In what has to be a very ironic turn of events Microsoft is actually accusing another company of interfering with consumer choice and free competition.

It seems that Adobe is bad mouthing Silverlight 2 and claiming that AIR, Along with Adobe Media Player, Tweetdeck and Twhirl are much more popular.

The problem is that the download numbers Adobe are pointing to are from bundled downloads (are you listening Mitchell Baker). Adobe has been pushing AIR and other applications on anyone downloading Acrobat Reader. Unsuspecting downloaders have AIR and AMP forced on them with no method to opt out of the installation. This does sort of make for skewed numbers as I am not sure how many people would actively download those products on their own.

Microsoft for their part is still pushing Silverlight 2 and claim over 100 Million downloads of the new media format. (of course you are asked to download it every time you hit an MS site)

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