Silverlight, de Microsoft oplossing als tegenhanger voor Adobe Flash, zou wel eens een goed product kunnen zijn voor Microsoft en voor Internet Explorer. Maar of dat nou zo positief is voor het web is een tweede.
Silverlight could spark Microsoft monopoly, warns Mozilla
Posted by Barry Collins at 5:49PM, Monday 25th June 2007
Silverlight is an attempt to lock developers into proprietary formats, according to Mozilla executives.
Microsoft's new Silverlight platform is an attempt to regain monopolistic control of the web, according to executives at Mozilla.
Having seen Firefox erode Internet Explorer's browser stranglehold,
Mozilla says that Microsoft is once again trying to enforce its own
proprietary standards with Silverlight, the company's new browser
plug-in to rival Adobe Flash.
"Silverlight could lead to loss of developer choice that's akin to a
monopoly in other areas," says Mike Shaver, director of ecosystem
development at the Mozilla Corporation.
"It's certainly a lot easier to make money, the more control you
have. It might be good for one company, it's not good for the web."
Shaver claims that proprietary development platforms such as
Silverlight and Adobe's Apollo will splinter the developer community,
unlike open web standards. "The right way to address [performance]
issues with web applications is not to abandon the web, but improve and
develop it," he said.
"To see more apps move into a closed environment would be a shame."
Shaver says the biggest problem for Silverlight and Apollo
developers is the lack of flexibility. "If you don't like the way
Silverlight works, you have to convince Microsoft that your case
matters," he said.
"It's fine for them [Microsoft] to have different priorities, but
when you're trapped on one technology platform you don't have that
choice."
Yet, despite their ideological differences, Mozilla will continue to co-operate with its commercial rivals.
"We don't align with a corporation, we align with an activity. We
work with Microsoft to make Firefox work better with Vista, for
example. It doesn't mean we endorse what they're doing with
Silverlight," concluded Shaver.
Bron: ITPro - Silverlight could spark Microsoft monopoly, warns Mozilla