Microsoft Throwing Ice Cream Cones at Google?

Thursday, August 28th, 2008 by Andy Beal

Microsoft Throwing Ice Cream Cones at Google?

There’s a classic comedy skit from Eddie Izzard about England getting taken by surprise by the Germans in World War II. He suggests that Germany had a head start on building weapons, and England? Well, I’ll let him explain:

"Get the tanks out! Get the…we haven’t got any tanks? Then get that ice cream van out there! Get it out there! Kill! All right, f*** it. ( mimes making ice cones and throwing them ) F*** off! Everything! Just throw everything at them! Just…that’s not…harder! Orange fruities! And Zooms! Throw the Zooms! F*** off, you b***ards! Pots and pans! Get pots…just throw the pots and pans at them!"

It’s a very niche style of humor.

Why am I a bringing this up? Well, forget any comparison of the battle between Google and Microsoft, with WWII. My point is that Microsoft is throwing whatever it can lay its hands on, at Google. The latest evidence is the upcoming Internet Explorer 8–being built with a few tricks to try and knee-cap Google.

"We didn’t design this with Google in mind," insists Internet Explorer head Dean Hachamovitch.

The new browser comes with a search box in the upper right-hand corner and, just below that, a row of tiny logos for various search destinations, such as Yahoo, Ebay and MySpace. You can select which destinations you want to include here…Another Google-dodging feature in the new browser: Highlighting a street address on a Web page launches a map, with the default set to Microsoft’s Live Maps (though you can change this default to Google Maps).

Will it be enough? Not on its own–especially as Mozilla’s Firefox continues to eat away at IE’s market share. But, if Microsoft can throw enough pots and pans new products at Google, maybe it can at least prevent Google from reaching 100% search share.

What do you think? Will IE8 help Microsoft in its battle with Google?

Social Media Monitoring in Just 60-Seconds. Guaranteed!

Similar Stories in: Search | Forward: Email This Post

Share this post

23 comments on “Microsoft Throwing Ice Cream Cones at Google?”

Utah SEO Pro Says:

August 28th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

Good comparison! I found it humorous. Perhaps WWIII?

Utah SEO Pro’s last blog post..Building an SEO Friendly Site – SES San Jose 2008 Presentation
Suhmayah Says:

August 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

How is IE8 going to help? How many people have downloaded IE7? For the most part most people who have it are people who bought a new windows pc with it built in or the more IT inclined people. Well if were going there, most IT inclined people will be on Firefox. However that’s just my opinion based on what I see in the UK and most of continental Europe.
Nick Stamoulis Says:

August 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Great stuff! Love the comparison
Fred Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 4:16 am

Here we go again. Google and Microsoft. Dad’s Army
Nicole Price Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 6:31 am

Good strategy. Such competition will keep everyone on their toes and all of us lesser mortals will benefit with the choices left to us!

Nicole Price’s last blog post..Some Style Tips: Look Great on a Budget
Games Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 8:02 am

Well that was a humorous comparison between WWII and google vs microsoft. I think that microsoft will not be able to beat google with internet explorer 8. They cannot still beat the search world even if they put a search box on the upper right hand corner of another windows
Jacob Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 10:01 am

I love the new feature for IE8. It is great that we as consumers can finally have control over these sneaky companies that are mining information from us. I do not know if it will increase their search share but cudos to them for orinality.
http://www.rexxsales.com
Gary Pollock Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

Although I believe it will help Microsoft initially I don’t see it as an end solution. More and more users are using Firefox as their default browser[side]. In my line of work I fix peoples computers a lot and step 1 is convincing them to use Firefox from now on. So many people complain about ads, viruses, popups, and more but with Firefox these problems stop almost 99% of the time. My clients are always amazed with Firefox and it’s flexibility and they almost never use IE again.[/side] Back to the point. Like I said some people will still use IE initially but, I firmly believe that Firefox will one day take over the internet browser market. Also, with free alternatives to Microsoft’s market such as using Linux as your OS or using OpenOffice.org instead of MS office I really think MS is in trouble in the near future unless they can come up with new revenue streams.

Gary Pollock’s last blog post..Customers equal links.
Matt Cutts Says:

August 31st, 2008 at 11:45 pm

I’d love to hear/see that Eddie Izzard performance. Any idea where I could find it?

Matt Cutts’s last blog post..My favorite books of 2008 (so far)
Otooo Says:

September 1st, 2008 at 4:04 am

Haha, that performance looks hilarious
I love FireFox – (IE frustrates me)

Otooo’s last blog post..Part 2: Getting Your Link Bait Noticed
Otilia @ Ad Ops Online Says:

September 1st, 2008 at 5:33 am

“Will IE8 help Microsoft in its battle with Google?” – nop, not even if Jerry Seinfeld promotes it!
Games Says:

September 1st, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Jerry Seinfeld.. IE8 cannot help microsoft even if angelina and brad adopts it.
Peter Lockwood Says:

September 1st, 2008 at 5:23 pm

So Microsoft is a Cross-dressing Camp Comedian?

But dont forget it WAS the ice cream cone who came out on top. Can you see a surrender any time soon form the Germans. I mean Google sorry!! Got carried away
Gossip Says:

September 2nd, 2008 at 1:36 am

For me I always feel pity to Microsoft, such a giant years ago but now, google seems to be much stronger.

Gossip’s last blog post..iPhone Girl, She Is The Famous iPhone Girl !
Goran Web Design Says:

September 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 am

When will this Google vs Microsogt end? But then again I don’t mind it because I’m all for Google. It’s about time Microsoft gets some good competition, maybe they’ll stop being so expensive.
Christmas Says:

September 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 am

I thing their struggle will end never!!

Christmas’s last blog post..Christmas Office Party Games
Tiffany Says:

September 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 am

Like dog and cat
Daniel Cooper Says:

September 4th, 2008 at 6:31 am

Is it fair that Google can gain 100% market share but Microsoft get sued for monopotolization of the operating system market?

Daniel Cooper’s last blog post..VELUX Duo Blinds – 2 in 1 – Blackout & Pleated!
horisly Says:

September 6th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

so funny comparison.
i think so that G will beat M.

horisly’s last blog post..August.2008 Sales: Mercedes Benz Down 12 Percent
giydirme Says:

February 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm

ı have followed your writing for a long time.really you have given very successful information.
In spite of my english trouale,I am trying to read and understand your writing.
And ı am following frequently.I hope that you will be with us together with much more scharings.
I hope that your success will go on.
komik oyunlar Says:

February 22nd, 2009 at 12:07 pm

Is it fair that Google can gain 100% market share but Microsoft get sued for monopotolization of the operating system market
Margret Shellhammer Says:

February 27th, 2009 at 8:57 pm

I don’t think that any amount of apps will help microsoft in this department!!!

Margret Shellhammer’s last blog post..Reborn Babies for Sale
sarah harper Says:

February 27th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

komik has an interesting point.

sarah harper’s last blog post..Caracol Cream Reviews

Marketing Pilgrim