MSN Locks out Non-MS Browsers

[Brutuskend]

Yeah I used to go to Yahoo a lot several years ago, but just stopped for some reason.
I guess I should give then another chance.
I'm not even sure WHY I stopped going there......


EDIT: NOW I remember why I stopped using Yahoo.
I changed my Email address, lost my password, and They won't give me my old name back!!!

I want my NAME whaaaaaa


Anyone know HOW I can get my old name back???

 

[jhu]

for mozilla users, you can just change what the browser reports itself as. not that anyone using unix-derivatives would go there

 

[Logix]

UPDATE:

Microsoft backpedals on MSN browser block

Microsoft did an about-face Thursday by opening the redesigned MSN.com Web site to some third-party browsers.

As first reported by CNET News.com, some Mozilla and Opera users found Thursday that they could not access the new MSN site. Instead, they were given the option of downloading a version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

But later Thursday, Microsoft decided to change its position.

"We are going to support the latest versions of Opera and Mozilla so people will be able to get the MSN experience," said Bob Visse, MSN's director of marketing.

But, Visse warned, "the experience may be slightly degraded simply because they don't support the standards we support closely, as far as the HTML standard in those browsers."

Currently, using the most recent browser from Mozilla.org to reach MSN.com brings a message from Microsoft saying it has "detected that the browser that you are using will not render MSN.com correctly." Mozilla.org does open-source browser development for AOL Time Warner's Netscape Communications unit.

Visse said earlier Thursday that the message would be shown to people using "browsers that we know don't support (W3C) standards or that we can't insure will get a great experience for the customer." W3C refers to the World Wide Web Consortium, which is developing industry standards for Web technologies.

Microsoft expects to have MSN.com fully accessible to the browsers late Thursday.

Visse apologized for the difficulties, emphasizing, "We're in the business of reaching as many customers as possible and providing services and content to as many customers as possible. The last thing we're going to do is turn people away."

 

[UnixFreak]

<< Sounds to me like Microsoft is doing rather well, and I doubt they will be gone in 2 to 3 years. >>




Of course they wont be gone, but I seriously doubt they will be on top. There was a time when, basically only ford made cars. Any competition was slight, and 1-2% of the market was taken, and ford did what they wanted and stayed on top, and I am sure, at that time people said "ford will always be the only one" "there is nobody else that compares". But look at today. Not out of business, but also not the only choice. The point is, they cant be on top forever. Once a business gets too successful, they start feeling invincible, and they make poor choices. They feel that they can never fail. And the thing is, they are, in a way, running out of Gas. XP is not "phenomonal" or "revolutionary" like win95 was. They are, in a sense, still riding the wave caused by 3.1 and Win95. Soon they are not going to be able to "turn the world upside down" anymore, and when they have actual Viable competition, people will start to look at them as equals. When M$ develops a reputation for being controlling, domineering, and downright vicous, that plays into decision making too. I predict (and you can quote me if you like) in 2-3 years, that Microsoft will go the way of IBM. Not out of business, but not in thier "heyday" either. Right now, they are enjoying thier "salad days". Things will slow down to a steady calm in Redmond. Those of you old enough to remember, or have read about it, know all about IBMs "salad days" and how things were a whole lot different then, then they are now.


EDIT: I just saw the post logix made... ha ha.. somebody was thinking... its backpedal time!

 

[UnixFreak]

Another Interesting Fact.



<< Jon von Tetzchner, Opera's CEO, fired back: "Opera's XHTML standard is of the highest quality ... it is internationally acclaimed and renowned for its strict compliance with all international Internet standards. Maybe Microsoft should take a look at its lack of respect for the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) international Internet standards before bad-mouthing others."

There's more. W3C has a validation service that checks HTML and XHTML documents for conformance to its recommendations and other standards. Pop in 'www.msn.com' and it spits back: "Sorry, this document does not validate as XHTML 1.0 Strict." >>




So their Excuse about XTML rendering was obviously bullsh*t. Nice save. he heh.

 

[Nemesis77]

Well, I have had it with MS! When I'm in W2K, I have used IE 6.0. Not anymore. Downloading Opera as we speak.

Operas entire response to this case is here:

OSLO, Norway - Oct. 26, 2001 - Opera Software ASA today welcomed Microsoft's quick about face on denying millions of Opera users access to their main Web portal, MSN. Microsoft's abrupt change of mind came after hostile reactions were reported in the media from many Opera users who had tried to access the site.

Microsoft claimed that Opera users were denied entry because the Opera browser "doesn't support the latest XHTML standard," according to Bob Visse, MSN's director of marketing.

"Opera's XHTML standard is of the highest quality," says Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera Software ASA. "In fact, Opera is internationally acclaimed and renowned for its strict compliance with all international Internet standards. Maybe Microsoft should take a look at its lack of respect for the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) international Internet standards before bad-mouthing others."

The W3C is the international body created to ensure interoperability between technologies (specifications, guidelines, software, and tools) to lead the Web to its full potential.

The irony of Microsoft's claim to standards support is complete when you check the MSN.com site for compliance with the XHTML standard. Anyone can go to the W3C's standards validation service at http://validator.w3.org/ and type in www.msn.com/. The returned document demonstrates clearly that not a single document on their site adheres to W3C specifications, and many of their documents do not use XHTML at all, e.g. http://careers.msn.com/.

This is not the first time Microsoft has tried to deny Opera users entry. Before, Microsoft has tried to keep Opera users out from its IIS-servers by excluding Opera from the browsercap.ini set-up files. That would exclude Opera users from any Web sites running on Microsoft's server solutions.

Opera Software sees Microsoft's latest behavior as a sign of their acknowledgement of Opera as a valid threat to its dominance. In the last year, over 6 million copies of the Opera browser for Windows has been successfully downloaded and installed from Opera's Web site by users all over the world looking for a better Internet experience.

On non-PC devices, the industry leaders in the market are joining forces with Opera, and the Opera family of browsers is currently the leading browser choice for embedded devices.

"I would like to use this opportunity to applaud all the vigilant Opera users around the world who immediately reacted to this abominable act from Microsoft. Opera fervently believes that the Internet only will thrive if it remains a structure where human innovation can prosper to the benefit of everyone," continues Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera Software ASA. "All users will benefit from a dynamic marketplace where users can choose from several browser alternatives."

About Opera Software Opera Software ASA is an industry leader in the development of Web browsers for the desktop and device markets, partnering with companies such as IBM, AMD, Symbian, Canal+ Technologies, Ericsson and Lineo. The Opera browser has received international recognition from end-users and the industry press for being faster, smaller and more standards-compliant than other browsers. Opera Software ASA is a privately held company headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Learn more about Opera at www.opera.com/.

Note: To demonstrate that Opera does not lag behind Microsofts IE in anyway, this press release will also be available on www.opera.com as XHTML in a few moments. Now everyone can judge for themselves which browser best supports standards.

Contacts:

Katherine Barrios PR Manager Americas & Asia/Pacific Telephone: +47 48 19 72 73 <uspress@opera.com>

 

[Nemesis77]

Don't want to clutter my already long previous post so I'll type a new one

Opera is awesome! I have been using it for a while, and it's good. Really good! And I just found a feature which made me fall in love with this browser: Mouse gestures! Just hold right mouse-button and move the mouse to open new documents, reload, close windows, minimize windows... Why hasn't anyone else thought about this before??

 

[Imported]

I don't see why Microsoft wouldn't stay on top in 2-3 years.. To the average user, all there is is Microsoft..

 

[Goldfish]

When Linux/Unix/Whatever become a viable alternative to the home user, I will listen to you UnixFreak.

 

[UnixFreak]

It will become viable to the home user.. there are things that still need to be done, but it is happening. Corel came very close (Until M$ Squashed it, but thats another story). The thing is, things change. 2-3 years is a very long time in the computer world, everyone knows that. 3 years ago, I would have never thought I would walk into Circuit City and see a copy of linux on the shelf. I would have never thought everyone I know would be using broadband. I would have thought we'd be using 100mb floppies by now, but now we hardly use floppies at all. the point is, things change, and they change fast, and everyone knows that. Linux is a speeding freight train, and the fact that its basically built by volunteers, means this recession wont stop it. While M$ is laying off workers, the linux hackers are still going. And while M$ is trying to find another way to screw, control, and manipulate its users, we are building a better OS. Things are changing, and changing fast. I am not saying Linux will be the one to knock them off the pedestal, but someone will. I bet in the early 1900's people thought Ford would be the only company that ever built cars. Today, they arent out of Business, but they arent 97% of the market share either. Another difference: Ford didnt make sh*tty products, and screw their customers all the time, and competition still flourished. The same will happen here. People will eventually get tired of Viruses, bugs, and buying hardware every 3 months. And people will get smarter. While there will be some, of course, that will always use windows, but there will be more who will take a risk, venture out, to learn something new, and fall in love with it like so many linux and Mac users already have. And when M$ feels threatened, they will get desperate. when they get desperate, they do stupid things. Lets see what they pull next.