The quest to free the browser from plugins that can impede performance took another step forward on Thursday when Mozilla activated by default Web Real-Time Communication in its latest Firefox Beta.

WebRTC, as its known, is the HTML5 standard for streaming files, video, and audio on the Web. Mozilla activated getUserMedia in Firefox in April, which WebRTC uses to access the webcam and microphone. Now, PeerConnection and DataChannels in have been turned on in Firefox 22 Beta, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

PeerConnection lets the browser to set up real-time video and audio calls, while DataChannels enables peer-to-peer data sharing during a call. That data can be just about anything, including text, video files, and HTML pages, and it can be shared using standard drag-and-drop techniques. Mozilla noted in its blog post about WebRTC in Firefox that DataChannels can be used by gaming apps to reduce latency during peer-to-peer connections.

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Opera Software and Trond Werner Hansen have settled a lawsuit against that alleged the former employee spilled trade secrets to rival browser maker Mozilla.

Werner on Thursday told CNET said the suit was settled, but said he couldn't share details.

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"But I'm very happy it's over and look forward to being able to focus on my music and other projects again," he said.

Opera said it was happy, too. "I can confirm that the case against Trond Werner Hansen has been dropped by Opera by reaching an agreement which has been satisfactory to both parties," spokeswoman Falguni Bhuta said.

In the suit, filed in 2012, alleged that Hansen took secrets to Mozilla. "Opera is of the opinion that the former employee has acted contrary to his contractual and other legal obligations towards Opera. Among other things, we claim that he is in breach of the duty of loyalty and his contractual and statutory confidentiality obligations," said Ole E. Tokvam, a lawyer with Bing H... [Read more]

Google and Microsoft are in the middle of a scuffle over the updated YouTube app in Windows Phone, but the software giant is apparently willing to compromise.

Earlier this week, Google sent a cease-and-desist letter to Microsoft, saying that it must remove the YouTube application from the Windows Phone marketplace. That app, which Microsoft updated to make it look like those on other mobile platforms, was criticized by Google for allegedly violating its terms of service. The company specifically took aim at Microsoft over the application's lack of ad support.

In a statement to CNET sister site ZDNet on Wednesday, Microsoft said the kerfuffle can be addressed very quickly. The company said that it's "more than happy to include advertising" -- a Google demand -- but in order to do so, Google must provide "access to the necessary APIs."

"In light of Larry Page's comments today [at Google I/O] calling for more interoperability and less negativity, we look forward to solving this matter together for our mutual customers," Microsoft said in the statement referring to Google's CEO.

Google has not yet responded.

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