Most Popular
| Top Stories | Commented | Featured |
Tech Tip of the Week: Customize Your Windows 7 Start Menu Button featured
Free-to-play Need for Speed MMO hits open beta
Xbox 360 slim model in the works?
EVGA Classified SR-2 fits twin six-core Xeon processors
Intel's Core i7-980X EE shows up in a slew of gaming rigs
Catalyst 10.3 previewed, full release coming next week
TechSpot RSS |
Software
IE8 to be the last IE-engine based Microsoft browser?
Could IE8 be the end of the line for the most popular (though declining) browser in the world? There have been rumors floating that indicate Microsoft may be making such a move, potentially switching development to a browser built off an entirely different engine. Whether based off the alpha “Gazelle” browser Microsoft has already introduced or the growing WebKit platform, there seem to be a lot of signs pointing towards IE8 being the last Internet Explorer to appear.
Some will certainly cheer such a change but others may dread it. There is a massive base of IE-only applications that exist around the world, from banking interfaces to media players to numerous pieces of software, all which bet on people most likely using (or willing to use) IE. For all of those, IE8 being the end means that inevitably they would need to move away from ActiveX and all other IE-backwards-compatible components. There's also the embedded application factor, where many programs use IE's engine to render content or perform other functions. It's a big change, and one that indicates Microsoft may be re-thinking their browser strategy altogether.
Of course, this is just speculation. There's a lot of good reasoning behind it, and Microsoft could potentially benefit greatly in doing so, but by the same token seek to lose a lot too. Part of their browser dominance originally focused around support for proprietary protocols and APIs, which gave them overwhelming advantages in many situations. If the software giant does ditch IE-based browsers, it'll represent a fundamental change in how many view the browser market. What's your take: should Microsoft dump IE in favor of something new?
Some will certainly cheer such a change but others may dread it. There is a massive base of IE-only applications that exist around the world, from banking interfaces to media players to numerous pieces of software, all which bet on people most likely using (or willing to use) IE. For all of those, IE8 being the end means that inevitably they would need to move away from ActiveX and all other IE-backwards-compatible components. There's also the embedded application factor, where many programs use IE's engine to render content or perform other functions. It's a big change, and one that indicates Microsoft may be re-thinking their browser strategy altogether.
Of course, this is just speculation. There's a lot of good reasoning behind it, and Microsoft could potentially benefit greatly in doing so, but by the same token seek to lose a lot too. Part of their browser dominance originally focused around support for proprietary protocols and APIs, which gave them overwhelming advantages in many situations. If the software giant does ditch IE-based browsers, it'll represent a fundamental change in how many view the browser market. What's your take: should Microsoft dump IE in favor of something new?
User Comments (11)
Post a comment| DarkCobra on March 10, 2009 10:19 PM | Well I think a lot of people will welcome the change in
platform to something fresh and exciting. Yes, there is
risk but this is one of the largest companies on the planet
and if you don't take risks you'll eventually be doomed to
perish. Yes, the issue of compatibility will be a
challenge but again you have to try.
|
| stingray57 on March 10, 2009 10:33 PM | Considering that Internet Explorer 8 is the only browser
that has to have a 'web standard' or 'normal' rendering
option because it's SO eff'd up and for so many years has
been the source of many web developers
nightmares. Microsoft has been cranking on Internet Explorer for so long. They are going to release a new version of their browser.. a NEW version... and it's still behind on technology- still a memory hog and although they have decided to open up on plugins - it's no where near the popularity of other free browsers. I think the death of Internet Explorer is well deserved- and over due. Open source efforts for web browsers have presented themselves in a much better light, they seem to care, more frequent updates, the code is flexible and no one has to wonder if Microsoft is watching over your shoulder every 2 seconds; yeah everyone seems to like that... Oh and they comply to W3C web browser standards. Balmer can scream all he wants, but Internet Explorer is on it's way out.. Nothings gonna stop that. Regards, Stingray57
|
| skitzo_zac on March 11, 2009 12:05 AM | Meh, Opera FTW.
|
| nazartp on March 11, 2009 8:09 AM | Long overdue. A funny observation, though - was talking to
my co-worker yesterday who I helped to set up the wireless
router. She was saying that she has some issues with IE. I
told her to use Firefox - I got a blank stare, i.e., "what
is it?" type. So I go on a rant about Mozilla being a
better and safer browser and she just plain refuses to try
it. My take on it: a lot of people will not even notice if
IE as it is dies. As long as interface stays the same, they
will keep using the thing. Even funnier, she got Safari
installed (pushed to her with iTunes) and she absolutely
hates it. Brings me to another point: open source browsers need to put more effort in educating the end customers. Familiarity with the product plays too much of a role with people.
|
| sngx1275 on March 11, 2009 8:51 AM | What version of Safari? 3 is pretty ugly, 4 beta is fast
and actually looks like a Windows app.
|
| x darthmonkey x on March 11, 2009 9:09 AM | If it came bundled with iTunes, I'd assume it's 3.
|
| nazartp on March 11, 2009 9:33 AM | Originally posted by sngx1275: What
version of Safari? 3 is pretty ugly, 4 beta is fast and
actually looks like a Windows app. Presume v.3. Beta
doesn't come with iTunes.
|
| DarkCobra on March 11, 2009 12:38 PM | I've run into exactly what "nazartp" said! Whenever I
troubleshoot a friends computer or build a web site for
them, I strongly recommend they use FireFox. I get the
same look of "Huh?". I then have to give them the same
explanation that you are not stuck with using IE and that
other browsers are out there, all free and in varying
degrees quite a bit better! The public just isn't
aware. I think MS has a tremendous advantage and some say it's unfair and it may be. However, they've got a unique chance now to come up with a totally new fresh platform. They've got a lot of bright people up there and if they just relax their stubborn corporate mindset and allow those people the freedom, they can produce something much better. If they don't, FireFox and others are on the verge of cleaning their clock as more and more people are leaving IE. It's slow but it's growing!
|
| maestromasada on March 11, 2009 1:53 PM | OK, let me put my little comment here. I'm a Microsoft guy,
mcse and all that, and I love all the MS products like
office, server 2003 and such, no need for programming at
all, just connect it and eventually it will
work. Anyway, what I want to say is the silly test that I did one day. At the same time I open IE7 and Firefox3 with the same page and left it like that for a few days. When I went back to the computer to check, the Mem usage and the VM Size of IE7 was huge, while Firefox3 didn't cache that much memory atall IE7 and relatives are gotta go
|
| yukka on March 11, 2009 5:14 PM | If they call it internet explorer 9 and it uses a different
engine but looks anything like ie8 your average end user
wont notice. For developers its a different situation and legacy applications will be a problem. IE8 will get security updates for a while and will need to be available side by side with the new browser at first unless they have the best compatability mode ever made in "ie9".
|
| jolt on March 12, 2009 11:04 AM | It will be tough to offer a product which has had such a
lasting affect on the web. IE, still accounts for over 70%
of browser usage:
[url]http://www.statowl.com/web_browser_market_share.php[/ur
l] The backwards compatibility challenge will be formidable. I wish them luck! Competition is good for all of us.
|
