Bonum Certa Men Certa

Silverlight's Linux Exclusion: Thy Name is Popfly (and More to Come) (Updated)

Throw a dime in the tip jar and call that "support"

OOXML is badA promotional new article from Microsoft's press makes it clear that GNU/Linux is left out of the Silverlight/Popfly universe, which is all about the Microsoft Web (see links at the bottom). On the other hand, Microsoft continues to use Novell as an excuse and semi-fdounded 'proof' that the FOSS world accepts Silverlight. If this seems familiar, it ought to.

Novell supports OOXML, along with other technologies that help Microsoft maginalise GNU/Linux. Why does Novell do this? Because it's in Microsoft's contract (see SEC filing) with Novell. Microsoft holds Novell down by the thumb, owing to the cash infusion Novell so desperately craved. And it shows.

Linux Left Out

The animations are equal to those of Flash in terms of quality. However, Popfly does have one flaw, which is no Linux support. Novell Inc. is developing a Linux version of Silverlight called "Moonlight."


Take-home message: Novell is merely serving Microsoft agenda here. It simply must because it is too reliant on Microsoft. As we have found in OOXML, Novell employees are pushing for adoption of OOXML in Free software. The same goes for Silverlight.

Related reading (internal):



Related reading (external):



Update: Already comes the push and the shove:

Microsoft to Push Silverlight via Redesigned Website

Microsoft isn't new to the whole "virtual" monopoly business (where a single company holds the entire market thanks to "superior technology" and "better business sense") - it's just not too often that they're on the wrong side of this particular proverbial fence.

When Silverlight was first announced and PopFly, Microsoft's social network built to demonstrate and hopefully kickoff Silverlight, were simultaneously launched; we were quick to appreciate the technical aspects of .NET and WPF taken online, but were careful to make it clear that we didn't think it stood much of a chance.

But things might be on the verge of a big change. Large portions Microsoft's website are in the middle of a redesign that will feature a fully Silverlight-powered interface - doing away with HTML and everything else.

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