“In December 2008, Microsoft surprised a lot of people by releasing an iPhone app – Seadragon Mobile. A month later, they ensured the move wasn’t taken as a joke or gimmick by launching another app, Tag, into Apple’s App Store. Now, they have a few, including an app for Bing. And starting today, they’re doing the same for Android.”
I know they did write drivers for the kernel, but did they ever write an application for Linux?
Not exactly for Linux, but they did have Internet Explorer for UNIX. It didn’t last long before they ditched it.
In case you’re wondering: there are currently job descriptions at Microsoft for both full-time permanent employees as well as being offered for contracts that are linux-based positions: Microsoft has been moving away from all their own OS technologies and embracing others. Microsoft has always been the biggest Mac software developer outside of Apple, so them creating an iPhone app or n isn’t exactly the most surprising: after all, Microsoft, like any sane corporation, wants to make money, and at least tries to make money wherever it can be found.
As a result of that, even though Linux is a rather insignificant part of the desktop realm for the typical consumer, consider this: there’s a known size market for Android, where the biggest question isn’t whether or not the users are FOSS advocates and geeks, but merely: do they want to have a phone? As such, as a shareholder (I’m not currently one), I’d be concerned if they didn’t try to make money there, if only to remind people “Here I am!” before that platform got away from them. Besides, it’s better to be successfully making money on at least one mobile platform that is growing, even if it isn’t the one you’ve been working on for so long, so you don’t have all your eggs in one basket.
Doesn’t MS have Linux infringements which would include Android? Woudn’t this signify that they (even in some unofficial capacity) support Android?
Just seems to me you wouldn’t supply software to run on a platform that violates your patents.
Here ya go. Have some software that takes advantage of the patents you stole from us.
Edited 2010-03-04 19:53 UTC