__/ [ BearItAll ] on Friday 02 June 2006 12:56 \__
> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>
>> Microsoft expects Adobe to file antitrust suit: WSJ
>>
>> ,----[ Quote ]
>> | Microsoft Corp. said it expected Adobe Systems Inc. to file an antitrust
>> | suit in Europe after talks to use Adobe's technology broke down this
>> | week, according to the Wall Street Journal.
>> `----
>>
>> http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060602/tc_nm/microsoft_adobe_dc
>>
>> Office attempts to 'Netscape' PDF creation tools. Google to follow suit?
>
> I wonder if MS had PDF in mind as the way around the current document
> format battles they are having, when they were refusing to jump onto the
> ODF bandwagon. Because then they would have still been able to avoid ODF.
The move to static documents (namely PDF in this case) had been announced
before ODF emerged as a threat, if I recall correctly. The intent to
integrate a search bar into Internet Explorer, as well PDF generation
(currently a costly Adobe plugin), go over a year into the past. I am
surprised that it's only now, around the time when Windows Vista betas
revolve in the while, that Adobe and Google open up their eyes and contact
some feds and lawyers. When I come to think of it (thinking as I type
along), I guess they simply had no case when all was on the planning desk,
rather than in a working beta. The EC investigates both cases of potential
antitrust. The American feds have dismissed Google's plea, but no surprise
there. The Bush administration has always "let the guys from Washington
continue to innovate".
> After your post about ODF yesterday I had a look at current tools, Sun has
> a conversion tool already out in the field for MS formats to ODF. It is
> scriptable so we could all convert entire libraries very quickly. (I am
> looking at it because of the document library database possibilities with
> ODF). Other tools are available too, including the addon for MS Office.
The plugin is not publicly available, as yet. Many people seem to be looking
for it in vain.
> Give in MS, you have a bloody nose from ODF, best not to risk a black eye
> to go with it. Developers are taking over MS Office with ODF addons and
> filters, best to join in or you'll find it has all been taken out of your
> hands, unless of cause you do with your next Office release the very thing
> that the odf alliance were worried about, go with a fully incompatible
> format in the hope of shaking off any competition, which at the same time
> potentially denys future access to currently archieved document versions.
> Would hardly be a sensible thing to do now.
I see that ODF is the burning question in your mind, but I can't help but
think that here we have another case where Microsoft studies from its rival,
imitates and plugs everything into an existing product/framework where they
already have a monopoly, then 'taxing' for the plug-in along with that
much-needed product (owing to lockins).
Adobe want to remove this 'convenience' in the same way that Netscape wanted
Internet Explorer out of the core (file manager embedment), Windows Media
Player needs to be eradicated from the base in Europe (Korea likely as
well), and so forth. Bear in mind that Apple Computers have been doing
similar things. They take the food out of the mounts of developers who build
enhancement for popular products that they sit on top of (e.g. Widgets in
Tiger). I elaborated on this idea in:
http://schestowitz.com/Weblog/archives/2005/11/05/microsoft-platform/
They want to capatialise on a self-sufficient platform that develops at the
expense of other people's innovation, trends and penetration into the
market. I don't remember if I mentioned this in the above, but they also
work on a Photoshop killer, not just Flash (also from Adobe-Macromedia). A
longer and less relevant essay at:
http://schestowitz.com/Weblog/archives/2006/01/01/os-monocolture/
Best wishes,
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | Community is code, code is community
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