Ubuntu Switch to Yahoo. Trouble in Paradise?
Ubuntu Switch to Yahoo. Trouble in Paradise?
by Ronnie Whisler
Today I read that the next version of Ubuntu name Lucid Lynx will have its Firefox web browser set to Yahoo as its default search provider. Uh-oh, what in the world does this mean. Will Mozilla be next to follow, enabling Yahoo as their default search provider as well? I imagine that Mozilla isn't losing out by Ubuntu switching to Yahoo. I'm sure they are collecting their fair share.
This situation really doesn't sit right with me. I understand that Canonical needs to be creative in acquiring new revenue streams. The stumbling block for me is. Isn't Google using mostly Ubuntu guts/code under the hood of its upcoming Chrome OS? You would have thought that their must have been some sort of communication between Google from Canonical after Yahoo approached them with their offer. Did Google not counter offer? Did they even offer the same as Yahoo in order to keep Ubuntu user base connected to Google search and start page? Doesn't look like they did.
Trouble in paradise always starts small, like a crack in the driveway. You know its there, but you try to ignore it, till its just to big to avoid. Looks like Google is tired of paying Mozilla and Canonical for search results. Google figures they can keep all that money in house. Having the Chrome web browser and the up coming web browser based OS gives them their own start page and Google search bar without paying others.
It also looks like Google is attempting to push Firefox out of the market with YouTube using H.264 video standard because it's patented and licensing the patents "would violate principles of free software. Mozilla has decided differently, in part because there is no apparent means for us to license H.264 under terms that would cover other users of our technology, such as Linux distributors.”
In a previous article I stated that “I have yet to see a company of that size not eventually give into temptation. In this case temptation is unfairly killing off competitors so money is easier to make and the profits are bigger.” Hate to say I told ya so. :) Honestly though I don't know. No one does except the players involved. However it does look suspect already. Lets hope it doesn't get ugly.
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