John appears to be right, sources are saying that Microsoft bought the Opera browser. It appears that the browser wars are NOT over, despite my earlier guess.
Here comes a surprise. In a recent conversation with one of our insiders at Microsoft, the source revealed that Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest software maker, has acquired Opera Software, makers of the Opera browser. The insider reported that both Microsoft and Google were trying to bid on Opera, but in the end, the software maker took the lead.
Bring it on guys, competition is a good thing!
My guess is that the code for Internet Explorer is not going away. It’s too integral to the OS. E.g., active desktop and the Add/Remove Programs applet are two examples. Unless Microsoft is pulling that type of stuff in Vista.
I’m also shocked that Microsoft has admitted that IE is not worth fixing! I was amazed at first with the idea that such a huge company could simply change course. But Microsoft has always been a reactionary company.
It started off as a language company, then switched to operating systems in reaction to IBM’s offer. It switched to a GUI in reaction to Apple. Word was a reaction to WordPerfect. It embraced the browser in reaction to Netscape. It jumped into the console marking in reaction to Sony “winning” the living room. So this move on Microsoft’s part is really par for the course.
Mopod 2.0 with RFID rootkit technology will mean that you don’t need keys. No more lost keys to search for with no more keys. Do everything in the mop browser with digital rights management. Where do you want to go today? We already know. With Chip in a Kid 2.0, finding the little ones is just a search box away. Now ported to Xbox 360|2.0. Because life is a game.
Mopera-A Web 2.0 Inc. company.
PS: Clean up with Mopera.
Strange . . .
The folks at Opera know NOTHING about this, they are LTAO.
JoAnn, the point of a headline is to grab your attention. My posting was very clear that it was unconfirmed and merely a rumor.
Hey Bovine..learn how to read a blog, you idiot. Here:
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/primer/blogprimer1.htm this may be a good start for you.
My column in Marketwatch is based on the obvious, nothing more. It was originally written with the angle that I was recommending MIcrosoft buy Opera. But as I wrote out the details it became apparent to me that a deal might already be in the works (hence the Mac announcment) so I changed it to a speculative column. Not mentioned is that Board member of Opera, John Patrick, is an ex-IBMer who worked with Microsoft before. He may have been brought on to the board in the ifrst place for his contacts with the M&A angle from the beginning.
If there was a deal brewing, as some gossip rags now suggest, it may have actually been queered or at least screwed up by the Marketwatch column.
Um, no:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/applications/0,39020384,39243639,00.htm
I don’t see MS bowing out — again, activex. While their attempts at pitching Web 2.0 when they really don’t have a browser to support that fully could be a good primer to buy Opera, that would be rare. Especially after Opera has openly slammed them about the Acid 2 test.
Still though, this site shows little experience in the web design and development arena, much of the articles noticed in this regard are filled with little expertise.
Another prediction.
Microsoft buying Technorati in 2006?
The Tag Wars.
Google tags? 2005 was the search year. 2006: Year of the Tag?
Tag spam could be a big problem.
No argument from me that IE for MAC is a POS. What I’m saying is that, if you’re a software company and you have IE for MAC as a product you support and promote, do you try to improve or just can it?
When the market for your free product is less than 3% you dump it.
Good grief amateurs, publicly-traded companies don’t acquire each other without, uh, announcing the fact. That’s becuase, y’know, the acquisition doesn’t occur unless and until all those indiciduals who hold the shares exhange them for compensation. The process always takes a long time and must be approved by a majority of shareholders, etc etc.
It’s not like walking in to the store and buying a sixpack of beer.
The fact that this story seems to be bugus is one thing, but “Bring it on guys, competition is a good thing!”…that’s just amazingly…I don’t know. Would “stupid” be too harsh?
My friend says logical consistency is over-rated. I’m not so sure.