Microsoft wants web developers to support IE 8

[javajolt]

Microsoft's web development team is reaching out to web developers to help websites support Internet Explorer versions 6,7 and 8.

IE 8, the latest version of the Windows web browser, is compliant with web standards, according to Microsoft's Steve Guttman of the Expression Web team. Expression Web created a free web tool, SuperPreview, for developers.

"Internet Explorer 8 is an important release because it reconfirms Microsoft's commitment to interoperability and renewed emphasis on Web Standards," Guttman said on the IE blog.

Guttman said his team is in the process of doing significant tooling to support existing and emerging specifications.

Expression web "helps developers and site owners in migrating their sites from earlier versions of Internet Explorer to the standards-compliant Internet Explorer 8," Guttman said.

The full version of SuperPreview also supports Firefox and ships with Expression Web 3.

Web developers are locked in a battle over different versions of web browsers and website development standards. The next version of the core language of the web is HTML5.

The current browser war pits IE against open source browsers like Firefox and Chrome. Microsoft's IE 8 recently beat the others in a lab test the company sponsored of web browser performance against websites containing malware.

[Jake]

I wish they would tell developers to forget IE6 and move to at least IE7, since IE6 is essentially a digital form of Swiss Cheese.  But, that would only be in a perfect world.

[javajolt]

right and IE 6 will be dead and buried in less than 6 months.

[Jake]

right and IE 6 will be dead and buried in less than 6 months.

Too bad most enterprise-systems have web solutions designed for IE6, it's terrible... at least the end of the life cycle will push people to migrate their systems to IE8.

[javajolt]

As many know MS has pledged to Enterprises full support for IE6 as long as they use it.  This is why MS is having such a difficult time in getting rid of IE6.  MS is none starting to apply pressure on Enterprises to migrate to IE8.

[Jake]

I've been pushing for months to get my company's network off of the IE6 reliance, a bit of luck so far but it's an uphill battle.  We have thousands and thousands of computers connecting through our internal network and then a couple hundred in homes connecting through Citrix.  It'll take ages to get everyone off of our currently 10-year old (and for the most part unsupported) programs and to get Citrix to get in the game and go fully with IE8.

The frustrations of corporate IT... 

[javajolt]

I can relate to your battle, as I have palyed in the IT Corporate game a long time.  As close as I am to the Golden Gate Bridge, I have come close to jumping (just kidding)

[Jake]

Wow San Francisco, I've always wanted to vacation there.

[javajolt]

It is also an incredible place to live, never hot, never cold perfect, year round!!