van Lierde
also the fact is that as ms has found out, its far easier to make the browser secure and update it if its not part of the core OS. not really, its not alot of work, they can just do what alot of apps i have do and run a remote install(downloads the stuff from the net like a webinstaller, makes sure u alwase have latist build)
OS security is alwase MS's problem, they are the ones who will get blamed when shit gets in either way, Oh and OPERA is far more secure then IE ever has been, and thats OUT OF THE BOX.
little note about ms update in win7, it is not in any way a web browser, its a standalone app that ms wrote specifically for that and it was a good move, even they will admit that, by removing IE from the OS CORE they can update it more easily as well as updating windows explorer more easily (updates for one wont break the other) If MS didnt like it, they could leave the EU market, plane and simple, you go into another country you live by its rules.
Just like if Intel dosnt like being fined by the EU they could just pull out of that market.
they choose to be there, they need to live by that market/country/regions laws. yeah you can run dx games in other os's, ofcorse you wouldnt know that being a hater of all things not windows/microsoft.
sourceforge.net/projects/winex/ (just an example there are ones that are updated constantly to add support for new games as the come out) once again you fail at history of computers and how things have developed.
IE3 was pre browser integration into the kernel, it could be removed without killing windows, it was later on that practices MS engaged in lead to them being sued and fined.
All that is removed is the GUI
Im running Windows 7 E, steam still works, and right clicks look like IE context menus.
So many programs wont function without the trident engine, including Windows itself.
As stated many times before, 99% of IE is embedded into the Windows Kernel. The only thing missing is the GUI in EU versions. Why is the EU getting their undies in a bundle over 1% of an operating system? Hell if I know. The EU defies all conventional logic. They just wanted money and Microsoft is easy prey with deep pockets.