Opera Continues to differ with Microsoft

[dvb2000]

Microsoft should "accidentally" run that script just before showing the browser ballot on all new Windows7E installs

With a "Y" pre-piped into the keyboard buffer :)

after calling for the boycott last post i decided to make a little program that should make it easier.

i'm including my code incase anyone else wishes to test it

#include <iostream>
#include <fstream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
	char answer;
	cout << "Welcome to BlockOpera, the program that is going to punish the litigious annoying *******" << endl;
	cout << "This program needs administrator priviliages to run." << endl;
	cout << "If you are running Windows Vista or higher you will likely need to right-click on the program icon and choose 'Run as Administrator' for this program to work";
	cout << endl;
	cout << "Do you want to proceed to block access to opera.com? (y or n)";
	cin >> answer;
	if (answer == 'y')
	{
		ofstream myfile;
		myfile.exceptions (ifstream::failbit | ifstream::badbit);
		try{
			myfile.open ("c:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts", ios::app);
			  myfile << "127.0.0.1\t opera.com\n127.0.0.1\twww.opera.com";
			  myfile.close();
		}
		catch (ifstream::failure e) {
			cout << "You could not open the file, likely because of lack of administrator privilages << endl";
		}
	}
	return 0;
}

[Lechio]

myfile.open ("c:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts", ios::app);

CODE FAIL

[d_ralphie]

Trolling fail :)

I wonder why dvb2000 is only whining about Opera, and not Mozilla.

Never mind the fact that Opera never even sued Microsoft. All Opera did was to report Microsoft's crimes, and Mozilla, Google and other companies joined the complaint.

[Elessar]

I think the truly sad thing is Opera has gone from a respectable browser to a petty little child who whines because they can't get their way. Honestly, I don't see why MS isn't telling the EU to **** off (again) and tell them they can't force MS to advertise for other companies. It's straight up bull**** that the EU is getting away with this.

[FloatingFatMan]

Failing? How can a profitable company with record growth and a large pile of cash on their hands be considered a "failure"? A company is there to make money. Opera is not only making money, but the desktop user base doubled in less than 2 years, and desktop revenue has grown more than 100% several quarters in a row now.

Also, Opera is currently the #3 browser worldwide. In Europe it's bigger than Safari and Chrome combined, and closing up on 10% market share. In some countries Opera has 30-50% market share. Funny definition of "failure"...

Now see, the problem with people who make up figures as they go along, is that someone is going to come along with actual numbers.

*waves* ;)

According to this source Opera stands at 1.97% market share.

According to this source. Opera stands at 2.1% market share (and falling).

This one pegs Opera at 2.91%.

Of course, those are worldwide figures (the only ones that really count TBH), but that last one can be set to just Europe, which gives Opera 7.4% for the last month; still #3.

Now, that last one also breaks down to individual countries, and one or two DO have Opera in the #1 spot, but those countries are very few and far between and are hugely outnumbered by those that prefer IE and FF. So whilst not exactly a failure, they're not exactly a huge success either, are they? They're not even in the #1 slot in their home country of Norway, they're third... again. :p

If I were running a company whose product was struggling against the others as much as Opera's is doing, I think I'd probably consider every shyster trick in the book too.

Edited August 17, 2009 by FloatingFatMan

[Reacon]

Failing? How can a profitable company with record growth and a large pile of cash on their hands be considered a "failure"? A company is there to make money. Opera is not only making money, but the desktop user base doubled in less than 2 years, and desktop revenue has grown more than 100% several quarters in a row now.

Also, Opera is currently the #3 browser worldwide. In Europe it's bigger than Safari and Chrome combined, and closing up on 10% market share. In some countries Opera has 30-50% market share. Funny definition of "failure"...

Opera holds 3% of the worldwide browser market, with Safari -very- close behind. Chrome around 2.5%. Mozilla has 30, and IE with 63%~.

Opera has been around since 1996, Firefox, 2004. Firefox has grown to become the second most used browser in the world with more than a quarter of worldwide market share in 5 years, while at the same time remaining free and open source. Opera has failed to grow larger than a 2% market share until recent, it is closed source, and once was shareware.

Opera, despite having a huge pile of cash, can't seem to afford advertising (sarcasm), so they hire a lawyer to get themselves free advertising and publicity (ballot screen). Firefox, generates its own free advertising with users voluntarily placing banners on their site. Obviously people love it enough to see that as reasonable (note: you don't see Opera users being that generous). IE gets its popularity from being the single oldest browser that is popular today.

People are much more aware of alternatives than Opera seems to think. I have 4 different families (my mom and dad were both adopted :s), I have found time to ask each one of my grand parents if they knew of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera. All of them knew at least three, and could tell me what they were (I only asked them if they heard of them, not what they are). I asked them if they have used one of them before even. Apparently all of them have used Firefox at least once, and they could care less about it. I like it, I use it, but all they said was IE works for them, there's no point in changing it. Now if they took out the big blue E from IE, they would obviously still use it. They don't want change, and removing icons would only inconvenience them by deterring their attentions from their already inevitable choice.

Another impossible that Opera is demanding from Microsoft is the argument to include browser updates with their Windows update. First off, just about every one of these browsers have their own built in updating system. It would be illogical to put more strain onto their servers, especially if for a competing product. Not only that, but if MS were to officially support 3rd party products, they would all become huge liabilities for the company, opening them up to lawsuits on all ends, as well as putting further strain on their already crappy tech support system. Instead of just one, universal, browser, their staff will have to be trained in several different products, and the number of procedures they are required to remember will increase exponentially.

Trolling fail smile.gif

I wonder why dvb2000 is only whining about Opera, and not Mozilla.

Never mind the fact that Opera never even sued Microsoft. All Opera did was to report Microsoft's crimes, and Mozilla, Google and other companies joined the complaint.

Mozilla and Google were satisfied a long time ago. Opera is the one pushing even further. Infact, they were both satisfied with Windows 7 E even. Opera is the one trying to criminalize IE's logo, and make MS support a competitive product with their own servers.

Edited August 17, 2009 by Recon415

[d_ralphie]

I think the truly sad thing is Opera has gone from a respectable browser to a petty little child who whines because they can't get their way.

1: When didn't Opera get their way exactly?

2: Could you give me one specific example of this "whining"?

3: You are whining about Opera, so why aren't you whining about Mozilla's "whining" as well? Hypocrisy?

Honestly, I don't see why MS isn't telling the EU to **** off (again) and tell them they can't force MS to advertise for other companies. It's straight up bull**** that the EU is getting away with this.

It's because the EU is the government, and you don't tell the government to "****" off. Or maybe you are one of these people who would insist that the police have no right to arrest you if you commit a crime? An honest to God Anarchist?? :D

The EU is one of the world's biggest markets. Microsoft only operates there at the mercy of the government. If you mess with the government, there will be consequences.

Childish spite won't get you out of trouble if you mess with the government.

[d_ralphie]

According to this source Opera stands at 1.97% market share.

Hitslink is useless, and has been caught lying numerous times. When Google reported 10 million users for Chrome and Opera reported 40 million users, Hitslink managed to claim that Chrome had a higher market share than Opera! Worse yet, they just changed their stats completely a few days ago, basically admitting that they had been lying for all these years.

According to this source. Opera stands at 2.1% market share (and falling).

This is for that single site. Even a child would know that this is not a representative sample.

Of course, those are worldwide figures (the only ones that really count TBH), but that last one can be set to just Europe, which gives Opera 7.4% for the last month; still #3.

What on earth are you talking about? Did anyone claim that Opera wasn't #3?

Opera had 40 million users a few months ago. At the same time, Internet World Stats reported about 1.4 billion desktop computers online. That means that Opera's market share is or at least was about 3%.

So whilst not exactly a failure, they're not exactly a huge success either, are they?

Opera is a profitable company with record growth and a large pile of cash on their hands. A company is there to make money. Opera is not only making money, but the desktop user base doubled in less than 2 years, and desktop revenue has grown more than 100% several quarters in a row now.

That sounds like a success to me.

They're not even in the #1 slot in their home country of Norway, they're third... again. :p

How is Norway relevant? It's a tiny market.

If I were running a company whose product was struggling against the others as much as Opera's is doing, I think I'd probably consider every shyster trick in the book too.

Who is Opera struggling against? It's ahead of both Safari and Chrome despite Safari being bundled with all Macs and Chrome being heavily pushed on all of Google's sites, and through AdSense on millions or billions of sites around the world.

Firefox is irrelevant, as Mozilla explains:

"When the only real competition comes from a not for profit open source organization that depends on volunteers for almost half of its work product and nearly all of its marketing and distribution, while more than half a dozen other "traditional" browser vendors with better than I.E. products have had near-zero success encroaching on Microsoft I.E.'s dominance, there's a demonstrable tilt to the playing field. That tilt comes with the distribution channel - default status for the OS bundled Web browser."

[d_ralphie]

Opera has been around since 1996, Firefox, 2004. Firefox has grown to become the second most used browser in the world with more than a quarter of worldwide market share in 5 years, while at the same time remaining free and open source.

First of all, Opera has only been free of charge for 3-4 years. Before that it never aimed to grow its user base into the mass market, but was more of a way to fund the company going forward, until they invented the search field which allowed them to give the browser away for free.

Secondly, Firefox is irrelevant, as Mozilla explains:

"When the only real competition comes from a not for profit open source organization that depends on volunteers for almost half of its work product and nearly all of its marketing and distribution, while more than half a dozen other "traditional" browser vendors with better than I.E. products have had near-zero success encroaching on Microsoft I.E.'s dominance, there's a demonstrable tilt to the playing field. That tilt comes with the distribution channel - default status for the OS bundled Web browser."

Opera has failed to grow larger than a 2% market share until recent, it is closed source, and once was shareware.

Exactly. Opera has grown to 3% in 3-4 years. Before that it was not a mainstream browser, and could never grow above 1% market share.

Opera, despite having a huge pile of cash, can't seem to afford advertising (sarcasm), so they hire a lawyer to get themselves free advertising and publicity (ballot screen).

Maybe you should stop making assertions, and start educating yourself. All Opera did was to report Microsoft's criminal activity to the authorities. It was Microsoft which first said they would remove IE, and then suggested a ballot screen after the EC signaled that this was the solution they wanted. Opera is in no position to demand anything.

Firefox, generates its own free advertising with users voluntarily placing banners on their site. Obviously people love it enough to see that as reasonable (note: you don't see Opera users being that generous).

Thanks for proving Opera and Mozilla's point. When it takes a non-profit organizations relying on donations and voluntary work to make a dent, you KNOW the market is broken (see Mozilla's statement above) :D

People are much more aware of alternatives than Opera seems to think.

LOL. Did you watch Google's "what is a browser" video?

Another impossible that Opera is demanding from Microsoft is the argument to include browser updates with their Windows update.

1: Show me where they "demanded" this, please.

2: Opera is NOT in a position to demand anything. It has no authority over Microsoft.

Mozilla and Google were satisfied a long time ago.

Really? Show me please!

Opera is the one pushing even further.

How is Opera "pushing" anything exactly? Opera has no authority what so ever in this case. They have the exact same status as Google, Mozilla and the other parties involved in the case. The EC has the authority. Google, Mozilla, Opera, etc. are only there to offer advice.

Infact, they were both satisfied with Windows 7 E even.

Evidence, please!

Opera is the one trying to criminalize IE's logo

Evidence, please!

You seem to throw around a LOT of assertions there! You evidently think that Opera is in a position to make any demands or order anyone to do anything, but the fact is that all that is happening is that they are answering questions from journalists. Are you saying that Opera should stop giving their opinion when journalists ask?

[petrossa]

This is just getting flat out hilarious now. YGTBFKM.

Yeeeeh, another thread which gets it's facts backwards.

Anyhow:Like Lie, Lilly (Mozilla) had his wish list.?