Mozilla's hypocrisy: Apple can stop Firefox and Microsoft cannot

The US version of PC world recently published a comments post titled Preston Gralla, which argues that Apple completely prohibits Firefox from accessing its iOS system, microsoft only partially banned Firefox from entering Windows 8, but Mozilla, the Firefox browser developer, is pushing Microsoft with the banner of justice while Apple does not, this is actually a manifestation of hypocrisy.

The full text of this article is as follows:

Mozilla, a Firefox browser developer, is hypocritical because it claims that Apple has no problem disabling Firefox from accessing iPad and iPhone, but Microsoft has banned Firefox from using certain Windows 8 tablet functions.

Firefox is completely prohibited from accessing iOS, while Firefox is only prohibited from using some features on Windows 8 tablets with built-in ARM chips in the coming Windows 8. However, Firefox is allowed to access all Windows 8 PC computers and Windows 8 tablet computers with built-in Intel chips.

Mozilla's chief lawyer Harvey Anderson admitted that Apple and Microsoft are similar to Firefox, but "they are similar to Apple, it does not prove that Microsoft's practices on Windows are reasonable, because they deprive users of the right to choose, weaken competition, and damage innovation."

When asked to explain why Mozilla treats Apple and Microsoft differently, Anderson said Microsoft had a monopoly. In the tablet market, if there is any monopoly power, it must be in the hands of apple, not Microsoft. According to a new research report from market research firm IDC, Apple holds a monopoly on the tablet market, with a market share of up to 68%. Windows tablets have not yet started sales. So what is Anderson's alleged monopoly power?

Apparently, he refers to Windows's share in the PC market. However, Microsoft does not restrict the use of Firefox on existing Windows computers. Moreover, Microsoft will not restrict the use of Firefox on PCs or tablets equipped with Intel chips when Windows 8 is released in the future. Microsoft only imposes restrictions on Firefox on Windows tablets equipped with ARM chips. The operating system on the tablet is called Windows RT.

At that time, Firefox was allowed to run in Windows RT. However, some of its functions may be limited, because it can only be used as a Metro application, rather than a desktop application program, and it is also limited to some features of the operating system.

In stark contrast, Apple treats Firefox on iOS: it is completely rejected. Apple does not allow Firefox and other browsers in the App Store to enter iOS, so they cannot be installed on iPad or iPhone. In comparison, Microsoft also allows Firefox to appear in Windows RT at least, although some of its features may be limited.

Also, do not forget that Firefox is allowed to run completely on Windows 8 tablets equipped with Intel chips. In Windows RT alone, Firefox has some problems.

Anderson hinted that Mozilla may file an anti-monopoly lawsuit against Microsoft in the United States and Europe because Windows RT restricts the use of Firefox. He wrote on Mozilla's blog that Microsoft's behavior "conflicts with users' browser choices, which may be the behavior that the Ministry of Justice and Microsoft commit to prohibiting ."

In the tablet market, Microsoft only has a small market share, while Apple has a dominant position. prohibiting Firefox is not a monopoly. If so, it should also apply to Apple because it prohibits competing browsers from entering its tablet OS iOS.

In comparison, Mozilla should criticize Apple for blocking users' browser selection rather than Microsoft. The company is arrogant about justice and scolding Microsoft for its practice is actually a hypocritical manifestation.