According to the latest browser statistics, Internet Explorer 6 is now the least popular IE version used to surf the Web. As you can probably imagine, this is an event of enormous proportions for the Web, particularly for Web Designers, who can now deliver enhanced online experiences with less concern for users with outdated software.
Browser tracking data from Net Applications Market Share Report.
I thought it would be fun to show you the latest round of Microsoft ads, this time designed to pimp out the most recent version of Internet Explorer (dubbed 8, by the way) to the masses.
Some of these are funny and well done, while others… not so much. However, considering these are currently Internet only, I kind of see the market segment they’re targeting. Microsoft obviously hopes these will become viral and spread like funny kittens. A Microsoft product being viral… isn’t that ironic?
Electronista reported today that Microsoft is thinking about developing a sibling of Internet Explorer based on open-source technologies, namely Webkit. This platform was popularized by Apple, with its Safari browser, and more recently by Google‘s new browser effort, the Chrome.
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO said ”Apple has embraced Webkit and we may look at that, but we will continue to build extensions for IE 8″, which, in my opinion, translates to “we may launch an open-source Internet Explorer, but only to lure in more users to our proprietary platform”.
Regardless of the truth of this rumor, as a Web Designer I’m sure I’d love to see Trident (Internet Explorer’s proprietary rendering engine) banished to the deep fires of hell.
Over my years as a web developer I’ve steadily developed a strong, flaming hatred for Microsoft’s famed IE6. And I know I’m not alone. Why, you ask? (…) more after the jump ›
