Microsoft To Power Ubuntu Search
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Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has reportedly signed a deal with Yahoo! to use their search engine as the default search provider in Ubuntu.
The next version of Ubuntu (Lucid Lynx) will feature Yahoo! as default search engine. The change may also appear in the development versions of Lucid. Yahoo! reportedly outbid Google who was the default search provider. However, users can switch back to Google with ease.
Rick Spenser of Canonical wrote in the mailing list, "I am pursuing this change because Canonical has negotiated a revenue sharing deal with Yahoo! and this revenue will help Canonical to provide developers and resources to continue the open development of Ubuntu and the Ubuntu Platform. This change will help provide these resources as well as continuing to respect our user's default search across Firefox."
Yahoo! recently signed an agreement with Microsoft. Under the deal, Microsoft now powers Yahoo! search. Practically Microsoft will now power Ubuntu search.
It is understandable that Yahoo! (Microsoft) paid more than Google to use their search engine in Ubuntu. A company like Canonical needs funds to run such projects. But how much sense does it make to use money of the same proprietary companies, who strongly believe in the notion of 'Slaveware'? The very company whose CEO once called "Linux a Cancer?"
Will the pressure from the sales team affect or influence the development team at Canonical? What will be the consequences of this deal on the Ubuntu Muktware* community? Will more compromises be made tomorrow?
* Muktware is guided by the same priciple as described by the FSF. It is an alias of Free Software.
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Comments
See where we're heading?
http://www.osattack.com/humor/what-if-microsoft-bought-ubuntu/
> What would happen if Microsoft did “buy” Ubuntu?
> ...
> 3rd – Silverlight becomes the only supported media player.
Mono is now installed by default, while Ubuntu's media stack is more and more broken.
> 4th – Bing becomes the only supported search engine.
Last summer it was just a silly joke.
I think the real point is
I think the real point is which is a better search engine? If both are similar, why should one worry? As an Open Source fan, both are the same...
I don't think Canonical is a
I don't think Canonical is a company built on values of sentiments and being sentimental in business means either you need medical treatment or you are a fool.
If the fundings from proprietary companies help Ubuntu gain the platform to be stronger then I don't think it's anywhere near to be a bad decision.
Cause at the end the user has no involvement how a thing runs as long as it does, and if it comes for free, then I guess it's straight out of the dreams.
Good job Canonical. I wish them All the best in shaping a beautiful future for Ubuntu.
> Cause at the end the user
> Cause at the end the user has no involvement how a thing runs as long as it does
For that kind of user, what's the point in using a free and open operating system? Why should those users switch from Windows or Mac to Linux? They won't.