Browser trouble for Microsoft

To coincide with yesterday's launch of Windows XP, Microsoft upgraded its MSN portal. In the process, according to this CNet story, it made the entire site unusable by anyone who chooses not to use its own Internet Explorer web browser — ie Netscape users as well as fans of the less well-known Opera browser. The story also notes that some Netscape users found they couldn't access Passport sign-in. Did no-one test the design in other browsers before signing it off? Some people might call it arrogance to ignore minority browsers, but incompetence is a better word. Making sure your site works in all the popular browsers is a cardinal rule for any webmaster.

Still, Microsoft faces competition even from within its own browser, as CNet writer Jim Hu elaborates in this article today, picking up a story I first noted Oct 23rd. By building so many hooks for its own services into IE, it has created a framework that competitors can just as easily use to plug in their own rival services.
posted by Phil Wainewright 11:27 AM (GMT) | comments | link

Yahoo! strikes back

Full marks to Yahoo! for quietly striking back against Microsoft today. According to this CNet report, a new bundle of services called Yahoo Essentials replaces default Microsoft services in Windows XP with their Yahoo equivalents. Users can sign up for the free Essentials bundle via Yahoo. It will also be distributed on certain Compaq PCs. Although AOL is more often cited as Microsoft's main rival in the race to dominate Internet services, the vendor is also vulnerable to determined challenges from the likes of Yahoo! and eBay.
posted by Phil Wainewright 11:29 AM (GMT) | comments | link