Microsoft researching Google Gears/AIR competitor
Microsoft Research is building a new web browser called Gazelle that attempts to be an OS in the browser. They are exploring all of the security/stability issues that would surround using the web browser as an operating system. I know the AIR comparison isn't exact (the big difference is that Gazelle is a web browser, whereas Gears/AIR are browser plugins), but to me reading over their design goals and challenges, it sounds a LOT like what Google Gears and Adobe AIR are trying to accomplish.
The interesting thing is that they are even considering this when they own a near monopoly in desktop operating systems. Gazelle, Gears and AIR would all make the operating system virtually irrelevant if the entire development community moved in that direction. So Microsoft stands to lose a LOT of money if these things are succesful. However, I think the computing world is slowing moving all software towards the web, and Microsoft is being wise by recognizing that fact and trying to stay ahead of the game.
Jake Munson
36 Yrs old
One clarification -- Adobe AIR is a runtime and not a browser plugin.
Cheers,
-Rob
Product Manager, Adobe AIR
I heard the first inklings of that (read an article).
That's why they have .NET and Visual Studio... so they can control the development world too...
And people jump right on board... so I doubt there will be any challenge to M$ because of browsers that can do what OS's can, unless someone else with a big and effective marketing engine gets behind it... I think what M$ will do is to develop another product that is inferior that they can sell to people who don't keep up on advancements in technology as and amazing new product (like .NET & Sharepoint & HyperV etc...)
The reason I think web browsers as an OS is a threat to Windows is because of the applications themselves, not the browser makers. The reason people stay with Windows today is because they have a bunch of software and games that will only run on Windows. If over time people move all of their favorite apps to the web...well, then what's to stop them from using Linux or Mac OS?