"Yahoo + Firefox" -- this was found yesterday, freshly carved on a tree trunk in Sunnyvale, California. Years ago, similar marks were found on a tree in nearby Mountain View, but those read "Google + Firefox." Unfortunately, that tree has been dying a slow death -- lingering on for nearly a decade now -- infected by something. The words scratched into the Mountain View tree have also faded as the years progressed, now almost invisible.
In IT Blogwatch, bloggers seek partnerships elsewhere.
Filling in for our humble blogwatcher Richi Jennings, is a humbler Stephen Glasskeys.
Zach Miners opens Firefox's "Show All History" window:
Mozilla has picked Yahoo to be the default search engine for its Firefox browser in the U.S., deposing Google in a new five-year partnership announced on Wednesday.
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Mozilla said it was making the change to promote "innovation and competition." MORE
Will Oremus then opens a fresh, new, Yahoo search page:
Google, whose pre-eminence...is well-established, will probably not lose much sleep over Yahoo's re-emergence in the search game.
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That said, this is one of the most substantive moves that Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has made yet and it's good news for anyone who fears that Google is gradually taking over the Web. MORE
Stephen Shankland spreads butter on Firefox's goat before Google gets it:
With millions of users who perform about 100 billion searches a year, Firefox is a major source of...traffic that's Google's bread and butter.
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Google now has Chrome...and it doesn't...share search-ad revenue from that browser with anybody but itself. Yahoo, meanwhile, has ambitions to reclaim its former prominence in Web search. MORE
But fire-foxy Craig Beard explores new partnership options:
Google has been the Firefox global search default since 2004. Our agreement came up for renewal this year, and we took [this opportunity] to...explore our options.
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In evaluating our search partnerships, our primary consideration was to ensure our strategy aligned with our values of choice and independence, and positions us...in ways that best serve our users and the Web. MORE
Knowing this, Her Mayerness says "One is thrilled.":
Today, I'm thrilled to announce that we've entered into a five-year partnership with Mozilla to make Yahoo the default search experience on Firefox across mobile and desktop.
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This partnership helps to expand our reach in search and gives us an opportunity to work...with Mozilla to find ways to innovate in search...and digital content. MORE
So Chance Miller gossips -- insinuating Firefox and Mayer hooked-up long ago:
It's important to note that current Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer was once Google's Vice President of Search Products and User Experience. There's a strong likelihood that Mayer was in charge of the relationship between Google and Mozilla while working for [Google]. In that case, when it came time for Mozilla negotiate a new deal with a search engine, it first reached out to its long-time partner Mayer. MORE
Meanwhile, Dan Gillmor finds a bundle of joy:
Excellent: Yahoo will honor "do not track" in Firefox browsers as part of bundle deal. MORE
You have been reading IT Blogwatch by Richi Jennings and Stephen Glasskeys, who curate the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites…so you don't have to. Catch the key commentary from around the Web every morning. Hatemail may be directed to @RiCHi or itbw@richi.uk. Opinions expressed may not represent those of Computerworld. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. E&OE.