4 ms·

This is disgusting behavior from what could be considered the first "app store". What a shame.

by asadotzler 15y ago

marshray 15y ago
And to think that Microsoft is paying them for it. O how the mighty have fallen.
- taylorbuley 15y ago
  Worth noting that CNet is under new owners (CBS Interactive).
  - peterwwillis 15y ago
    Worth noting that if enough bad PR gets into the lamestream media about this it could be a death knell. CBSi doesn't exactly monetize well, and CNet has always bled money.
- rplnt 15y ago
  It's not (most likely) the case of Microsoft going to them. Microsoft (as well as google) just pays for customers that you bring to their search. Many products make living out of it. Now, CNet just wanted to make more money. It's a shady practice to do it this way, but Microsoft shouldn't be the one to blame.
  - marshray 15y ago
    I'm not buying this idea that Microsoft doesn't know what's going on. For CNet to make money on the deal, Microsoft would need a way to attribute the increased traffic to CNet. If Microsoft is paying them significant sums and yet remaining willfully ignorant of the means, then Microsoft is no better than your bottom feeding pay-per-install malware services. The fact that we're even discussing Microsoft's reputation in this way is what led me to say "O how the mighty have fallen." It's quite sad IMHO.
    - rplnt 15y ago
      The toolbar installation is optional. It might not be nice but I don't see why it should be forbidden from Microsoft's side as that's the point behind these partnership after all (same with Google). Every other product asks you to install their toolbar. The product in this case is downloader and most importantly CNet's traffic.
      - marshray 15y ago
        Hmm. I wonder if we'd find any of Microsoft's installers being wrapped in such a manner.
mahmud 15y ago
First "app store"? Hello, Simtel? Tucows? and before them countless BBSes?
- astrodust 15y ago
  How about Stroud's? It's even still sort of up: http://cws.internet.com/ http://cws.internet.com/

This is disgusting behavior from what could be considered the first "app store". What a shame.

marshray 15y ago

And to think that Microsoft is paying them for it. O how the mighty have fallen.

taylorbuley 15y ago
Worth noting that CNet is under new owners (CBS Interactive).
- peterwwillis 15y ago
  Worth noting that if enough bad PR gets into the lamestream media about this it could be a death knell. CBSi doesn't exactly monetize well, and CNet has always bled money.
rplnt 15y ago
It's not (most likely) the case of Microsoft going to them. Microsoft (as well as google) just pays for customers that you bring to their search. Many products make living out of it. Now, CNet just wanted to make more money. It's a shady practice to do it this way, but Microsoft shouldn't be the one to blame.
- marshray 15y ago
  I'm not buying this idea that Microsoft doesn't know what's going on. For CNet to make money on the deal, Microsoft would need a way to attribute the increased traffic to CNet. If Microsoft is paying them significant sums and yet remaining willfully ignorant of the means, then Microsoft is no better than your bottom feeding pay-per-install malware services. The fact that we're even discussing Microsoft's reputation in this way is what led me to say "O how the mighty have fallen." It's quite sad IMHO.
  - rplnt 15y ago
    The toolbar installation is optional. It might not be nice but I don't see why it should be forbidden from Microsoft's side as that's the point behind these partnership after all (same with Google). Every other product asks you to install their toolbar. The product in this case is downloader and most importantly CNet's traffic.
    - marshray 15y ago
      Hmm. I wonder if we'd find any of Microsoft's installers being wrapped in such a manner.

mahmud 15y ago

First "app store"? Hello, Simtel? Tucows? and before them countless BBSes?

astrodust 15y ago
How about Stroud's? It's even still sort of up: http://cws.internet.com/ http://cws.internet.com/