Google Demands Microsoft Pull YouTube App For WP8 716
First time accepted submitter exomondo writes "Google has given Microsoft until May 22nd to pull their Windows Phone 8 YouTube app from the marketplace and disable it on customer devices. It not only includes a built-in ad blocker but also allows users to download videos and doesn't impose device-specific streaming restrictions outlined in the YouTube Terms Of Service. A Microsoft spokesperson said in part: 'YouTube is consistently one of the top apps downloaded by smartphone users on all platforms, but Google has refused to work with us to develop an app on par with other platforms. Since we updated the YouTube app to ensure our mutual customers a similar YouTube experience, ratings and feedback have been overwhelmingly positive. We'd be more than happy to include advertising but need Google to provide us access to the necessary APIs. In light of Larry Page's comments today calling for more interoperability and less negativity, we look forward to solving this matter together for our mutual customers.'"
Wait... (Score:5, Funny)
So Microsoft appears to have made the perfect youtube client? Sonofabitch. When I had limited mobile data, I dreamed for a simple youtube client that could cache several videos for off-line or repeated watching. Of course, Apple won't build a client like - they would rather you not even know youtube existed so you would just buy iTunes everything.
Re: I can't wait to see this battle (Score:3, Funny)
Are they looking to paint themselves as the biggest dicks in the room again? If so, success. Microsoft: we can't invent anything, but no one out-assholes our assholes.
Re:Feels good (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I can't wait to see this battle (Score:5, Funny)
Google: our terms of service clearly state that storing downloads for any other purpose than buffering is not permitted.
Judge: (to MS) So you ignored the terms of service in building your application?
MS: Well, yes, but we just wanted a good user experience
Judge: And my grand-daughter wants a pony. I find you in violation of the TOS, your app must be pulled until you can show it complies.
Re:Feels good (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I can't wait to see this battle (Score:5, Funny)
You forgot to add, "...and may God have mercy on your souls."
Re:I can't wait to see this battle (Score:2, Funny)
Basically. They were notorious for letting their products use hidden internal APIs that gave them an advantage.
Ironically, I have no problem with that. Why should one company help another to build similar stuff? But I like seeing them be petarded by their own hoist.
I'm with MS on this one... (Score:2, Funny)
Oh my god, I never thought I'd ever hear those words coming out of my own mouth. As someone who suffered through Windows 3.1 (reboot to change the number of colors on screen!) I'd long held fantasies of gunning down Bill Gates. I considered MS to be the root of all evil.
But now they they aren't really the top dog, and now that they seem to be struggling, and now that Google has proven that their motto is "do evil", I gotta say, MS ain't so bad anymore. Sure they make mistakes, and sure their software is utter crap, but you know what; if they are making a Youtube App that let's you save and comes with an ad blocker, I'm all for it.
Go MS! I'm with you! (oh my god I feel dirty now somehow).
Re:Wait... (Score:5, Funny)
or 15 seconds intro delays me from watching 1 minute video
ha, I've got you beat - I got a 1:30 ad in front of an 0:45 video!
wait, no, I lost.
Re:Feels good (Score:4, Funny)