Windows Browser Ballot
As a result of a series of lawsuits claiming that Microsoft is unfairly forcing its browser on users, by making Internet Explorer installed by default on all Windows systems, they are unveiling the Browser Ballot in March.
This is a small webpage that will pop up for all Windows 7 users in March, allowing them to choose a default web browser from a list of 11. The first six browsers are arranged randomly (IE, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari) then the next seven are also random (Flock, FlashPeak, K-Meleon, Avant, Maxthon, Sleipnir & GreenBrowser).
Not only does this update let all users freely select a browser, but it also un-pins IE from the SuperBar (the Windows 7 replacement for Quick Launch).
You can view the browser ballot directly at: www.browserchoice.eu
Do you think this browser ballot is enough to give users adequate choice? Do you think it is fair for Microsoft to have to do this? Will the ballot suppress the critics? Leave a comment to tell us your views.
Last week, Google unveiled its under-development Wave platform to an eager I/O audience. Google Wave is a Unified Communications Interface, designed to replace email as a collaborative tool. Think of combining google docs, email and instant messaging in one system, and you’re getting close.