I just read an interesting article in CPU Magazine. (http://snipurl.com/5u0un [www_computerpoweruser_com] ). No, really, CPU Mag has had a few interesting articles over time.
This one deals with a previous version of Chrome, this one by Microsoft. It was developed in 1998 but never released as Microsoft appeared concerned about litigation over anti-competitive actions.
I was training at Bell Canada one day, so many years ago. During a conversation with a bunch of people, they mentioned that Bell had become timid. They were afraid to take decisions because of possible repercussions from the CRTC. More anti-competitive litigation threats.
There was once a company called Ashton-Tate. Developers of dBase IV. Windows 3.0 had just launched, and like so many developers, Ashton-Tate missed the trend and failed to develop a Windows database. The started losing money. I was working for Ingram Micro at the time and was invited to a meeting called by Ashton-Tate to discuss their state. They told us about some applications they were working on. More specifically, they were working on a system where they developed a kernel for an integrated Office application. Except, they would also allow others to create plugins to perform tasks to add features. Way ahead of the times. Ashton-Tate was purchased by Borland (developers of Paradox) and the project disappeared.
Microsoft did not release Chrome. Worse, it is buried somewhere in the Microsoft Archives, all but forgotten.
All of this makes me wonder how many great ideas bite the dust because of market conditions?
How many of these ideas disappear?
