The rumor mill is busy working overtime and its focus is Microsoft. Insider information has Microsoft is in negotiations to buy Opera Software ASA. However when asked, representatives from Opera say it isn’t so. So what could be behind this rumor that gave it such credibility?
Opera Software ASA develops Web browsers for the desktop and device markets. Though Opera’s market share does not compare to that owned by IE, the browser has been recognized for its innovation and adaptability to the mobile market. On the other hand Microsoft has let IE innovation languish after pummeling Netscape in the market place. With Microsoft’s browser market share looking vulnerable these days it seems reasonable that they may want to buy the more innovated product.
However all of that speculation fell to the wayside after we (the TSS editorial staff) contacted Eskil Sivertsen, the public relations manager for Opera Software. Mr. Sivertsen issued the short statement; "We have not been approached by Microsoft. Nor are we selling Opera to Google. These are just rumors." It does open the question of what would happen should Google offer a competitive alternative to Internet Explorer?
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Microsoft to buy Opera? (26 messages)
- Posted by: Kirk Pepperdine
- Posted on: December 23 2005 09:01 EST
Threaded Messages (26)
- Competitive alternative by Kees De Kooter on December 23 2005 14:29 EST
- Competitive alternative by Frank Bank on December 23 2005 15:15 EST
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Firefox by Sandeep Dath on December 23 2005 08:36 EST
- true by Faisal Abdelli on December 25 2005 10:30 EST
- Competitive alternative by Samir Mishra on December 26 2005 08:55 EST
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Firefox by Sandeep Dath on December 23 2005 08:36 EST
- Competitive alternative by Frank Bank on December 23 2005 15:15 EST
- Did they pound a shoe shouting "We will bury you"? by Michael Jouravlev on December 23 2005 21:51 EST
- Did they pound a shoe shouting "We will bury you"? by John Harby on December 27 2005 10:25 EST
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Did they pound a shoe shouting "We will bury you"? by Alexandre Poitras on December 28 2005 08:09 EST
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notice the comma by Fred Ruopp on December 28 2005 07:00 EST
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notice the comma by Alexandre Poitras on December 28 2005 10:43 EST
- Firefox rocks .. by King 26 on December 29 2005 10:58 EST
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notice the comma by Alexandre Poitras on December 28 2005 10:43 EST
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notice the comma by Fred Ruopp on December 28 2005 07:00 EST
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Did they pound a shoe shouting "We will bury you"? by Alexandre Poitras on December 28 2005 08:09 EST
- Did they pound a shoe shouting "We will bury you"? by John Harby on December 27 2005 10:25 EST
- Your enterprise Java Community by Pavel Tavoda on December 24 2005 05:40 EST
- I think it isn't offtopic by Konstantin Solomatov on December 24 2005 13:51 EST
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I think it isn't offtopic by Cedric Beust on December 25 2005 09:16 EST
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I think it isn't offtopic by Kirk Pepperdine on December 28 2005 04:12 EST
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I think it isn't offtopic by Cedric Beust on December 28 2005 11:33 EST
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You spend your energy, Cedric. by Sujan J20 on December 28 2005 01:05 EST
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You spend your energy, Cedric. by Cedric Beust on December 28 2005 02:41 EST
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I let you taste your own medicine (that you had for Kirk) by Sujan J20 on December 28 2005 03:41 EST
- I let you taste your own medicine (that you had for Kirk) by Cedric Beust on December 29 2005 02:03 EST
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I let you taste your own medicine (that you had for Kirk) by Sujan J20 on December 28 2005 03:41 EST
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You spend your energy, Cedric. by Cedric Beust on December 28 2005 02:41 EST
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You spend your energy, Cedric. by Sujan J20 on December 28 2005 01:05 EST
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I think it isn't offtopic by Cedric Beust on December 28 2005 11:33 EST
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I think it isn't offtopic by Kirk Pepperdine on December 28 2005 04:12 EST
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I think it isn't offtopic by Cedric Beust on December 25 2005 09:16 EST
- Your comment is moronic. This IS Enterprise Java and more. by Sujan J20 on December 27 2005 16:46 EST
- Dude... by Sandeep Dath on December 27 2005 07:03 EST
- Your comment is moronic. This IS Enterprise Java and more. by Pavel Tavoda on December 27 2005 07:46 EST
- I think it isn't offtopic by Konstantin Solomatov on December 24 2005 13:51 EST
- Inevitable by Tor Iver Wilhelmsen on December 27 2005 03:45 EST
- Oh Damn! by Yagiz Erkan on December 28 2005 13:27 EST
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Competitive alternative[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Kees De Kooter
- Posted on: December 23 2005 14:29 EST
- in response to Kirk Pepperdine
Google is already promoting a more-than-competitive alternative Internet Explorer. It is called Firefox.
See http://www.spreadfirefox.com/node/19678 -
Competitive alternative[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Frank Bank
- Posted on: December 23 2005 15:15 EST
- in response to Kees De Kooter
Google is already promoting a more-than-competitive alternative Internet Explorer. It is called Firefox.
See http://www.spreadfirefox.com/node/19678
What's this Firefox thingie? -
Firefox[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sandeep Dath
- Posted on: December 23 2005 20:36 EST
- in response to Frank Bank
firefox n. Any of various carnivorous mammals of the genus Vulpes and related genera, and characteristically having upright ears, a pointed snout, and a long bushy tail. Male members of the species characteristically evince a perilious proclivity towards swallowing flame throwers and (partially) regurgitating them after the fact. -
true[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Faisal Abdelli
- Posted on: December 25 2005 10:30 EST
- in response to Sandeep Dath
You should be a novelist! -
Competitive alternative[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Samir Mishra
- Posted on: December 26 2005 20:55 EST
- in response to Frank Bank
Its a browser 10 times better than the Stupid and useless IE. Its been almost 2 yrs since I started using FireFox and since then there is no turning back to IE. I recommended it to my friends and they also share the same experience. In the current company of mine we use only FireFox not IE :) -
Did they pound a shoe shouting "We will bury you"?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Michael Jouravlev
- Posted on: December 23 2005 21:51 EST
- in response to Kirk Pepperdine
The rumor mill is busy working overtime and its focus is Microsoft. Insider information has Microsoft is in negotiations to buy Opera Software ASA.
If it happens, I hope that it happens only to bury Opera as competitor, not to bring its own bugs, quirks and "features" into MSIE. MSIE bugs are well-known and either being worked around or exploited as features.
Opera does not behave exactly like MSIE, I particularly don't like that it does not care about cache-control headers when going back and forth browser history. I also don't like that it adds *every* request to page history, even if it is request to a same page after redirect. These two facts make my stateful apps with views sychronized with app state look unpretty. MSIE and Mozilla do not have above issues, helping to fight with stale pages and Back button problems.
Opera is great for high-speed disabled people, they like it for what it is. I don't want Microsoft to start saving on bandwidth, this would break or at least de-beutify a lot of stateful dynamic apps, mine included. I don't worry too much at present time, with Opera's share of about 2%. These 2% encounter for the people who like the very fact that Opera caches everything. Let them enjoy browsing as close to offline as it could be. -
Did they pound a shoe shouting "We will bury you"?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: John Harby
- Posted on: December 27 2005 10:25 EST
- in response to Michael Jouravlev
Microsoft doesn't care anymore. It's primary source of revenue is XBox ;). -
Did they pound a shoe shouting "We will bury you"?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Alexandre Poitras
- Posted on: December 28 2005 08:09 EST
- in response to John Harby
Microsoft doesn't care anymore. It's primary source of revenue is XBox ;).
I hope you were being sarcastic since they haven't made one cent with xbox yet. -
notice the comma[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Fred Ruopp
- Posted on: December 28 2005 19:00 EST
- in response to Alexandre Poitras
notice the comma at the end of the post you are referring to; it makes a winking eye of a face turned sideways at the end of the comment. This indicates some irony ; maybe, even some light sarcasim. -
notice the comma[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Alexandre Poitras
- Posted on: December 28 2005 22:43 EST
- in response to Fred Ruopp
notice the comma at the end of the post you are referring to; it makes a winking eye of a face turned sideways at the end of the comment. This indicates some irony ; maybe, even some light sarcasim.
Whoops sorry I have the tendency to read too fast. -
Firefox rocks ..[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: King 26
- Posted on: December 29 2005 10:58 EST
- in response to Alexandre Poitras
I switched to FireFox few years back and its more stable and more reliable. I hope some other companies like Google will invest in it and will make it more innovative.
Well, Good to know this site is still a Java Community. I thought it was sold to some .NET company long time ago. -
Your enterprise Java Community[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Pavel Tavoda
- Posted on: December 24 2005 05:40 EST
- in response to Kirk Pepperdine
Is TheServerSide still your enterprise Java community? We all read also other news sites. Can you please stay focused on Java. It doesn't help you if you will reprint all news specially stuff like this. -
I think it isn't offtopic[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Konstantin Solomatov
- Posted on: December 24 2005 13:51 EST
- in response to Pavel Tavoda
I think changes in browser market can significantly impact market of internet applications and thus enterprise java. -
I think it isn't offtopic[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Cedric Beust
- Posted on: December 25 2005 09:16 EST
- in response to Konstantin Solomatov
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I think it isn't offtopic[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Kirk Pepperdine
- Posted on: December 28 2005 04:12 EST
- in response to Cedric Beust
Opera denied the rumoron the very day this was posted on TSS.-- Cedric
IMHO the browser is important in that it is the primary means by which users interact with web applications and consequently is part of the enterprise experience. We (at TSS) heard the rumors and then investigated so that you (our readers) would know the truth.
Even though this turned out to be a rumor I found the response from Opera to me to be interesting. They are not in talks with Microsoft and are not being bought by Google. Does this mean that they were in talks with Google? I've not asked this question of them and maybe by my suggesting it here I'm creating yet another baseless rumor. However the rumor caught our attention because it had enough elements of truth in it to be believable. It suggests that maybe we need to take a peek out of our cubes to see if the conditions are correct for a shakeup in the world of browsers. It is one thing for Google to support FireFox but quite another should they offer thier own.
Regards,
Kirk -
I think it isn't offtopic[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Cedric Beust
- Posted on: December 28 2005 11:33 EST
- in response to Kirk Pepperdine
Even though this turned out to be a rumor I found the response from Opera to me to be interesting. They are not in talks with Microsoft and are not being bought by Google. Does this mean that they were in talks with Google?
Sorry, Kirk, but if you start publishing stories like this, there is no end in sight.
The problem here is not that it "turned out" to be a rumor: it had *already* been confirmed as a rumor and yet, TSS decided to post it on the front page anyway.
Here is the editorial process:
- Rumor "X" floating around
- "X" is confirmed bogus
- What could possibly have led to "X" being a rumor? Discuss.
This stuff belongs in Slashdot, not here.
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Cedric -
You spend your energy, Cedric.[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sujan J20
- Posted on: December 28 2005 13:05 EST
- in response to Cedric Beust
Cedric spent his energy in his detailed explanations. His explanations are for Kirk.
Cedric suggested that it was time for Joseph Ottinger to wind up, and move on.
But, Why should Joe wind up? Why should Joe move on??
Cedric: keep ice on your head, and then reply. Otherwise, do not reply back here. TSS.com and TSS.net are together such a valuable resource. Cameron now jumps in, he shouldn't. What a mess if you think from the other angle! -
You spend your energy, Cedric.[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Cedric Beust
- Posted on: December 28 2005 14:41 EST
- in response to Sujan J20
Cedric suggested that it was time for Joseph Ottinger to wind up, and move on.But, Why should Joe wind up? Why should Joe move on??
I didn't say anything about "winding up", "moving on" and I didn't even mention Jo in my post.
Please don't put words in my mouth.
Oh and please stop telling people when and what they can post, that's rude.
--
Cedric -
I let you taste your own medicine (that you had for Kirk)[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sujan J20
- Posted on: December 28 2005 15:41 EST
- in response to Cedric Beust
Oh and please stop telling people when and what they can post, that's rude.
Cedric: I let you taste your own medicine. Below is your message earlier to Kirk telling when and what they can post. That's rude!
So, look after your business. Just because you are Beust, you do not imply Best.Sorry, Kirk, but if you start publishing stories like this, there is no end in sight.
The problem here is not that it "turned out" to be a rumor: it had *already* been confirmed as a rumor and yet, TSS decided to post it on the front page anyway.
Here is the editorial process:
- Rumor "X" floating around
- "X" is confirmed bogus
- What could possibly have led to "X" being a rumor? Discuss.
This stuff belongs in Slashdot, not here.
--
Cedric -
I let you taste your own medicine (that you had for Kirk)[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Cedric Beust
- Posted on: December 29 2005 14:03 EST
- in response to Sujan J20
Cedric: I let you taste your own medicine. Below is your message earlier to Kirk telling when and what they can post. That's rude!
Ha ha... touché.
--
Cedric -
Thik[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sujan J20
- Posted on: December 29 2005 15:13 EST
- in response to Cedric Beust
Thik. :) -
Your comment is moronic. This IS Enterprise Java and more.[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sujan J20
- Posted on: December 27 2005 16:46 EST
- in response to Pavel Tavoda
Your comment is moronic, you Pavel Tavoda.
This site's name is TSS (The ServerSide). Enterprise Java is a part of TSS. Just for the name, we split it as TSS.com and TSS.net - where we find TSS.com has more visits (that's all).
TSS.com is not required to stay focused on Java. But, it will try its best to be that way.
After having said this, I will say that your comment is moronic.
We certainly discuss things, diverse but related to Java. Enough. -
Dude...[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sandeep Dath
- Posted on: December 27 2005 19:03 EST
- in response to Sujan J20
Your comment is moronic, you Pavel Tavoda.This site's name is TSS (The ServerSide). Enterprise Java is a part of TSS. Just for the name, we split it as TSS.com and TSS.net - where we find TSS.com has more visits (that's all).TSS.com is not required to stay focused on Java. But, it will try its best to be that way.After having said this, I will say that your comment is moronic. We certainly discuss things, diverse but related to Java. Enough.
From the movie Fifty First Dates:
Dr. Keats: Note the intense overreaction. That's the 'roids talking. -
Your comment is moronic. This IS Enterprise Java and more.[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Pavel Tavoda
- Posted on: December 27 2005 19:46 EST
- in response to Sujan J20
Just for the name, we split it as TSS.com and TSS.net - where we find TSS.com has more visits (that's all).TSS.com is not required to stay focused on Java.
Are you sure that site with name "Your enterprise Java Community" have to discuss rumor about browser market? When you are looking for .NET developers I will leave this site together with thousand others not interested in YOUR .NET/Windows problems and development. Please keep this good Java focused site Java focused, or you are at risk to loose them.
Are your really so irresponssible? -
Inevitable[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Tor Iver Wilhelmsen
- Posted on: December 27 2005 03:45 EST
- in response to Kirk Pepperdine
Stuff like that happens to publicly tradable companies from time to time - rumors to affect share price one way or the other.
Move along, nothing to see. -
Oh Damn![ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Yagiz Erkan
- Posted on: December 28 2005 13:27 EST
- in response to Kirk Pepperdine
Here goes my favorite browser! I hope this rumor is not true! Thankfully, we still have Firefox!