Microsoft Drops Internet Explorer for Mac

Ian Fried reports in zdnet.com that Microsoft has announced it will stop future development of its Internet Explorer browser for the Macintosh. The reasons given are that Apple's new Safari browser better serves Mac customers and Microsoft doesn't have access to the Mac operating system which it would need to effectively compete. It should be noted that Safari v1.0 is not yet on the market.

Windows users can expect a change also. Microsoft has stated it will no longer develop standalone versions of IE. Updates to the browser will be incorporated into future versions of the Windows operating system.

I should mention that I've watched these two companies over the years and they sometimes seem to be playing poker. Microsoft turns over a card and waits for Apple to turn one. Back and forth, over and over, and one can never be precisely sure how things will end up.

The article also states that Internet Explorer owns 95% of the browser market so it would be logical to assume that just about all computer users will have at least a passing interest in how these developments play out.