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"If you thought you'd be happily browsing the web in either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox on that Windows 8 tablet you're planning on buying, think again. According to Mozilla, Microsoft is planning to restrict the capabilities of third-party browsers on the tablet version of Windows 8, called Windows RT.\nIn a blog post, Mozilla expresses great concern over the possibility that Microsoft might restrict browsers other than Internet Explorer from working as a full-featured browser on a Windows tablet. While a third-party browser such as Firefox would still run in the touch-friendly Metro environment, it wouldn't have access to the Windows \"classic\" desktop. Consequently, the browser would be cut off from the \"speed, stability and security\" of a modern web browser, Mozilla says.\nGoogle echoed Mozilla's worries in a statement.\n\u201CWe  share the concerns Mozilla has raised regarding the Windows 8 environment restricting user choice and innovation,\" Google said. \"We\u2019ve always welcomed innovation in the browser space across all platforms and strongly believe that having great competitors makes us all work harder.\"\nAnswering a query from Mashable, a Microsoft spokesperson directed us to the company's official blog post about Windows on ARM (since renamed Windows RT), which has a lot of information about Internet Explorer but does not mention third-party browsers at all. The spokesperson wouldn't say whether or not the final build of the software would restrict the capabilities of third-party browsers.\n\nSEE ALSO: Ex-Microsoft Employee Launches \u2018Fixing Windows 8\u2032 Site\nFor the desktop version of Windows 8, full-featured browsers from third parties will be supported, and both Mozilla and Google have publicly said they're working on versions of Firefox and Chrome that will be designed for Metro.\nIf Microsoft does end up restricting third-party browsers on Windows 8 tablets, they would be in good company. Apple does not allow any other browser than Safari to run on iOS devices \u2014 the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Although other browser apps such as Opera and Atomic exist, they are all essentially skins for mobile Safari, or are simple clients that use cloud computing to do all the \"heavy lifting\" of web browsing (see update below).\nAndroid is much more open. Many third-party browsers (including Firefox) are available for Android phones and tablets, but with many different versions of Android running on different devices, their performance and capabilities can vary widely.\nWhat's your take? Should Microsoft open up Windows tablets to other browsers, or is it simply following standard practices, established by Apple? Let us know in the comments.\nUpdate: Shortly after publication, Opera offered this statement: \"Most alternative browsers on the iPhone are indeed skins of Safari. Opera Mini actually isn't. Opera Mini only has a lightweight client on the device. All the processing is done in the cloud. We use our rendering engine, but it doesn't reside on the device.\" We have amended the story to reflect Opera's statement.\nImage courtesy of iStockphoto, largeformat4x5\nBONUS: A Tour of Windows 8\n\n\nWindows 8 Consumer Preview: The Good and the Bad\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStart Menu\nHere's what greets you every time you log into your Windows 8 machine. Yes, the tiles are customizable, though it's a little unwieldy in practice.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSharing in Metro\nSharing is arguably Metro's most powerful feature. Although the sharing option is only populated with Mail right now, once Windows 8 apps get going, you'll see options here like Facebook, Twitter and all the rest -- in every app.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFinance Metro App\nMany apps, like the native Finance app, look beautiful in Metro.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTraditional Desktop\nYou can still get back to the familiar desktop anytime you want in Windows 8. Note the absence of a Start button, which you get to by mousing into the lower-left corner.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBing Maps\nBing Maps, like all Metro apps, makes use of the entire screen. Right-clicking brings up options.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMultitasking Menu\nYou can see which apps are running by pointing your mouse to one of the left corners and then moving it alongside. Right-clicking an app lets you stop it.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAction Menu\nThe side action menu slides out via the side and is the same no matter what app you're in.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBuggy Email\nThe consumer preview of Windows 8 still has lots of bugs in it, as evidenced by this screen shot of the email app.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInternet Explorer Tabs\nSince the entire screen in Internet Explorer is dedicated to showing you the web page, right-clicking twice shows you the tabs that are open.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMessaging\nMessaging ties with your People app, bringing in contacts on Windows Messenger or Facebook.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlickr Integration\nThe Windows 8 Photo app has built-in integration with Flickr, but it wasn't working on our device.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSkyDrive\nYour 25GB of free SkyDrive space is easily accessible via a live tile, and it integrates with the Photos app, letting you avoid sending large email attachments by uploading pics to SkyDrive.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWeather App\nThe Weather app also looks beautiful in Metro.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPC Settings\nThrough settings, you can make changes to your Windows profile, which will show up -- apps and all -- on any Windows 8 machine you log into.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlash Player Download\nYep, you still need to download Flash to get your browsers to play many videos, like those on YouTube.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdding Apps to Start Menu\nYou can customize your Start menu with specific apps, even if they're desktop-only apps like the browsers seen here.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVideo Hub\nThe video hub doesn't just show video files -- it also promotes content as well. Whether that's a plus or a minus is up to you.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSolitaire\nSolitaire was available on our Consumer Preview device via Xbox Live, though Microsoft said it couldn't guarantee it would be in the general release.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWindows 8 With a Mouse and Keyboard\nMicrosoft designed Windows 8 to be comfortable to use either by touch or with a mouse and keyboard. We found some functions counterintuitive, but it's still a powerful interface.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/05/10/firefox-chrome-windows8/>