Apple released Safari 3 Beta for Windows today and the link got over 8000 Diggs. I just can’t understand why. Who cares if there is another browser for Windows? Is it just BS Apple fanboy hype? Is it Windows users that are excited to have another alternative? Windows only users have no idea what Safari is. I can’t imagine that they’d be so excited about it.
I’m also wondering what this means for Apple, Windows, potential future browser wars.
Apple must have learned that there is more money to be made where 90%+ of internet users reside rather than with their 5%. I find it interesting that Apple created Safari for Windows. It’s the first time that I remember (please correct me if I’m wrong) Apple creating an app for Windows that wasn’t either coupled with hardware (iPod) or required for compatability purposes (Quicktime). Apple seams to be spreading out from their little closed world of Macs, iPods, etc.
And does Windows need another browser? Maybe. IE has been badly neglected by Microsoft. IE7 is working fine for the sheeple, corporate environments, and MS fans. Other than that, it’s lacking in innovation. Firefox has been developed relentlesy and it has paid off (33.7% browser share in May). Apple is a much bigger name than Firefox and they might be able to steal some browser share (currently at 1.5%).
So is this the first shot in the new browser war? That’s up to Microsoft. Do they want to develop IE anymore? It doesn’t seem that way. Is IE still important to Microsoft’s success? I don’t think so unless Firefox and Safari intentionally don’t work with MS technologies.
Techno babble from an IT guy named Harry 