One Answer To Why Safari Was Ported To Windows
Apple, Web June 15th, 2007NewsFire just bounced an informed me of a few new articles, one of those was by Honda Wang from Macteens, “Safari On Windows? Why?” I just read the article through and though I’d state my opinion on one of the reasons they ported Safari to the darkside.
Look in the top right corner of your browser, see the Google Search hard coded into the browser? Though so, I see it too. Now open Firefox, Flock, and Camino. See the same thing? You didn’t think companies implement these into browsers for free did you? Apple gets a commission on every Google search completed through the browser toolbar, the same with Firefox, IE, Flock, and all of the other major parties.
Steve Jobs specifically stated they wanted to increase market share by porting the browser, Safari currently holds a 5% market share over the browser industry while the target is 15% according to the keynote slide.
More exposure = more users = more market share = more money from Google. Get the drift? I believe the extra incentive of cash-flow was on attraction to the possibility of the port.
Update: It must be stated this is not my only reason why I believe Safari was ported, although in my eyes it was the standout reason. I’m all for having Safari on the Windows platform, I think it’s a good move on Apple’s behalf.
Update 2: Once again, it must be emphasized that I do not believe this is Apple’s single reason for porting Safari. This is simply one standout reason in my mind of why it could have appealed to Apple. If you think differently, don’t hesitate to let me know.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:53 am
What? I don’t think they did it just because of a small search bar… Yes its all about money, thats the priority of every business!
I would say its more to help give windows users another chance to experience a Apple app, they probably have iTunes, and thats all they will have, no they can have Safari, and maybe theres more to come, by the time they come to update their comp they may decide to move over to a Mac.
Have to say I never use the google search bar in Safari.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:01 am
What about better web site and web application support from developers? Better iPhone “application” support?
June 15th, 2007 at 11:05 am
I agree with you!
Personnally, I never use Safari on Mac because it’s just too bloated. 3 tabs takes 60% of my CPU. I prefer Camino.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:05 am
It must be stated this is not my only reason why I believe Safari was ported, although in my eyes it was a standout reason.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I first heard this reason floated on Daring Fireball. I didn’t agree with that post, and believe there’s much more going on with Safari on Windows than an amount of cash which really won’t be significant to Apple’s bottom line:
http://thesmallwave.blogspot.com/2007/06/safari-on-windows-is-great-move-and.html
http://thesmallwave.blogspot.com/2007/06/disagreement-with-daring-fireballs-take.html
June 15th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I couldn’t agree more, I think there is more too it than we currently know. I’m all for having Safari on the Windows platform, I think it’s a good move on Apple’s behalf.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Umm, right… they ported Safari so that they could get Google referral credit. Wouldn’t you think there would be easier ways to make a quick few bucks?
I like this reason better: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/06/11/dev-chair-why-is-safari-on-windows/
June 15th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Whatever the reason may be, I think it is an all around great move. It seems like browser development has really improved quality-wise, and in my estimation this will help to further that cause. Let’s hope it causes Microsoft to work to make IE more compliant with web standards, because that will be a victory for web developers everywhere.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Just thought I’d comment again and let you guys know I just “Bootcamped” over to Vista and I’m doing a little testing with Safari on Vista - very impressed so far.
June 15th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I completely agree with you Glenn. I noticed Safari error messages now include a Google search, so they’re definitely trying to get more people searching via Google.
However, I think iPhone development certainly has played a part as well.
June 15th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
This is a ridiculous notion.
I very much doubt this is Apple’s reasoning behind porting Safari to Windows, in my eyes Apple wants more applications for the iPhone, judging by the fact that all 3rd party apps on the iPhone will run in Safari surely developers on all platforms will want to be able to test their applications without having to own an iPhone.
June 15th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Thanks for summarizing John Gruber’s post. Seriously, this blog could not be more original!
June 15th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Really? Gruber wrote about this? I’ll have to check it out. On the note of “This blog could not be more original!” Care to elaborate what exactly isn’t original?
June 15th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
This post adds to my list of reasons of why this blog is not very good. I don’t think I am going to return. Word of advice - work on your theory, it is a very important role in writing. The theory in this article could have been expanded.
June 15th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Remember this blog is written by a younger person who is still developing his method.
June 15th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
OK.
Badly written -unoriginal load of junk. What a load of balls. You could have just said that google pay apple for using their search. Oh wait… but everyone knew that already.
So what was the point of this article?
June 15th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
What difference does that make? If you enter an industry of bloggers who range from any age, typically an adult, then you’ll be treated like one. I’m not going to treat like he’s a child. Remember - it’s not how old you are, it’s how you are old. So I don’t understand why anyone should treat someone nicely because they’re younger. He entered the industry, so he should be prepared to get criticized like this.
June 15th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Wow, I’m pretty astounded at some of the viciousness here. You are a guest in Glenn’s home, show some respect. As a 27 year-old I’ve definitely learned quite a few things about blogging from someone the age of my brothers. I don’t always agree with Glenn, but I certainly don’t come to his doorstep to badmouth him. There’s a way to tactfully debate an issue, or even call someone out, and a few of you must’ve missed that lesson.
June 15th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
I agree with what some ppl have said. non news. If this was posted couple days ago then it might come across better. And to think it’s just for the money is a lil short sighted, I mean look at itunes sure it brings in money from ppl using windows but mostly it’s for ipod support.
June 15th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I don’t mind the hard words said by some in the comments above, I can take them and use them to my advantage to improve in the future. Graham, I believe my “theory” was fine, I based it around how Apple are attracting a wider audience and using it to (one) of their advantages for extra revenue.
Anon, I don’t believe for one second that “everyone” knew Apple gets a commission for every Google search from the browser. The point of this article was stating my opinion on the widely talked about port of Safari moving to Windows, and possible reasons behind the move.
Darren, this is not a news post, I don’t do news. This is strictly an opinion post based on strategical knowledge.
Tom, thanks for your words of encouragement. I have never deleted or concealed any comments on this blog nor will I ever. I understand not everyone will agree with me, although this post was simply stating my opinion on a current matter in the spotlight.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
I don’t agree with Gruber’s (Daring Fireball) take on this, or his other comments about the WWDC keynote in general.
I like this blog. I was very surprised when I discovered how young Glenn is, but it changes nothing.
Finally, Glenn, I’ve been running Safari beta on Windows XP since Monday and am pretty impressed. If you have time, read my reviews and let me know if you see the same things I do:
http://thesmallwave.blogspot.com/2007/06/mini-review-of-apples-safari-browser-on.html
June 15th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I’m sorry guys, but don’t pass judgement on people, IF YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE A BLOG!
Seriously, Glenn is posting his opinion. If you disagree, why not get your own blog and post your opinion. Blogging is no where are easy as you would think.
I like seeing your opinion Glenn, keep it up!
June 15th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Many people say that Safari will just be a bridge to OS X… but they are going to have to figure something else out, cause Safari isn’t good enough yet, not with Firefox and Opera out atleast
June 15th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
@Andreas: How do you think Mozilla makes money? Google pays good money for this kind of traffic - and it’s worth to them. People said the same for AdWords and AdSense - Google makes most of it’s revenue from these two services, taking a high percentage (the actual numbers are still not confirmed).
@anom: The point of the article was to write about a specific topic, something Glenn believes that’s true. Calling something crap while as basically an anonymous comment poster is - if I may be so rude as you - bullshit. So you don’t agree, that’s ok. Graham doesn’t agree, but still acts civil and actually gives some constructive thoughts.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
The whole reason they ported Safari to Windows is to get more developers to work on the iPhone, since iPhone apps actually run through Safari.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Glenn, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your point. Gruber gave it as one of his reasons for Safari on Windows on the latest MBW, and I think it’s got something to do with it. And like you said it’s not the only reason for the move so I wouldn’t worry about some of the stupid comments.
June 15th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
IMHO the principal anwswer to Safari on Windows is Google Gears
June 15th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
I haven read John’s post but I have to agree with you Glenn.
However I think safari was ported to windows mainly because of the iPhone’s lack of SDK so even windows based developers could create iPhone apps. And this is killing two birds with one stone, creating a windows app only for developers and ALSO show windows users a bit of the mac experience.
I’ve tested Safari on Windows XP so far and I’m not very impressed, but hey, it’s still just a beta. By the way, I ABSOLUTELY adore Safari’s text rendering, so smooth.
From a Web-designer’s perspective, whatever steals IE’s marketshare is okay with me.
ps: don’t let your self down with the comments above ;)
ps2: do you have any idea if Phill Ryu will post the video demos of the Delicious Generation party?
June 15th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Glenn, I think the point that some of the “negative” posters were trying to make is that it seems like you’re just re-blogging opinions that have been posted many other places already. Like someone said, if this had been posted moments after the keynote was over, it would have been original. I mean no offense at all when I say this, but it seems sometimes like you post stuff just for the sake of posting. When you look at a lot of the great mac blogs (i.e Daring Fireball), you will rarely see content that has already been posted other places, and this means that you might have to go a few days in between posts. The difference between a good blog and a great one is not the quantity of content, but the quality. That means thoughtful, insightful, and very original content. You’re still so young, and have so much time to improve. So don’t worry it about the negative comments.
June 16th, 2007 at 1:26 am
Well said Peter. This ‘post’ is really just the re-hashing of somebody else’s blog post. When these appear on DF, they are usually just a quick link to another blog while others use an ‘elsewhere’ (or similar section heading) where links to good articles by others are listed.
Glenn, people don’t visit your site to read what Honda Wang or John Gruber wrote.
June 16th, 2007 at 8:59 am
James, in fact Honda Wang didn’t write this. The article Glenn has linked to pretty much says the opposite, that there is no business logic behind porting to Windows. Glenn’s article is a pretty good rebuttal to Hondas article. The point is that this rebuttal had already been made numerous times across numerous blogs, including many of the major Apple blogs.
June 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Is blogging an industry now? Ha!
My posts intention had little to do with ‘niceness’. I was just suggesting (rather indirectly) that perhaps you could relax a little and read this blog (as I do) within regard to context of the author, his age, credibility, experience (or lack thereof) and go from there.
Cheers
Tiger!
June 17th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
I too have hard time to believe Apple is doing this for Google money, and developing Safari Windows for iPhone developers seems a bit far-stretched…
Here’s a different take on why Apple might want to spread Safari:
http://arts-science.blogspot.com/
June 18th, 2007 at 8:19 am
The sad thing is, this is definitely one of the reasons they ported Safari. Its no secret that software companies get money based on searches coming from plugins within their browsers and software. Of course this isnt the only reason why it was ported. Jobs was telling the truth when he said they wanted to increase their market share, not just to give Microsoft a kick in the pants, but also to ensure people make Safari compatible sites. With Safari being the only browser on the iPhone, if your site doesn’t support Safari, your stuck. Apple wants to ensure that web on the iPhone (and the iPhone as a whole) is successful.
June 23rd, 2007 at 6:58 am
Recollect that Steve Jobs mentioned (during his and Bill Gates interview at D conference) that the war between mac and PC is long over and microsoft won it years ago, and that he is focusing more on tomorrow and is trying to do something different.
June 26th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I believe the main reason was to allow developers to adjust their websites to work with Safari, so they would work correctly on the iPhone.
October 7th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Hmm….you make really good point. I think they moved to windows because the current marketshare is bigger on windows and apple wants more marketshare….so why not go to windows?