Apple Inc., looking to instill competition with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Netscape’s Mozilla Firefox, recently launched its new Safari web browser for Windows-based computers, giving Mirosoft users the first opportunity to utilize some of the features that Apple provides. "What we've got here is the most innovative browser in the world and the most powerful browser in the world," quotes Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who believes that the Apple browser will bring forth a new level of Internet navigation for Microsoft users. The Safari browser has been used by the Macintosh model for the past few years, but Windows users can now take full advantage of its capabilities as well. The browser is of course free to download, and web surfers can now find access to it on the Apple.com homepage.
Though Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is used by roughly 78% of the online community and Netscape’s Firefox by approximately 15%, Apple representative believe that their product is almost twice as fast as these leading providers. The release of the browser comes at no better time, as Apple’s upcoming iPhone will utilize the Safari browser as well. Apple hopes that by giving Windows users a brief look at its navigation style, users will grow more inclined to hopefully invest in an iPhone when it is released on June 29.
Apple has already made some its software available to Windows users, including the infamous iTunes and iPod media players. This is no doubt an attempt by the industry to take some of the Microsoft customers and transition them to the Apple style of technology. Many, however, do feel that by giving Microsoft users full access to these software pieces they will actually be less inclined to switch over considering they now have the same advantages as Apple consumers. After all, changing operating systems is a hassle that many non-tech-savvy consumers will want to undertake.
Either way, Apple has definitely gained a larger consumer base over the past couple of years with its recent releases in technology. According to IDC, an Internet research company, the PC market in the United States in 2006 was made up of 4.9% Apple users, which is significantly higher than the 3.5% in 2004. These figures clearly demonstrate that customers are slowly jumping to Apple-based computer products, though it is still too early to tell if the trend will continue.
Unquestionably, it will be hard for Apple to gain a large customer base by simply making available the Safari web browser available to the Microsoft public. With the advanced, convenient navigation capabilities of Mozilla’s Firefox, it is hard to believe that there will be any transition at all. Tabbed browsing and pop-up blocking are among the most notable features of Firefox, and the recent release of Firefox 2 shows that Mozilla is doing whatever it can to continue to climb the ladder (behind Internet Explorer) in the battle of the Internet navigation.
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