Wow, Microsoft And Google Are Punching Each Other In The Face In Front Of Us

[redthrowaway]

This exchange serves to further highlight the perverse appeal of Twitter: we get to watch powerful people act childish. I love it.

[alexqgb]

Profound issues of right and wrong are rarely this entertaining. Conclusion: this isn't serious. But holy smoke is it fun to watch.

[iamelgringo]

I hate to say it, but Microsoft has a _lot_ more experience in bare knuckle fighting than Google does. And, I'm betting that Microsoft is very interested in getting into a brawl over this one.

I really don't think that Google wants to get into a fight over who sucks up users click streams to advance their business...

Those who live in glass houses really flick boogers.

[RickHull]

> I really don't think that Google wants to get into a fight over who sucks up users click streams to advance their business...

Presenting your competitor's clickstream as your own takes it to a new level.

> Those who live in glass houses really flick boogers.

And bloggers!

[msbarnett]

I guess Eric Schmidt was wrong; it sure looks like adult supervision is still needed.

[alexqgb]

If he's available, Microsoft is in the market.

[rbanffy]

> it sure looks like adult supervision is still needed.

You mean, in Microsoft, right? Perhaps some ethical guidance too.

[eitally]

This is worth an upvote in spite of MG's authorship just because of the inclusion of relevant Tweets.

[sjs382]

What are they using to embed tweets like that? Is it publicly available software?

[Aaronontheweb]

What the hell does Dave Winer do these days other than insert himself into everything? Is he involved with something important that I'm overlooking?

[michael_dorfman]

Was it ever otherwise?

[ck2]

If copying is going to stop, I'd like Google to stop copying Bing's look and feel, it's getting really annoying.

ps. I want my old image search back and my old map controls back

[danilocampos]

Right on. 2010's changes to Google Image Search left it an enormous pile of ass. Just give me simple, paginated results, please.

[gonehome]

Microsoft's behavior comes across as sleazy to me, which no doubt is Google's intention. I respect mathematical advancements and clever algorithmic solutions to search which Google has always been impressive with. The method Microsoft is using with their toolbar just comes across as lame and uninteresting.

[bitwize]

Is it one of those one-shall-stand, one-shall-fall simultaneous face punches like I saw on UFC?

Because that would be sweet...

[ddemchuk]

Who the hell is in charge of the PR for these two companies to allow them to late night bitch at each other over Twitter??? These companies rake in billions per quarter and are acting like they're gonna be on TMZ tonight.

[digitalinfinity]

MG's post quotes http://twitter.com/#!/fxshaw. This should answer your question- http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/shaw/

[shareme]

as opposed to TC and Engadget punching each other?

[SoftwareMaven]

Remember, in any corporate fist-fight, it is the media that is going to benefit the most, so if there isn't a fight occurring in the wild, it makes sense to stage one.

[drivebyacct2]

Do you actually expect better of them though? I mean really...

[moonpolysoft]

Dingus.

[dustingetz]

those twitter zingers are absolutely hilarious!

[j_baker]

The thing I find most interesting about Microsoft's tweets here is that at no point does Frank ever actually deny copying Google's search results. Well, except to tell a bald-faced lie that obviously isn't true. I mean, if Microsoft really had evidence that Google had its employees report the sites to MS customer feedback, I have a feeling they'd be making it known some place other that Frank Shaw's twitter account.