MSIE8

It's only a matter of time before this topic came to the front anyway; and Microsoft is undoubtedly working on the stuff that'll go into IE8.  Anyone care to venture a guess, or provide some insight? 

SlackmasterK wrote:

It's only a matter of time before this topic came to the front anyway; and Microsoft is undoubtedly working on the stuff that'll go into IE8.  Anyone care to venture a guess, or provide some insight? 

As usual, they can't talk about future products, so don't even bother asking for details, because you will get exactly zilch of those.

Cornelius Ellsonpeter wrote:

I know they renamed Blackcomb to "Vienna" or something strange like that

DMassy wrote:

We're already thinking about IE8 and beyond. Now is a great time to give input about what you'd like to see. Of course we have already heard that people want complete CSS2.1 along with other standard recommendations. It's time to think at a broader level though. What should the browsing experience be like in ten years time and how do we get there? What new functionality should we look into and help make part of future standard recommendations to really make a difference to both web developers and end users?

Thanks
-Dave

1. CSS 2.1, 3.x.
   
2. SVG.
   
3. Total removal of ActiveX controls.
4. XUL-type functionality. Must be cross-browser.
   

SlackmasterK wrote:

It's only a matter of time before this topic came to the front anyway; and Microsoft is undoubtedly working on the stuff that'll go into IE8.  Anyone care to venture a guess, or provide some insight? 

Cairo wrote:

Total removal of ActiveX controls.

We're already thinking about IE8 and beyond. Now is a great time to give input about what you'd like to see. Of course we have already heard that people want complete CSS2.1 along with other standard recommendations. It's time to think at a broader level though. What should the browsing experience be like in ten years time and how do we get there? What new functionality should we look into and help make part of future standard recommendations to really make a difference to both web developers and end users?

Thanks
-Dave

P.S. If you really want to hear about the future of IE then come to Mix06. The following sceduled sessions shoudl prove to be particularly interesting for IE:

• The Future of IE
  Speaker(s): Dean Hachamovitch
  Focus(s): Business Decision Maker, Designer, Developer
  Session Type(s): Breakout
  Join a discussion about the future roadmap for Internet Explorer. We present an overview of the direction we envision beyond IE7, hear from some industry experts about what they'd like us to do, and then hold an open discussion panel to take your input to help shape the future of IE.
  
• Open, Du Jour, De Facto and Proprietary: Standards and Microsoft
  Speaker(s): Chris Wilson
  Session Type(s): Breakout
  How is Microsoft approaching standards for tomorrow's applications? Come discuss the landscape of HTML, Javscript, C#, XAML, XHTML, XML, SVG, and others with the Group Program Manager of IE.
  
• Making Your Site Look Great in IE7
  Speaker(s): Markus Mielke
  Focus(s): Designer, Developer
  Session Type(s): Breakout
  In this session, learn how to build and maintain standards-based sites that work great in IE7. Learn how to take advantage of new capabilities such as better HTML and CSS standards support, RSS and Search integration, and new security features.

I'll be there. It should be a very interesting event

Sven Groot wrote:

Cairo wrote: Total removal of ActiveX controls.

Why? Every browser has some form of binary plugin mechanims, ActiveX is no different. How else would you do stuff like the Flash or Quicktime plugins?

W3bbo wrote:

SlackmasterK wrote: It's only a matter of time before this topic came to the front anyway; and Microsoft is undoubtedly working on the stuff that'll go into IE8.  Anyone care to venture a guess, or provide some insight?

I know from reputable inside sources that IE8 will feature a supported side-by-side (i.e. with IE7) configuration.

Would it be feasible to come up with one regular old "IE" upgrade, and then offer something radically different at the same time (like something out of research) to see "what happens"? It's a free product anyway (unless you bundle it with an OS, which doesn't happen *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*).  You've got gobs of cash and resources, why not see how the market reacts?  That way you could solve the "backwards compatibility" issue, while presenting something innovative.

DMassy wrote:

W3bbo wrote: SlackmasterK wrote: It's only a matter of time before this topic came to the front anyway; and Microsoft is undoubtedly working on the stuff that'll go into IE8.  Anyone care to venture a guess, or provide some insight?  I know from reputable inside sources that IE8 will feature a supported side-by-side (i.e. with IE7) configuration.

W3bbo,
I don't know how you can say that but your source is not reliable.

That's one thing I have to credit W3bbo for, he records everything. 

W3bbo wrote:

DMassy wrote: W3bbo wrote: SlackmasterK wrote: It's only a matter of time before this topic came to the front anyway; and Microsoft is undoubtedly working on the stuff that'll go into IE8.  Anyone care to venture a guess, or provide some insight?  I know from reputable inside sources that IE8 will feature a supported side-by-side (i.e. with IE7) configuration. W3bbo, I don't know how you can say that but your source is not reliable.

Rather odd, since the source was yourself

From a messenger conversation we had some-time around mid-January:

[W3bbo] speaking of that, will there be an officially supported way to run two versions of IE (or at least the rendering engine) on the same Windows installation?
[Dave Massy] Not in IE7. it is something we'll have in IE8 for developers only though.

Hmm. I'm always pretty damn careful not to commit to anything. I should have said "It is something I'd like to see in IE8". Sorry if I misled you.
As I say nothing is definite at this early stage. Side by side for developers is certainly something I'd like to see us do in the future. It does come with its own unique set of challenges though.
Thanks
-Dave

Cairo wrote:

CSS 2.1, 3.x.

Cairo wrote:

SVG.

Cairo wrote:

Total removal of ActiveX controls.

Cairo wrote:

XUL-type functionality. Must be cross-browser.

DMassy wrote:

P.S. If you really want to hear about the future of IE then come to Mix06.

Tom Servo wrote:

DMassy wrote: P.S. If you really want to hear about the future of IE then come to Mix06.

See, we'd like to know about this stuff without going to some conference, especially one that costs a kidney in entry fees.

Tom Servo wrote:

DMassy wrote: P.S. If you really want to hear about the future of IE then come to Mix06.

See, we'd like to know about this stuff without going to some conference, especially one that costs a kidney in entry fees.