Why is it my browser? Well, because it has been so good to me over time... that's why. Way back when beige box towers were the 'it' thing and laptops were not as prolific as they are now (let's say that's around 1998 or so), I had a problem. I had a 386 laptop (monochrome) and I wanted to get to the internet on my external 36.6K modem. Because the laptop had only 1 serial port I had a choice... mouse or modem. So, I chose modem and tried to get online, and did, but surfing was hell. Using netscape or IE3 was a pain, I couldn't get to some things because I was not able to click on them (think I forgot to mention it also lacked a nub or touch pad). So long story short, I look for a solution to my internet navigation issues and find that Opera, a browser I never heard of, was able to help me with all my navigation woes. I have used it ever since, and loved it. I cannot believe that it has not gained in popularity because it has so much more to offer than the other browsers... maybe because it offers too much?
Anyway, back to the point of this post, I had an instant pang of disappointment when I heard the rumours. I thought to myself "There Facebook goes again, ruining something perfectly good, just like Instagram". Now that I have had some time to digest it... it will have some good things, but will also have some bad, as everything does. So here is what I am thinking:
Good:
- Opera will get a lot more marketshare a lot faster: Facebook has a huge audience... if they promote "their browser" and if they bake in features that only it could have with some super secret special API, many people would try it and or just use it because it is easier and also since the spend most of their online time there.
- Opera will advance by leaps and bounds (maybe?): Opera's problem from the start is that it isn't a big company. It doesn't have the resources to dump into their browser like Google and Microsoft do. As I recall, it was the last significant paid browser hold out and it didn't seem that they were too happy to move from that model until the advertising revenue started to pour in. But despite the fact that they don't have as many resources, they have absolutely killed it with the functionality of this browser. I personally think that most of the 'cool' features that the other browsers have were lifted from Opera. With facebook behind it, it could accelerate the development and turn it into something very unique.
Bad:
- Facebook Integration: I use Facebook, I don't have a problem with it really... most of the time. But if they have their own browser, would you have to 'log in' to use it? That will probably be unlikely unless they really want to dig into what you do on Facebook and also outside of it, could really help with targetting ads. At the very least, they would have any problem getting cooking information.
- Trust: I don't think Facebook comes to mind when people think of trusting a tech company, even Google is starting to have the Facebook problem in light of the problems that it has had over time. But clearly non of us has forgiven Facebook for all of the tests they opt us in to, mistakes that they have made over time and I am fairly certain that everyone is pretty certain that they are being tracked in some fashion by them. So if I have an Opera that will be baking in Facebook features, how far can I trust it? Or maybe the better question is how can we trust anyone? To me it seems that the browser seems to be one of the key methods of obtaining information about us and what we do, so I am certain that Facebook would use this for all this is worth, much like google is currently doing with Chrome.
But Opera isn't really the big story here is it? The big story is that Facebook is buying a browser and what that implies.
I guess I would consider myself silly to think that Facebook is just a website or an application on a smart phone, because it is apparent that's not what Facebook wants to be. Especially when the IPO for Facebook now brings regular investors into the mix they are going to have more control on the direction of the company. I am not sure what Zuck wants to do, but to me it is clear right now that Facebook is getting ready to take on Google.
It is kind of hard to say exactly how they intend to do that, but if they are buying a browser, then they see value in what Google is doing with Chrome. They certainly do think that Google has something with Android as well as they are on their 3rd try to make a Facebook phone, I wonder if it would run on Android? Maybe the Google mantra of just giving stuff away as long as people are using a Google product in some way shape or form. Also, look at what a behemoth Google is and that is just based on their ad revenue! All Facebook needs to do is to replicate what Google has done up to this point and then exceed what they are doing. I think have have seen somewhere online that they are mentioning something about a Facebook search engine and it wouldn't surprise me if there ended up being one.
So I won't be surprised that if the acquisition of Opera (now that they have the IPO money) is the first of many steps to make Facebook more like Google. I wouldn't be surprised if they go on an acquisition rampage.
