rotas»sator

Microsoft has announced that that it intends to release a new version of its Internet Explorer browser, with a beta version being released mid-2005 (”this summer” for Northern Hemisphere punters).

This goes directly against its long-stated policy that it would not release a new browser version until the release of its new flagship operating system, codenamed “Longhorn” (due sometime next year…). Microsoft have their strategy firmly in mind by confirming that IE7 will only run on Windows XP with Service Pack 2.

The tyranny of the pen

Reaction to the announcement has been interesting. There are certain people, such as CNET’s Molly Wood, who are full of praise for Microsoft’s move and already gleefully predicting the demise of alternate browsers such as Firefox.

For a moment there, it looked like the tyrant IE could actually be overthrown. Those were heady days, weren’t they? Well, they’re over now. Papa Bill just dropped the hammer… It was bad when Microsoft seemed to ignore Firefox, treating it like a harmless upstart not worthy of comment or attack. But now that the sleeping giant has awakened, I think the buzzing gnat of the browser wars is about to be squashed flat. IE7: so much for Firefox — Molly Wood

Ahem. “Dropped the hammer”? Mmmm hmmm. For some reason many people seem to have an unhealthy emotional attachment to Internet Explorer. Others simply don’t know about its flaws or even that there are alternatives.

What’s wrong with the current version?

Fact is, Microsoft is hurting. When Internet Explorer 6 was released, it was generally seen as fast, full-featured and a fairly good browser option. Now terminally ill, suffering years of neglect and under attack from malware, IE6 has become a nightmare that provides a front door for thieves and bandits. While Windows XP Service Pack 2 substantially improved Internet Explorer’s safety, it’s still far from immune from attack. With the release of IE7, Microsoft has a prime opportunity to redeem itself in regards to security on the internet.

There are also other areas where IE is less than perfect. Probably the most complaining has come from web authors, who have long bemoaned the buggy, non-standard way that IE displays web pages. Other browsers do a far better job of displaying pages the way they are supposed to appear. A better implementation of web standards in IE7 would go a long way towards easing the web authoring community’s disdain of Internet Explorer.

Heady days

As for me, I see this as something positive. If the new IE7 turns out to be a significant security improvement, Microsoft has the money to really push it in the press in order to improve its ailing reputation. This should result in widespread adoption of the new browser and hopefully result in better browsers all round. I don’t see it totally crushing the smaller browsers, as they have developed loyal followers of their own and will continue to build better software.

The success of Windows XP Service Pack 2 makes me hope that IE7 will be significantly better than IE6. It can never meet all expectations or please everyone (there are too many Microsoft-haters out there…) but I for one still hold some hope for improvement.

Keep your appendages crossed.

Blessings, Steve

P.S. With Microsoft’s reputation of being late for deadlines, I wouldn’t expect to see IE7 in the wild until late 2005 or even early 2006.

[Listening to Jungle Funk, Jungle Funk — Still I Try]