Microsoft, Apple Will Never Allow An Open Web
There were high hopes with HTML5. It was expected to set the Web free of locked, closed, proprietary codecs. That may not be the case anymore. Apple and Microsoft seem determined to put locks on this possibility.
Microsoft's Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager, Internet Explorer, has made it clear that "In its HTML5 support, IE9 will support playback of H.264 video only."
Apple's Steve Jobs has already written at length supporting H.264 and bashing Adobe for its 'closed' Flash for his own 'airtight' products.
The high-profile blogs by the almost monopolistic proprietary companies of the world hint at a conspiracy. It seems an environment is being created to 'distract' developers and users from true free formats like Ogg Theora and prepare the ground for the proprietary H.264, which these companies indirectly own.
In a typical Microsoftish manner Dean wrote, "H.264 is an industry standard, with broad and strong hardware support."
No, it is not an standard. Industry standard it may be because more companies use this codec. (Why they use it is a different debate, which will drag us into anti-competitive business practices used by mega corporates. Anti-trust cases against Microsoft give us a glimps of such practices. Apple is reportedly under investigation) H.264 It is not even an ISO standard. Unfortunately, the way Microsoft's OOXML was approved at ISO raises doubts about such standards. How many standards does Microsoft really follow? CSS standards in IE is a nightmare for web developers. These are different topics. Let's steer clear from them.
Standards become irrelevant when you have monopolists. They push their own formats as standarda. What's really important is the access to the source code and the license under which it is released.
Skipping on down...
Mr. Wizard. Get me the hell out of here.
Google now owns On2 Technologies, the creator of VP3 which was later released in the public domain. Ogg Theora is a derivative of VP3. The latest video codec developed by On2 was VP8. There are reports that Google would release VP8 as an open-source codec at its May 2010 Google I/O conference.
VP8 would ensure the the true 'open' Web. If the rumored Google event is approaching, why are Apple and Microsoft in hurry? Should not they wait for Google to release the code of VP8 and then adopt a truly 'free' format?
In fact, they are in hurry. They want to achieve something before Google opens the VP8 codec.
Open/Free VP8 means no vendor lock-in or control by Apple and Microsoft. The high-profiled announcements by the two companies to support 'only' H.264 seems an effort to 'nullify' the opening of VP8 format.
Microsoft and Apple supposedly want to ensure that the availability of a better and truly free/open format/codec must not matter to developers. They have sent a coded message that developers who are working on Microsoft / Apple platforms will not be able to take any advantage of it because these companies will not support it. It reminds me the dialogue from the movie The Matrix: “what good is a phone call... if you're unable to speak?”
It is not about standards, its not about users -- its about monopoly and control.
HTML5 and Ogg Theora provide hope that billions of netizens may finally be free from any proprietary technologies. Unfortunately, Apple and Microsoft have decided to take the control from the hands of Adobe into their own hands. Slavery will continue only the locks will change.
Why do my eyes hurt? You've never used them before.
The usage of proprietary technologies is dangerous. They pose many threats. Users don't know what a proprietary software does to their hardware; what it does to their information; how it processes or computes their data. Do you know if the proprietary software that you are using sends your information back to the company which owns it through a “back-door”? Do you know if it monitors your activities and usage? No one knows. You will never know. It's closed.
We often talk about freedom and privacy. We show concern about government's increasing interference in our lives. We keep an eye on the chosen governments. We participate in their decisions through our representatives -- most of their decisions rely on mandate. Heath Care Bill was an example. We have the right to vote, express our disagreement and voice our opinion if we think that government is doing what it is not supposed to be doing. It may not work always, but it does work.
How much say do we have in companies which go beyond our national boundaries, who have more control on our lives than governments have? Do we have the same rights in the corporate world? Where and what are the freedoms, options, choices we have been talking about for ages? There are none.
These companies reduce your choices. No matter how free you want to be, if you want to watch your friend's wedding video over the Internet you will have to use their proprietary H.264 codec. The rule is simple: my way or the highway.
This looks like a totalitarian world from some science fiction story. In the land where 'At least I know I am free,' there is no freedom, no choices -- there are monopolies. This is non-democratic and is against the very concept of the free market.
Jesus. What a mind-job.
Proprietary technologies are evil. Any corporation's 2% business margin can't be more important than a citizen's safety, freedom and privacy.
Over time, Microsoft's technologies have posed grave threat to users. Windows operating systems and Internet Explorer have not only caused data loss, but also compromised our nation's security. Why do we continue to use such risky and dangerous technologies?
It doesn't end there. In addition to technical slavery, these companies also use confusing, derogatory and humiliating words like “piracy” for those who make unauthorized copies of software. They use words like Intellectual Property to confuse people. Their lobby is so strong that word like 'piracy' and' IP' have now become common even among the authorities.
I'm trying to free your mind, Neo
Considering the threats that proprietary technologies pose to modern free societies, I would like to take a lesson from the word 'piratcy' or 'IP' that these companies use.
I propose the usage of word 'Slaveware' for proprietary technologies. Every time you mention proprietary technologies -- use the word slaveware. This way we will be able to educate people about the risks of such technologies.
Coming back to the point of the Open or Free Web. The Internet is bigger than ever imagined. This is not about H.264 alone. The Internet should not be held hostage by a proprietary (Slaveware) codec, controlled by a few companies like Microsoft and Apple.
Read the rest of the article, it's long, but very informative and interesting. It's about allot more than just Tech Jargon...
http://www.katonda.com/blog/1102/microsoft-apple-will-never-allow-open-web
Don
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