They are traditional rivals when it comes to software and hardware but some of the biggest tech companies are coming together to make user experience better. Apple, Google, Microsoft and others are coming together to improve internet browsing, according to a report by Cnet.
The report states that teams working at Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox will work together to improve extensions in their browsers. Extensions are the add-ons in top browsers which can be downloaded to improve the overall user experience. The companies announced they are coming together at the World Wide Web Consortium, as per the report.
Why have the tech companies come together?
The companies have created an online forum — WebExtensions Community Group — to give engineers a platform to build unified and secure extensions.
“With multiple browsers adopting a broadly compatible model for extensions in the last few years, the WECG is excited to explore how browser vendors and other interested parties can work together to advance a common browser extension platform,” noted the community group between the four companies.
Extensions can be downloaded from the various individual stores available on browsers. And this is something that will not change despite having a ‘common’ goal. All browsers will continue to operate their extension store fully independently, with their own technical, review, and editorial policies.
What’s the idea behind working together?
One of the key reasons that the companies will work together is to make extension creation easier for developers. There will be a specified consistent model and common core of functionality, APIs, and permissions. Further, the companies plan to make the browsing experience through extensions safer. The browser teams at these four companies will outline an architecture that enhances performance and is even more secure and resistant to abuse.
As of now, there’s no timeline as to when we will see the combined efforts reach the users. The community group has also said that they are extending their welcome to all other browsers and developers to come and work on this together.Apple, Google, Microsoft coming together to make browsing the internet ‘better’
They are traditional rivals when it comes to software and hardware but some of the biggest tech companies are coming together to make user experience better. Apple, Google, Microsoft and others are coming together to improve internet browsing, according to a report by Cnet.
The report states that teams working at Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox will work together to improve extensions in their browsers. Extensions are the add-ons in top browsers which can be downloaded to improve the overall user experience. The companies announced they are coming together at the World Wide Web Consortium, as per the report.
Why have the tech companies come together?
The companies have created an online forum — WebExtensions Community Group — to give engineers a platform to build unified and secure extensions.
“With multiple browsers adopting a broadly compatible model for extensions in the last few years, the WECG is excited to explore how browser vendors and other interested parties can work together to advance a common browser extension platform,” noted the community group between the four companies.
Extensions can be downloaded from the various individual stores available on browsers. And this is something that will not change despite having a ‘common’ goal. All browsers will continue to operate their extension store fully independently, with their own technical, review, and editorial policies.
What’s the idea behind working together?
One of the key reasons that the companies will work together is to make extension creation easier for developers. There will be a specified consistent model and common core of functionality, APIs, and permissions. Further, the companies plan to make the browsing experience through extensions safer. The browser teams at these four companies will outline an architecture that enhances performance and is even more secure and resistant to abuse.
As of now, there’s no timeline as to when we will see the combined efforts reach the users. The community group has also said that they are extending their welcome to all other browsers and developers to come and work on this together.
