Browser extensions? Apple-Google integration takes things a bit further
Browser extensions for searching the web are old news to most of us; in fact, using them almost comes as second nature. For example, Mozilla's Firefox browser, the net's fastest growing application, has allowed countless users to search a multitude of different engines straight from the browser.
However, Apple, seen by many as the innovators of the OS scene, has gone one step further. As part of a collaboration with Google, the company's own Mac-only web browser - Safari - is rumoured to be able to communicate directly with Google's AntiTrust database as a user is browsing. Not only will the AntiTrust database allow Safari to block potentially unsafe websites from the user in a bid to protect their computer, it will also block known "phishing" sites to protect their personal details.
And more Google integration is on its way: in Apple's next OSX update, the company's hard drive search application, Spotlight, may pull web results from Google. PC Google Desktop users have been able to search hard drive and web results in tandem for some time now; but Apple is taking a big step by bringing Google straight into their OS as standard.
In other Google-Apple news, tech savvy iPhoto users have discovered a hidden function in the latest release of the software - one that seems to grab latitude and longitude values from - you guessed it - Google Maps. This looks to be a function which is being prepped to compete with similar features in Yahoo!'s online photo-sharing service, Flikr, which allows people to see the geographical location where the photograph was taken. Not much is known about the new features in iPhoto as of yet, but with over 70 references to GPS attributes that link through to Google Maps, it looks like the two companies have something very big planned.
So what will Mozilla and Microsoft do to try and counter the Apple-Google collaboration? As Mozilla's Firefox browser reaches version two, Microsoft have stepped up the pace on Internet Explorer 7 and have been forced into changing the way a default search engine is selected. Microsoft originally stated that they would import search settings from Internet Explorer 6, but have now implemented a system where the user picks the search engine they wish to use from a list. This stemmed from pressure heaped on Microsoft by Google, with the latter saying that the original system would give an unfair advantage to Microsoft. The EU upheld the complaint, and Microsoft have given in; but giving users the chance to pick a search engine may drive searches away from Google, as user's might pick a new engine rather than going straight through to Internet Explorer 7 - something Google may regret if it sees it's search share fall. Mozilla has plans to show suggested searches as users type into the Firefox 2 search box, and will also give anti-phishing alerts through downloaded "safe lists." However, perhaps the biggest change in the search area of the browser will be seen in the OpenSearch description format - something which is compatible with both Firefox and Internet Explorer, and allows the same extensions to be used in both applications.
We have yet to see who will gain or lose ground in the integrated search wars, but Apple's forward thinking holds them in good stead to gain some ground on the market leaders.
source: http://techzone.izine.in/articles/Browser-extensions-Apple-Google-integration-takes-things-a-bit-further.asp
However, Apple, seen by many as the innovators of the OS scene, has gone one step further. As part of a collaboration with Google, the company's own Mac-only web browser - Safari - is rumoured to be able to communicate directly with Google's AntiTrust database as a user is browsing. Not only will the AntiTrust database allow Safari to block potentially unsafe websites from the user in a bid to protect their computer, it will also block known "phishing" sites to protect their personal details.
And more Google integration is on its way: in Apple's next OSX update, the company's hard drive search application, Spotlight, may pull web results from Google. PC Google Desktop users have been able to search hard drive and web results in tandem for some time now; but Apple is taking a big step by bringing Google straight into their OS as standard.
In other Google-Apple news, tech savvy iPhoto users have discovered a hidden function in the latest release of the software - one that seems to grab latitude and longitude values from - you guessed it - Google Maps. This looks to be a function which is being prepped to compete with similar features in Yahoo!'s online photo-sharing service, Flikr, which allows people to see the geographical location where the photograph was taken. Not much is known about the new features in iPhoto as of yet, but with over 70 references to GPS attributes that link through to Google Maps, it looks like the two companies have something very big planned.
So what will Mozilla and Microsoft do to try and counter the Apple-Google collaboration? As Mozilla's Firefox browser reaches version two, Microsoft have stepped up the pace on Internet Explorer 7 and have been forced into changing the way a default search engine is selected. Microsoft originally stated that they would import search settings from Internet Explorer 6, but have now implemented a system where the user picks the search engine they wish to use from a list. This stemmed from pressure heaped on Microsoft by Google, with the latter saying that the original system would give an unfair advantage to Microsoft. The EU upheld the complaint, and Microsoft have given in; but giving users the chance to pick a search engine may drive searches away from Google, as user's might pick a new engine rather than going straight through to Internet Explorer 7 - something Google may regret if it sees it's search share fall. Mozilla has plans to show suggested searches as users type into the Firefox 2 search box, and will also give anti-phishing alerts through downloaded "safe lists." However, perhaps the biggest change in the search area of the browser will be seen in the OpenSearch description format - something which is compatible with both Firefox and Internet Explorer, and allows the same extensions to be used in both applications.
We have yet to see who will gain or lose ground in the integrated search wars, but Apple's forward thinking holds them in good stead to gain some ground on the market leaders.
source: http://techzone.izine.in/articles/Browser-extensions-Apple-Google-integration-takes-things-a-bit-further.asp
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