Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 27, 2010 1:43 UTC (Wed) by cowsandmilk (guest, #55475)
Parent article: Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

This presents an interesting dynamic between upstream and distributors.

Assuming that sticking with Google made money for Mozilla from their deal, Canonical is essentially
removing a portion from the Mozilla stream to have their own stream instead.

It isn't like this dynamic is necessarily new though. On FLOSS Weekly, the author of Ardour
discusses the dynamic where an open source package through a distribution never gets the chance
to ask people for donations. With specialized software that is replacing closed source software that
would cost hundreds of dollars, the authors would like every user to be given at least a reminder of
the possibility to donate to the software they use. In this case, the distribution might not be
making money (although it could be attracting users and corporate clients and support contracts)
by making it easy to install, but the upstream authors are likely making much less from donations.

Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 27, 2010 2:42 UTC (Wed) by denials (subscriber, #3413) [Link] (4 responses)

I tried suggesting to Jono Bacon (admittedly feebly, through identi.ca) that
to partially address the donation (or lack thereof) problem brought up by the
Ardour developer, Ubuntu's at-that-time-still-being-designed Software Centre
should include links to the home pages of the project behind each package. Of
course, other application installer interfaces like Synaptic, etc, could
consider doing this too.

It would be a small thing to do, but would at the very least provide
recognition for the team behind each application, drive some traffic to the
associated projects, and perhaps provide a small donation stream to sustain
the project.

Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 27, 2010 3:38 UTC (Wed) by andrewsomething (guest, #53527) [Link] (3 responses)

Software Center already includes links to the project homepage as long as
there is a "Homepage:" field in debian/control.

Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 27, 2010 4:13 UTC (Wed) by denials (subscriber, #3413) [Link] (2 responses)

Oh hey! How about that - a nice "Website" button right beside the "Install"
button. Cool, kudos to the Ubuntu devs for that - and thanks for pointing it
out to me.

Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 27, 2010 8:53 UTC (Wed) by dgm (subscriber, #49227) [Link] (1 responses)

The fact that it needed to be pointed out may mean that it's not accomplishing what it was meant to, isn't it?

Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 31, 2010 21:44 UTC (Sun) by denials (subscriber, #3413) [Link]

Heh - in this case it just means that I use aptitude to install software, rather than the Software Centre.

Ubuntu changes to Yahoo as default search provider

Posted Jan 27, 2010 3:51 UTC (Wed) by pabs (subscriber, #43278) [Link]

According to the comments on a blog post about this, it seems it was done with Mozilla's blessing:

http://popey.com/blog/2010/01/26/yahoobuntu/#comment-1905

Perhaps they are getting a cut too.