QuickTime problem caused by Apple mistakes, not Microsoft

It's Rob Glaser all over again. In what can only be described as a publicrelations coup for Microsoft, a variety of third parties have discoveredthat the problem with Apple's QuickTime software is due to coding mistakesmade by programmers at Apple Computer, not because of any code in Windowsthat hampers QuickTime. Apple executive Avie Tevanian claimed last weekthat Microsoft was deliberately "sabotaging" QuickTime. It appears now thatthe real problem is in Cupertino, not Redmond.

"Apple's willingness to claim 'sabotage' without basis in fact is very disappointing," said Tod Nielsen, General Manager of Microsoft's DeveloperRelations Group. "At Microsoft, we are absolutely committed to making surethat all software developers have the tools and support they need to ensurethat their applications run well on the Windows platform. Apple's shoot-from-the-hip allegations and their decision to blame their own development mistakes on Microsoft in a court of law is not only wrong, butis harmful to the entire software industry, and more importantly it's harmful to our mutual customers."

In other words, the heavy weight of Microsoft Office once again swings likea guillotine over Apple Computer.

According to Microsoft, and a company called MindCraft that was hired toverify the testing, Apple's developers ignored specific directions providedby Netscape (of all people) to developers about how to write and install abrowser "plug-in," a program that adds functionality to a Web browser.

"Apple's development errors and their decision not to follow Netscape's development instructions are causing the interoperability problems Apple now claims are the fault of the Windows platform," Microsoft wrote in a press release.

Microsoft has created a fix for QuickTime that is now available from theMicrosoft Web site.

"Though it is clearly not Microsoft's responsibility to provide fixes toanother vendor's product, we decided to offer the fix to customers becausewe feel they should not pay the price for Apple's programming mistakes,groundless allegations and courtroom antics," Nielsen said. "Hopefully,Apple will also make a fix available for their customers, as well as correctthe mistake in the next version of QuickTime."

Ouch