On indexing Flash content, Microsoft silent

Adobe Systems announced on Monday that it was taking steps to make Flash content on the Web more easily indexed by search engines. It touted deals with both Yahoo and Google, the top two search engines. Curiously absent was any statement about whether Microsoft would do likewise with its Live Search.

I was hoping that Microsoft might clear up the matter, but its response was "no comment." (It said it's possible that it'll have more to say, and I will post more when and if that comes.)

It's unclear whether there is a stumbling block and whether it might be Adobe that is uninterested in Microsoft or the other way around. Clearly, there is no love lost between the two around Flash--Microsoft is trying to take Flash head-on with its Silverlight technology, which was designed to be searchable.

That said, I can't imagine that Microsoft would want to have any more reasons out there for people not to use its search technology.

[Zen-Masta]

It would be equally disappointing to learn that A) Adobe didn't approach Microsoft or B) Microsoft wasn't interested.

[t8]

Adobe might approach smaller players later. More important to work with the big players for now. Thanks.

[SnidleyWhiplash]

Disappointing?!?! You're clearly not paying attention, Zen... Microsoft has been extremely hostile towards Flash specifically and Adobe generally for a long time. They're using very trick in the book to ram Silverlight down people's throats in an effort to unseat Flash as the ubiquitous rich media app. Cutting their nose off to spite their face for competitive purposes is just another day at the office for Microsoft.

[codevalley]

First I don't think Microsoft is a "trivial" player when it comes to searching. But, if Adobe is taking the vendetta against Microsoft, it is just disappointing. Microsoft has not been "hostile" towards flash, at least till they came up with Silver Light, most of the Microsoft's animation and effects oriented segments used flash.
Secondly, I think Microsoft tried to attack to many players simultaneously that has backfired. They want to take on Google, Yahoo over searching, Adobe on Flash, Apple on iPod (with Zune). Playstation with their XBox etc. This is at a time when they are already having rivalry with Browsers, Operating Systems, media players etc. So they get isolated. Adobe clearly knows Microsoft is desperate in the search engine front, so they just showed what they could do. (But that was cheap).
Regarding silverlight, technologically, I find it faster and better than flash.

[dcardozo]

Silverlight may be technologically good, but it is just another example of the "only works in Windows and IE" closed mentality. It doesn't run on Firefox 3, even on Windows, although Firefox 3 has been in beta for months now. Everybody had time to make their plugins/extensions work with Firefox 3. Except for MS and Silverlight. I hope its use does not extend too much, or I'll be back to the time when I wasn't able to easily browse a good chunk of the web.

[KTLA_knew]

dcardozo: What lies. "...just another example of the "only works in Windows and IE" closed mentality."

http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/resources/install.aspx#sysreq

[eadeguzman]

I have Firefox 3.04b and it runs Silverlight.

[Zen-Masta]

dcardozo you are mistaken. The problem with Firefox 3 doesn't have anything to do with silverlight being broken. But a web authoring error where the designers hadn't updated their sites to accommodate the way firefox 3 detects silverlight. The problem still occurs on microsoft.com

[hawkeyeaz1]

Microsoft intends to buy Yahoo's search anyway, so if they get it, then they have their in with Adobe Flash. If they don't, then they really aren't a worthy competitor in the search market. After all, that is why they need to buy Yahoo--MS doesn't know how to do search.

Never mind that if MS does but Yahoo search, it will die.