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from the remember-when-browser-war-was-IE-vs-Netscape? dept.
Microsoft Engineer Causes Online Wrath After Saying Firefox Should Use Chromium
Mozilla should give up on its own browsing engine and switch Firefox to Chromium, a Microsoft engineer said in a series of tweets, as what the company does right now is "building a parallel universe that's used by less than 5 percent."
The message posted by Microsoft Product Manager Kenneth Auchenberg has triggered an almost instant reaction from the user community, with most of the replies pointing out that building alternative products that can compete against Chromium is vital for the health of the browsing ecosystem.
"It's time for @mozilla to get down from their philosophical ivory tower. The web is dominated by Chromium, if they really *cared* about the web they would be contributing instead of building a parallel universe that's used by less than 5%?" he tweeted.
"I couldn't disagree with you more. It precisely *because* Chromium has such a large marketshare that is vital for Mozilla (or anyone else) to battle for diversity. I'm shocked that you think they're not contributing. "Building a parallel universe"? That *is* the contribution," web developer Jeremy Keith responded.
[...] Auchenberg's message has obviously received more acid replies, including this one criticizing Microsoft's recent browser changes. "Just because your employer gave up on its own people and technology doesn't mean that others should follow," Asa Dotzler tweeted.
Also at ZDNet.
Previously: Microsoft Reportedly Building a Chromium-Based Web Browser to Replace Edge, and "Windows Lite" OS
Mozilla CEO Warns Microsoft's Switch to Chromium Will Give More Control of the Web to Google
Related: Is Google Using an "Embrace, Extend..." Strategy?
Google Denies Altering YouTube Code to Break Microsoft Edge
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Mykl on Monday January 28 2019, @10:55PM (1 child)
To be fair, this is Microsoft's doctrine. One OS to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them.
Microsoft's perfect world is one in which they can either dominate a particular segment, or purchase the leader to ensure monopoly profits. Too many competitors make competition hard!
It doesn't surprise me that a MS manager would suggest that a product with near ubiquitous market share (e.g. Windows on Desktop) should just be allowed to swallow up everything.
(Score: 2) by choose another one on Tuesday January 29 2019, @01:52PM
> To be fair, this is Microsoft's doctrine. One OS to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them.
Apart from mobile, where they have killed WinPhone due to low market share and now actively support iOS / Android (better than WP) with apps, which to be fair is more or less what they are advising Firefox to do with browser engine.