Web sites try Microsoft video rival to Adobe

2007-10-19

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's Silverlight Web video players will be rolled out on a number of Web sites on Wednesday, including celebrity news destination "Entertainment Tonight," in a sign of the growing rivalry between the software giant and Adobe Systems Inc..

At the moment, Adobe's Flash player is used by Google Inc's YouTube and other sites for nearly instant Web video watching, making it a key player in a market that Microsoft's Silverlight is targeting.

Microsoft, which released the plug-in media player to the Web on Wednesday, said it will cooperate with Novell Inc to make Silverlight work with Linux in the future, as it does with Apple Inc's operating system.

Brian Goldfarb, group product manager at Microsoft, said the company is in talks with online DVD rental company Netflix Inc to power its new Web-based streaming video feature. He said Microsoft could also strike accords with a number of media companies looking to put more content -- video and otherwise -- online.

Using Silverlight, Microsoft aims to appeal to content companies with lower costs for media delivery, because it integrates with existing Web technology. It is also compatible with the company's Windows Media format.

In the case of "Entertainment Tonight," Silverlight will be used to show content such as videos from Hollywood awards shows that do not make it onto the television program, Executive Producer Linda Bell Blue said.

Another media company, HSN, formerly known as Home Shopping Network, launched a Silverlight-enabled site, hsn.tv, earlier this week with a large-screen player. a live video stream and search features.

Later this year, Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment will also incorporate the Microsoft product. It now has a "teaser" video product on its site, wwe.com, to encourage users to download the Silverlight plug-in, said WWE Creative Director Ross Angert.

Source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/inter...44323020070905

My Opinion:
[MS] has long ways to go to catch up to Adobe. I doubt they even can.

I have a fluffy poodle named Mr. Pink.

Tcoz · 2007-10-19 #2

www.hsn.com

Flash right on the home page. That tutorial image revolving thing.

Go silverlight...not.

Anik · 2007-10-19 #3

moved to News

i agree with you ren, MS has a long way if they want to catch adobe.

Nutrox · 2007-10-20 #4

MS appear to be cutting deals with various high profile sites at the moment in order to push/distribute the Silverlight plug-in. I don't have any beef with Silverlight, but MS seem to be using their usual under-handed tactics in order to push it into peoples faces. They will throw loads of money at the companies behind high profile sites in order to "convince" them to use Silverlight exclusively.

Good luck to them, but I can't see Silverlight ever being any more popular than the Shockwave (i.e Director) plug-in.

aprado · 2007-10-21 #5

MS appear to be cutting deals with various high profile sites at the moment in order to push/distribute the Silverlight plug-in.

This is true. Break.com is doing this and even has a widget on the front page. They even tried to post a video of silverlight and it's capabilities on the front page which brought negative comments. Mine included. It didn't last long however and was quickly removed. It just irritates me that Microsoft is stepping into this market. I'm sure loyal MS developers will opt for it over flash/flex. But if you ask me, it's a blatant rip of the flash/flex technology. But if you know the history of MS then it should be no surprise.

Docks · 2007-10-22 #6

I welcome Silverlight with open arms. Nothing wrong with a bit of competition, I agree that Microsoft methods are not that "friendly", but then again they have the resources to do it so why not? It is business - there is no place to be nice.

I am sure that both Adobe and MS will push eachother and in the end we get a better product, be it either Flash or Silverlight.

gump · 2007-10-23 #7

They don't have to catch up with Adobe. They could just buy Adobe.. I thought IE could never compete with Netscape b4.

senocular · 2007-10-23 #8

Originally posted by gump
They don't have to catch up with Adobe. They could just buy Adobe.. I thought IE could never compete with Netscape b4.

And yet Microsoft didn't have to buy Netscape...

miko · 2007-10-29 #9

Companies compete sometimes simply to dilute the market share and popularity of other brands/companies.

justmaster · 2007-10-29 #10

Microsoft is cutting deals with popular sites to push their product, flash made t because its good, feasible, made it possible and developers chose it, i don't see why sites would switch if they already have something good working for them.

aprado · 2007-10-29 #11

I really hate when I go to a site and I have to download something to use it. We ALL went through that with flash.

Microsoft is extremely power hungry. Someone must of pushed the panic button over there.

coldFUSED · 2007-10-30 #12

Originally posted by aprado
Someone must of pushed the panic button over there.

Don't know who pushed but I know who caused it. GOOGLE

Nutrox · 2007-10-30 #13

Originally posted by coldFUSED
Don't know who pushed but I know who caused it. GOOGLE

How is Google involved in this?

urbansory · 2007-11-01 #14

I wonder if FaceBook will have a few of these special SilverLight apps to push the install base.

jota · 2007-11-13 #15

yehh well seen urbansory

xervia · 2007-11-15 #16

i honestly must confess that i'm quite clueless as to this silverlight thingy ms is pulling. just heard about it a short while ago. However, i guess the only way they give adobe a run for their money is if its integration with web browsers is such that no plugin download is required.
But then as an adobe apostle, i say DOWN WITH SILVERLIGHT!

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	Tcoz	2007-10-19 #2
	www.hsn.com Flash right on the home page. That tutorial image revolving thing. Go silverlight...not.

	Anik 27 Creative Assets	2007-10-19 #3
	moved to News i agree with you ren, MS has a long way if they want to catch adobe.

	Nutrox 17 Creative Assets	2007-10-20 #4
	MS appear to be cutting deals with various high profile sites at the moment in order to push/distribute the Silverlight plug-in. I don't have any beef with Silverlight, but MS seem to be using their usual under-handed tactics in order to push it into peoples faces. They will throw loads of money at the companies behind high profile sites in order to "convince" them to use Silverlight exclusively. Good luck to them, but I can't see Silverlight ever being any more popular than the Shockwave (i.e Director) plug-in.

	aprado	2007-10-21 #5
	MS appear to be cutting deals with various high profile sites at the moment in order to push/distribute the Silverlight plug-in. This is true. Break.com is doing this and even has a widget on the front page. They even tried to post a video of silverlight and it's capabilities on the front page which brought negative comments. Mine included. It didn't last long however and was quickly removed. It just irritates me that Microsoft is stepping into this market. I'm sure loyal MS developers will opt for it over flash/flex. But if you ask me, it's a blatant rip of the flash/flex technology. But if you know the history of MS then it should be no surprise.

	Docks	2007-10-22 #6
	I welcome Silverlight with open arms. Nothing wrong with a bit of competition, I agree that Microsoft methods are not that "friendly", but then again they have the resources to do it so why not? It is business - there is no place to be nice. I am sure that both Adobe and MS will push eachother and in the end we get a better product, be it either Flash or Silverlight.

	gump	2007-10-23 #7
	They don't have to catch up with Adobe. They could just buy Adobe.. I thought IE could never compete with Netscape b4.

	senocular	2007-10-23 #8
	Originally posted by gump They don't have to catch up with Adobe. They could just buy Adobe.. I thought IE could never compete with Netscape b4. And yet Microsoft didn't have to buy Netscape...

	miko a lot of Creative Assets	2007-10-29 #9
	Companies compete sometimes simply to dilute the market share and popularity of other brands/companies.

	justmaster	2007-10-29 #10
	Microsoft is cutting deals with popular sites to push their product, flash made t because its good, feasible, made it possible and developers chose it, i don't see why sites would switch if they already have something good working for them.

	aprado	2007-10-29 #11
	I really hate when I go to a site and I have to download something to use it. We ALL went through that with flash. Microsoft is extremely power hungry. Someone must of pushed the panic button over there.

	coldFUSED	2007-10-30 #12
	Originally posted by aprado Someone must of pushed the panic button over there. Don't know who pushed but I know who caused it. GOOGLE

	Nutrox 17 Creative Assets	2007-10-30 #13
	Originally posted by coldFUSED Don't know who pushed but I know who caused it. GOOGLE How is Google involved in this?

	urbansory	2007-11-01 #14
	I wonder if FaceBook will have a few of these special SilverLight apps to push the install base.

	xervia	2007-11-15 #16
	i honestly must confess that i'm quite clueless as to this silverlight thingy ms is pulling. just heard about it a short while ago. However, i guess the only way they give adobe a run for their money is if its integration with web browsers is such that no plugin download is required. But then as an adobe apostle, i say DOWN WITH SILVERLIGHT!