Google vs Microsoft (and some nifty iPadding)

02/06/10 posted by Liz Niland

 As far as love/hate tech-affairs go, the Apple vs. Google stalemate is right up there with the biggest of the best. But, by the looks of current happenings, Google’s relationship with Apple’s most direct competitor, Microsoft, is also appearing to diminish by the day.

Mentioned earlier in the year, and beginning to raise its head again, is the rumour that Microsoft’s Bing is set to replace Google as the default search provider for iPhone. TechCrunch aren’t confirming whether the story is more than a rumour yet, but are saying that “we’ve heard from multiple sources, including a high level source who claims to have been briefed on the matter... Our sources close to Google in particular are speaking freely about this as fact.” While Bing has improved since its initial launch a little over a year ago and has no doubt shaped the way Google upgraded its search user-interface in recent months, are we ready to be defaulted to Bing?

The other new story in the Google vs. Microsoft rivalry comes straight from the top of Google. Reportedly, (Mashable via the Financial Times) new Google employees are asked to choose between a Mac or a Linux-based PC to fitout their new workstation. For permission to run a Windows OS, word is that high level Googlers must be consulted for approval.

Other than Microsoft being one of Google’s chief competitors, the security breaches in China earlier in the year (pre-Google’s Chinese withdrawal) are also said to be a contributing factor. No doubt there’ll still be some Windows OS machines hidden somewhere at Google for testing at least; as MG Siegler mentioned, “Google still needs their products to reach the most amount of eyeballs, and that still means Windows”.

And finally, if you were one of the lucky few to snap up an iPad at the official Australian launch last week, you may be interested in some new ways to use your precious tablet - even if it means covering your house in velcro. 

iPad + Velcro from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.