Bonum Certa Men Certa

GNU/Linux Users Locked Out of Olympics, Need Silverlight 2.0

Silverlight puke, barf



To use his own words, Miguel de Icaza has just gone to hang out at Microsoft. Yes, that's how close Novell's executives are to Microsoft. But that's totally besides the point that he's actively assisting adoption of Microsoft Silverlight, which is a huge threat to the openness of the World Wide Web and also to viability of Free software desktops (unlike Flash).



“As the FOSS world probably knows by now, Moonlight is a semi-cooked catch-up work.”Just over a week ago we showed how Microsoft was ruining good football and also the Olympic games. We wrongly thought it was a matter of paying 'Microsoft tax'. This had happened just before it was confirmed that Moonlight may indeed be a poison pill. It's part of a broader issue introduced by Novell.

On the face of it, however, it's no longer just a legal matter but perhaps also one of feasibility because the Summer Olympics will require the very bleeding edge of Microsoft Silverlight. As the FOSS world probably knows by now, Moonlight is a semi-cooked catch-up work. Microsoft wouldn't port Silverlight to GNU/Linux.

NBC's player is based on the latest beta version of Silverlight, which the Democratic National Convention will also use to distribute video in August. Silverlight 2.0 is due out in the fall.


It sounds as though not only will GNU/Linux users be left out in the cold. Novell's paying customers (with 'licensed' Moonlight) will possibly be left out as well.

This was supposed to be a huge international event (recurring just once in four year), but Microsoft and its former partner (MS)NBC received exclusivity.

Say no to Silverfish and those who support it. Say no to Novell, whose official Web site is already saturated with Adobe Flash. Expect Silverlight too. Microsoft and Novell are partners now.

"Our partnership with Microsoft continues to expand."

--Ron Hovsepian, Novell CEO



Ron Hovsepian and Steve Ballmer

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