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DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

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Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#721

Post by fluidcruft »

pjc50 wrote: post #548
rkharsan64 wrote: post #510

People here seem to be underestimating the advantages that Google gets just because of Chrome: - When you sign in to Google, you sign in browser-wide. Google now gets all of your browsing data, perfect for advertising. (If you ever doubt it, go check out Google Takeout. You'll be shocked at the amount of data you see there.) - They have special APIs and features that they get to use, and nobody else. Only because the…

The problem is this: - the browser is undeniably critical as everyone's window through which they view the online world; - the user gains a huge amount of value by a browser being integrated into the OS, webviews in other applications, etc - browsers aren't really a self funding product - having a single for-profit US advertising company control everyone's view of the online world, however slightly (e.g. by obstructi…

Sort of sounds like you are one step short of suggesting a browser is critical infrastructure.

Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#722

Post by marcosdumay »

moffkalast wrote: post #641
binkHN wrote: post #590

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A very artificial arrangement where Google pay "arms length browserco" to maintain [a browser]? Sounds almost like Firefox.

Google to Mozilla: "I'm gonna pay you 400M a year for antitrust to fuck off" Seems like it didn't work though.

It worked until they decided to unfairly compete with Firefox and get all the market share.

Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#723

Post by marcosdumay »

BeefySwain wrote: post #617
pjc50 wrote: post #548

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is this: - the browser is undeniably critical as everyone's window through which they view the online world; - the user gains a huge amount of value by a browser being integrated into the OS, webviews in other applications, etc - browsers aren't really a self funding product - having a single for-profit US advertising company control everyone's view of the online world, however slightly (e.g. by obstructi…

> browsers aren't really a self funding product Yeah... Because massive companies use them anti-competitively as a moat against other companies, and as a loss leader to enable massive data collection and vendor lock in. "browsers aren't really a self funding product" is a symptom of dysfunction, not the inevitable conclusion of a fair market.

Well, things with open source alternatives tend to fare badly when sold.

Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#724

Post by polishTar »

criddell wrote: post #713
throwaway2037 wrote: post #706

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You raise some very important points. Specifically, this one: > browsers aren't really a self funding product I feel the same. I also feel the same about a modern C library and C compiler (and C++, if you like). They are essential to build any modern system and applications. Yet, those are also (mostly) no longer self-funding products. What do you think will happen if Google is forced to divest Chrome?

> What do you think will happen if Google is forced to divest Chrome? The new Chrome company will struggle for a year or two then Apple will try to buy it but lose out after Oracle submits a higher bid.

Oracle Chrome, Ha! I wouldn't even be surprised if that's exactly how it plays out.

Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#725

Post by freediver »

gcau wrote: post #189

My understanding is that google lets anyone freely use chromium, and chrome is just their flavour of chromium with google services integrated ontop of it. Microsoft took chromium and sprinkled ai-enhanced microsoft flavours on top to make edge, which doesn't look like a monopoly. Presumably, microsoft is able to use windows to push edge, and use edge to push bing. If chrome was sold and had the google integration rem…

> Ultimately though, nobody except the kind of audience on HN is going to pay for it. If I told anyone else about a search engine that costs $16/month to use, I'm sure they'd think i'm joking, irregardless of how good it may be.

What do you want out of an alternative though - Better search or free? Because you can't have both. Ad-based search being free is exactly the reason it is bad. You get what you pay for?

Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#726

Post by marcosdumay »

lofaszvanitt wrote: post #556
pjc50 wrote: post #548

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is this: - the browser is undeniably critical as everyone's window through which they view the online world; - the user gains a huge amount of value by a browser being integrated into the OS, webviews in other applications, etc - browsers aren't really a self funding product - having a single for-profit US advertising company control everyone's view of the online world, however slightly (e.g. by obstructi…

Browsers should be developed by an intercountry nonprofit. Funded by all the countries' governments.

You can have country-specific nonprofits that cooperate; you can have consumer-rights nonprofits or free-speech nonprofits cooperating...

The best thing about open source is that cooperating on it is very easy.

Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#727

Post by marcosdumay »

mrkramer wrote: post #595
rkharsan64 wrote: post #510

People here seem to be underestimating the advantages that Google gets just because of Chrome: - When you sign in to Google, you sign in browser-wide. Google now gets all of your browsing data, perfect for advertising. (If you ever doubt it, go check out Google Takeout. You'll be shocked at the amount of data you see there.) - They have special APIs and features that they get to use, and nobody else. Only because the…

Google realized if they don't control the search distribution they gonna lose out sooner or later; which is kinda contradictory for them if they claim Google is the best search out there and that they are constantly improving it and that's why(they say), people choose it over other alternatives. But tbh distribution of your product/s is crucial. Just look at Microsoft and their internet strategy, they chose the other…

TBH, when Google did that, Apple was already threatening making it impossible for IOS users to use Google's services.

Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#728

Post by evoke4908 »

rkharsan64 wrote: post #510

People here seem to be underestimating the advantages that Google gets just because of Chrome: - When you sign in to Google, you sign in browser-wide. Google now gets all of your browsing data, perfect for advertising. (If you ever doubt it, go check out Google Takeout. You'll be shocked at the amount of data you see there.) - They have special APIs and features that they get to use, and nobody else. Only because the…

Uploads to google drive from Firefox are throttled to 10% of the bandwidth I get using Chrome

Re: DOJ will push Google to sell off Chrome

#729

Post by fizlebit »

Am I alone in thinking that all the stuff I get for free (in exchange for some amount of targeted advertising) from Google is pretty cool and that these attempts to break up big tech are going to be very bad for consumers and the economy and is just punishing successful companies that produce products that customers want to use. You all can use mosaic/edge if you want to.
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