Mozilla cites "Windows monopoly power" in ARM browser debate

News · 05-13-12, 10:10 PM

In a statement issued last week, Mozilla criticized some of the restrictions that Microsoft plans to impose on the ARM version of Windows 8. The platform is not designed to support conventional native third-party applications, including rival browsers, in the classic desktop mode. Mozilla and Google say that the policy is detrimental to competition and user choice.

As we pointed out in our coverage of the issue, Microsoft's policy is consistent with the that of other mobile platform vendors, including Apple. Modern mobile platforms increasingly confine developers to a platform-supplied API stack so that the operating system can more tightly control application behavior as needed to accommodate the limitations of a resource-constrained computing environment.

Mozilla's recent objection to such policies focused entirely on Microsoft, ignoring the similar conditions that are present on Apple's iOS platform. Harvey Anderson, Mozilla General Counsel, addressed that issue on Friday in a statement published by ComputerWorld. According to Anderson, the relevant factor is Microsoft's monopoly status on the desktop.

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05-13-12, 10:10 PM	#1
News Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 34,487	Mozilla cites "Windows monopoly power" in ARM browser debate In a statement issued last week, Mozilla criticized some of the restrictions that Microsoft plans to impose on the ARM version of Windows 8. The platform is not designed to support conventional native third-party applications, including rival browsers, in the classic desktop mode. Mozilla and Google say that the policy is detrimental to competition and user choice. As we pointed out in our coverage of the issue, Microsoft's policy is consistent with the that of other mobile platform vendors, including Apple. Modern mobile platforms increasingly confine developers to a platform-supplied API stack so that the operating system can more tightly control application behavior as needed to accommodate the limitations of a resource-constrained computing environment. Mozilla's recent objection to such policies focused entirely on Microsoft, ignoring the similar conditions that are present on Apple's iOS platform. Harvey Anderson, Mozilla General Counsel, addressed that issue on Friday in a statement published by ComputerWorld. According to Anderson, the relevant factor is Microsoft's monopoly status on the desktop. Read more on Ars Technicaâ?¦ More...