Category: Microsoft
Weekly Browsers Recap, September 28th
- Firefox 3.6 provides easier support with about:support
- Google barks back at Microsoft over Chrome Frame security
- Contest to Redesign Google (and Unofficial Google Theme Directory)
- Opera Unite Apps are coming ever closer…
- Opera urges EU exec not to rush Microsoft case
- Browser makers complain about Microsoft’s ballot-screen fix
- Camino 2 Beta 4 adds phishing protection
- Cross Browser Compatibility Testing (shareware software)
- One web, CSS3, and HTML5 (video)
Thanks to Daniel Hendrycks, Mabdul, Nox and Trygve Lie for links.
Microsoft: We Don’t Recommend Chrome Frame
According to ArsTechnica, Microsoft does not recommend IE users installing Google Chrome Frame plugin due to security issues.
One of the Microsoft spokesperson said:
“Given the security issues with plugins in general and Google Chrome in particular, Google Chrome Frame running as a plugin has doubled the attach area for malware and malicious scripts. This is not a risk we would recommend our friends and families take.”
Even though additional plugins can increase potential risk, developer Jim Ray has clarified some of the security concerns. Continue Reading
Silverlight 4 Show-off on September 11th
According to ZDNet, Microsoft is planning to demonstrate few features of the upcoming Silverlight 4 release at the International Broadcasting Conference (IBC) in Amsterdam on September 11th.
Two of new features of Silverlight 4 are: multicast support and offline digital rights management (DRM).
Stay tuned for more news.
Weekly Browsers Recap, September 7th
- Ruby on Rails vulnerability affects Twitter; IE8 immune
- Microsoft extends IE 8 charity offer
- Microsoft’s ‘Ten Grand’ Competition Ends, Was Actually Pretty Clever
- Firefox upgrade will check for third party updates
- Google Chrome OS to Feature Single Sign-On for Chrome Browser
- Google Chrome Turns 1!
- Opera 10 downloads
- Opera 10 : The Missing Pieces
- SkyFire Raises $5 Million More For Rich Mobile Browser
How Did EU/MS Case Affected Opera Desktop Users Growth?
Earlier today Opera Software has posted their Q2 2009 financial results which are pretty good.
However, with campaigns such as “Boycott Opera”, it is interesting to check on how EU and Microsoft case has affected Opera Desktop short term user growth.
Q1, 2009 – ~40 million use Opera for PCs
Q2, 2009 – 40 million use Opera for PCs
As you can see, Opera Software has not reported Q1 vs. Q2 desktop user growth (which was 13% in 1Q vs. 4Q08), which leads to speculation that case indeed, affected PC web browser.
Of course, this could also happen due to new competitor’s products, and things might get better with Opera 10 release (set for September 1st).
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Yahoo! Recommends Internet Explorer 8
Back in August 2008, Yahoo recommended users to get Firefox 3 web browser. However, things do change as TechCrunch reports that Yahoo started to promote Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8.
As it ways said: “Apparently, Yahoo recommends browsers based on what their latest business alliances are”.
Mozilla Execs Want Changes to Microsoft’s ‘Ballot Screen’ Proposal
Computer World writes:
Mozilla executives today began a concerted campaign to prod European Union (EU) antitrust regulators to demand more from Microsoft than the browser “ballot screen” Windows will offer users later this year.
[Read]
NSS Security Test: More Details Emerge
Here are some more details from Ars Tecnica, which should clarify Microsoft and NSS Labs “sponsorship” deal.
In terms of sponsorship of the reports, “this stuff is expensive to do right, and we need to monetize it somehow,” Moy told Ars. “We invited Google, Mozilla, Apple, Opera to participate, but they didn’t even bother to respond, except for Opera, which stated they “don’t really focus on malware.”
Also, readers have noticed that Firefox 3.5 was not included in those tests, here is a reason (as from .pdf).
We would have liked to have been able to test Firefox 3.5 which was released on June 30, 2009, and attempted to test it alongside the other browsers. However, serious instability where the browser repeatedly crashed (a widely reported issue) along with poor results prevented its inclusion for the sake of fairness.
For NSS Security Test results, see the following page.
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Weekly Browsers Recap, August 17th
- Microsoft Extends Internet Explorer 6 Support To 2014
- Invisible Hand Plug-In Points Out Better Deals
- Futz.me Turns Your Browser’s Address Bar into a Command Line
- Opera, Chrome Not Officially Supported by Office Web Apps
- Safari plug-ins that improve your browsing
- RIM says BlackBerry Browser Will Match Mobile Safari Next Year
- Dell Likes Ubuntu, But Has Eyes On Chrome
Opera Chief Warns on Equal Access to Windows Services
The Register writes:
Microsoft might be closer to a compromise with browser rival regarding Internet Explorer on Windows, but access to key online services for PCs could be the next hurdle.
Opera Software chief executive told The Reg he welcomed Microsoft’s offer last month to give European PC users a choice of browsers on Windows, but he warned of “problems” if rival browsers don’t get equal access to crucial sites that help keep users’ PCs secure and updated.
[Read]
