microsoft

Microsoft to snub standards compliant mode in IE8

Neowin Staff   on 31 March 2008 - 19:37 · 72 comments & 38793 views

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Exclusive sources close to the Internet Explorer development team are reporting that latest internal builds of IE8 have deactivated the new 'super standards compliant' mode. Worse still, this change is likely to be permanent if hushed proposals at the software giant are approved.

Current beta releases of IE8 sport the new Webslices feature allowing users to subscribe to a portion of a web page in a manner similar to RSS. Senior executives at Microsoft have suggested that focusing on innovation within the consumer browser market in similar ways would provide a greater return for shareholders than attempting to improve standards support in the popular browser.

Going forward, it is unclear if this paradigm shift will continue to the development of IE9 or if this decision solely affects the current product development cycle for IE8. Our sources declined to name individuals involved in the discussion, but an announcement is expected on the public development blog imminently.

Minor CSS changes unrelated to standards support are still expected when the new browser version ships later this year. The introduction of the blink parameter for the text-decoration CSS property, a change described as "important for the dynamic nature of the web", is one of the enhancements more controversial among the community.

Happy April Fools :)

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(14 replies) #1 Co_Co on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:16
Why are they taking steps backward after they promised everyone to finally take the leap forward? I really hope this isn't true.
#1.1 metallithrax on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:22
(Co_Co said @ #1)
Why are they taking steps backward after they promised everyone to finally take the leap forward? I really hope this isn't true.


Senior executives at Microsoft have suggested that focusing on innovation within the consumer browser market in similar ways would provide a greater return for shareholders


I think that line answers your question
#1.2 xTrinity on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:33
(metallithrax said @ #2)
(Co_Co said @ #1)
Why are they taking steps backward after they promised everyone to finally take the leap forward? I really hope this isn't true.


Senior executives at Microsoft have suggested that focusing on innovation within the consumer browser market in similar ways would provide a greater return for shareholders


I think that line answers your question


So shoving more proprietary software like ActiveX and Silverlight down our throats instead of being standards complaint. Sounds like the good old Microsoft we love to hate. I can't wait to see what technology they roll out that will be incompatible with Firefox and my Mac.

At least now we have a healthy competition between Opera and WebKit. Just have to wait for Mozilla to jump into the Acid3 fight.
#1.3 HalcyonX12 on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:55
The introduction of the blink parameter for the text-decoration CSS property, a change described as "important for the dynamic nature of the web"


Definitely fake...
#1.4 tiagosilva29 on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:01
(HalcyonX12 said @ #1.3)
The introduction of the blink parameter for the text-decoration CSS property, a change described as "important for the dynamic nature of the web"


Definitely fake...


Yeap. Posting April Fool's articles before the actual day... Fail.
#1.5 Hannes.nz on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:42
(tiagosilva29 said @ #1.4)
(HalcyonX12 said @ #1.3)
The introduction of the blink parameter for the text-decoration CSS property, a change described as "important for the dynamic nature of the web"


Definitely fake...


Yeap. Posting April Fool's articles before the actual day... Fail.


Its been the 1st April here for a while now. (New Zealand)
#1.6 vetmarkjensen on 01 Apr 2008 - 00:11
(tiagosilva29 said @ #1.4)
Yeap. Posting April Fool's articles before the actual day... Fail.
Mind if I ask what being unaware of timezones around the world will get ya?
#1.7 maartena on 01 Apr 2008 - 01:58
(xTrinity said @ #1.2)
(metallithrax said @ #2)
(Co_Co said @ #1)
Why are they taking steps backward after they promised everyone to finally take the leap forward? I really hope this isn't true.


Senior executives at Microsoft have suggested that focusing on innovation within the consumer browser market in similar ways would provide a greater return for shareholders


I think that line answers your question


So shoving more proprietary software like ActiveX and Silverlight down our throats instead of being standards complaint. Sounds like the good old Microsoft we love to hate. I can't wait to see what technology they roll out that will be incompatible with Firefox and my Mac.


Linux is a serious thread to Windows, but with a very long delay of getting some sort of Adobe Flash working in Linux, and the incompatability of ActiveX and the newer Silverlight, Linux is not gaining any foothold in the "I just want the website to work" market.

And quite frankly, the major websites (CNN, eBay, Google, ESPN, you name it) are all making SURE they are compatible with what the majority of the market uses, which is Windows with Internet Explorer. FireFox is the best alternative for Internet Explorer, but quite frankly: ActiveX makes Microsoft sell more copies of Windows when you face it.

Not that you would want to, but try to download a hotfix from Microsoft that requires "validation" from a Linux or Mac workstation.

Yes, the shareholders are boss. Welcome to the Capitalist States of America
#1.8 +Brandon Live on 01 Apr 2008 - 04:11
Lame joke.

Thanks for confusing people though, that's always appreciated.
#1.9 XerXis on 01 Apr 2008 - 09:14
(Brandon Live said @ #1.
Lame joke.

Thanks for confusing people though, that's always appreciated.


i agree, a few months from now some people will keep spreading the news that ie8 will not be standards compliant because it was said on neowin. This is a lame joke...
#1.10 tiagosilva29 on 01 Apr 2008 - 09:17
(markjensen said @ #1.6)
(tiagosilva29 said @ #1.4)
Yeap. Posting April Fool's articles before the actual day... Fail.
Mind if I ask what being unaware of timezones around the world will get ya?

I'm aware alright, it's just that I find the whole subject a bit pot of bull****. 30 timezones? Give me a break!
#1.11 geertvdijk on 01 Apr 2008 - 09:38
Linux is a serious thread to Windows, but with a very long delay of getting some sort of Adobe Flash working in Linux, and the incompatability of ActiveX and the newer Silverlight, Linux is not gaining any foothold in the "I just want the website to work" market.

And quite frankly, the major websites (CNN, eBay, Google, ESPN, you name it) are all making SURE they are compatible with what the majority of the market uses, which is Windows with Internet Explorer. FireFox is the best alternative for Internet Explorer, but quite frankly: ActiveX makes Microsoft sell more copies of Windows when you face it.

Not that you would want to, but try to download a hotfix from Microsoft that requires "validation" from a Linux or Mac workstation.

Yes, the shareholders are boss. Welcome to the Capitalist States of America

Are you sure no Silverlight for Linux? The Mono developers are working on Moonlight for a while now, and I'd say they're seriously getting somewhere... And for flash: I'm using ubuntu 8.04 beta right now and flash 'just works', but I've been using Debian etch as well and on that pc it didn't take more than installing it either.
And the hotfixes are indeed completely useless if you're not using Windows.
#1.12 Tom Servo on 01 Apr 2008 - 19:08
(tiagosilva29 said @ #1.10)
I'm aware alright, it's just that I find the whole subject a bit pot of bull****. 30 timezones? Give me a break!

Yeah, **** Earth being a rotating sphere and all that, seriously!

(P.S. that was sarcasm. I have to say this because otherwise you'd probably take me seriously judging your current level of apparent education and intelligence.)
#1.13 tiagosilva29 on 01 Apr 2008 - 19:21
(Tom Servo said @ #1.12)
(tiagosilva29 said @ #1.10)
I'm aware alright, it's just that I find the whole subject a bit pot of bull****. 30 timezones? Give me a break!

Yeah, **** Earth being a rotating sphere and all that, seriously!

(P.S. that was sarcasm. I have to say this because otherwise you'd probably take me seriously judging your current level of apparent education and intelligence.)


Post Scriptum: that was sarcasm. I have to say this because otherwise you'd probably take me seriously judging your current level of apparent education and intelligence.
#1.14 Tom Servo on 02 Apr 2008 - 13:35
(tiagosilva29 said @ #1.13)
Post Scriptum: that was sarcasm. I have to say this because otherwise you'd probably take me seriously judging your current level of apparent education and intelligence.

Nice try winding yourself out of your own bull****.
#2 +DrCheese on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:22
This is stupid, They initially was going to have it like this but after an outcry they changed it so its compliant by default. I'm guessing that some lazy developers whined that they'd actually have to do some work or put one whole line of code at the top of their websites to force it back into IE7 mode.
#3 THXPK on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:30
This is disgusting, outrageous, Microsoft should be ashamed of themselves for not following standards; it is about time for another EU style intervention....that is...if you're silly enough to believe this...April Fools
(1 reply) #4 Cask1 on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:30
No source? This looks like an early April Fools to me. After all the promises they made they wouldn´t just break them all. But......this is Microsoft we´re talking about, anything is possible.
#4.1 HawkMan on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:19
nothing early about it acording to my clock and calendar
(2 replies) #5 +DrCheese on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:32
hmpf, it might be april fools but its a pretty stupid one if it is.
#5.1 Express on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:55
I think its an April fools joke too. A cruel on!
The giveaway is that blink on text-decoration is a valid css element which is defined in the W3C standards
#5.2 Joe USer on 01 Apr 2008 - 03:56
(Express said @ #5.1)
I think its an April fools joke too. A cruel on!
The giveaway is that blink on text-decoration is a valid css element which is defined in the W3C standards


Yes, it's a joke. Blink hopefully will never return.
#6 Litespeed on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:33
Take EVERYTHING you read on April 1 with a grain (or large bag) of salt.
#7 majortom1981 on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:34
Well considering how they keep getting bashed even when they started standards compliant why not right? being standards complaint will not stop people from using firefox or opera over IE right?
(1 reply) #8 +LTD on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:35
Look at the author(s)
#8.1 Rob on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:40
We always post exclusives from the staff as a whole rather than one author.
(1 reply) #9 +kraized on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:41
Exclusive sources close to the Internet Explorer development team are reporting that latest internal builds of IE8 have deactivated the new 'super standards compliant' mode. Worse still, this change is likely to be permanent if hushed proposals at the software giant are to approved.

Current beta releases of IE8 sport the new Webslices feature allowing users to subscribe to a portion of a web page in a manner similar to RSS. Senior executives at Microsoft have suggested that focusing on innovation within the consumer browser market in similar ways would provide a greater return for shareholders than attempting to improve standards support in the popular browser.

Going forward, it is unclear if this paradigm shift will continue to the development of IE9 or if this decision solely affects the current product development cycle for IE8. Our sources declined to name individuals involved in the discussion, but an announcement is expected on the public development blog imminently.

Minor CSS changes unrelated to standards support are still expected when the new browser version ships later this year. The introduction of the blink parameter for the text-decoration CSS property, a change described as "important for the dynamic nature of the web", is one of the enhancements more controversial among the community.


Webslices huh? Sounds to me like WebClip that OSX/Safari already has that works in conjunction with dashboard.
#9.1 rev3nant on 01 Apr 2008 - 07:37
(kraized said @ #9)
Webslices huh? Sounds to me like WebClip that OSX/Safari already has that works in conjunction with dashboard.

Sounds like Channels + ActiveDesktop that IE had like 10 years ago, when Safari wasn't even born. Fail.
#10 +tunafish on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:47
hmmmmm april fools i think
#11 Dazer on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:50
Haha, for sure.

"The introduction of the blink parameter for the text-decoration CSS property, a change described as "important for the dynamic nature of the web", is one of the enhancements more controversial among the community."
(1 reply) #12 vetneufuse on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:52
uh huh... any citations for this to back this up? because all ms's documentation is saying the complete opposite
#12.1 Marshalus on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:57
(neufuse said @ #12)
uh huh... any citations for this to back this up? because all ms's documentation is saying the complete opposite


My understanding was that the decision was not made at a technical level, and so they're probably going to have to change all that stuff now.
(2 replies) #13 Jugalator on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:56
I think it's just an April Fool's joke and won't get my... underwear in a bunch over this.

A story like this can indeed come from the Neowin staff due to sources that don't wish to be disclosed, but news of this kind would need a proper source even if not on this day.
#13.1 Marshalus on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:59
(Jugalator said @ #13)
"Neowin Staff"?

It has to be an April Fool's joke. Yes, of course a story can come from the staff, but this one would need a proper source in either case.


The Neowin Staff user account isn't anything new, we've used it on a few occasions in the past where multiple team members have contributed to the story. I didn't write the story but I'm technically the one that posted it.
#13.2 Rob on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:00
Yeah as I said above, if multiple staff members contribute or it's a Neowin exclusive we like to credit the whole team.
(1 reply) #14 shockz on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:56
This is freakin ridiculous... come on MS...
#14.1 Express on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:11
This is freaking ridiculous April Fools joke .... come on Neowin ....
(1 reply) #15 rpgfan on 31 Mar 2008 - 22:57
So wait... Does this mean that I'll need to insert the ridiculous META tag into each of my IE8-compliant pages (well... my header.php or header.py file, anyway...) despite the fact that IE8 will be the browser used? That's ridiculous. IE8 won't use IE8 mode by default...
#15.1 +TCLN Ryster on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:04
Don't know where you got that from.

IE8 will render pages using the new standards compliant mode by default. A meta tag will be needed on webpages that do not conform to standards to ensure they display in IE7 compat mode. As it should be.

p.s. I'm assuming this story is bogus since it has no source and it just turned April 1st here in the UK
(1 reply) #16 osirisX on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:00
We need to submit this to Digg STAT!
#17 Doli on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:02
Stay away from the internet on April 1st
(2 replies) #18 Athernar on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:38
#18.1 QuarterSwede on 01 Apr 2008 - 02:54
Hahaha, nice.
#18.2 Tha Bloo Monkee on 01 Apr 2008 - 03:53
that's jokes!
(1 reply) #19 Tikitiki on 31 Mar 2008 - 23:44
heh. It's not April Fools till tomorrow for me, so it's kind of confusing to ignore things on the 31st now too
#19.1 vetmarkjensen on 01 Apr 2008 - 00:15
(Tikitiki said @ #19)
heh. It's not April Fools till tomorrow for me, so it's kind of confusing to ignore things on the 31st now too
Try having young kids. April Fool's Day lasts until about the 3rd. How many times do I need to fall for "Your shoes are untied, daddy!"? (answer, as many times as it amuses them)
#20 MrA on 01 Apr 2008 - 00:21
Damn it! I hate tomorrow (or today for those of you already in April 1st). Why? Because it's hard to tell what's real news and what's fake. Remember Gmail? It was announced on April 1st and everyone thought it was an April fools joke. It turned out not to be. The plausible might be fake and the implausible might be real. Now this article sounds reasonable till you read the last paragraph (blink? yeah right).

/me logs off 'teh interweb' till wednesday.
#21 TheNay on 01 Apr 2008 - 00:30
It's still March 31st in E-merica
#22 jwjw1 on 01 Apr 2008 - 00:41
oh well...there goes the 'super standards compliant capable' Marketing Trick.....lol
#23 Sartoris on 01 Apr 2008 - 01:25
April Fools!
(1 reply) #24 qdave on 01 Apr 2008 - 01:37
^it's not april fools yet
#24.1 Joel on 01 Apr 2008 - 02:02
(qdave said @ #24)
^it's not april fools yet

Not everyone lives where you live, do they?
#25 NimrodUK on 01 Apr 2008 - 02:49
Its April Fools, otherwise there be links to sources as there always is with Neowin.

Just is just a bold out of the blue claim and I believe most Neowin Admins/Mods are European and its April 1st there
#26 MtDewCodeRedFreak on 01 Apr 2008 - 02:52
*cough*

Must be getting prepped up for Unofficial BS'ing Day, eh?
#27 +Nashy on 01 Apr 2008 - 02:54
God I hate April Fools day.
#28 X'tyfe on 01 Apr 2008 - 03:01
hehe, this is obviously an april fools joke without a source
(2 replies) #29 Regression_88 on 01 Apr 2008 - 03:06
Other sources unrelated to the original article have revealed that although Windows 7 is still in the (pre-) alpha phase, planning and development of Windows 8 (not likely to be the final name, but who knows... this is Microsoft) has recently started and this future version of Windows will purportedly be based on an as-of-now-undisclosed *nix distribution.

Although, generically speaking, Linux is the obvious option (wouldn't it be grand if it were based on "Darwin"?), Sun and Novell have each been mentioned in several internal communications. There have been no independent confirmations of that rumor. One may find this evolution of Windows an obvious step given the recent announcement of Wine approaching the coveted "1.0" mark release. However one has to wonder... is that becauase of independent developer acheivements, or because of slight-of-hand contributions made by Microsoft in order to facilitate this upcoming milestone for Wine and thus cement Windows' position as the operating system of the future?

The core of Windows 8 will reportedly be 64 bit only, will be fully virtualized and will also be available as a free download. This download supposedly will allow one to run applications based on .NET managed code locally as well as numerous basic system management programs and Win32 programs. However, if you want any additional or advanced functionality such as Windows domain membership, advanced networking such as a web or email server, gaming with hardware-accelerated graphics (a.k.a. DirectX), advanced text editing: Office suite, or running other non-Microsoft approved applications such as those freely available for *nix, or virtualizing another operating system such as XP, Windows 2000, Linux, SunOS, etc... sadly, those functions will only be available with a subscription. You won't even be able to run a third party virtualization program under Windows 8 without a subscription- though it has been rumored that the 'subscription' will be paid to the 3rd party, not Microsoft, which I find a bit difficult to comprehend how that will work, but one can only wonder.

While many (ok, at least 1) feel this would be a prudent venture for Microsoft given the apparently slow but steady inroads made by operating systems such as the various flavors of Linux, there are at least as many people who feel that this endorsement of free software is nothing more than a slap in the face of the countless others who have contributed countless hours to open-source software and as many more (ok, at least 5) who think Windows should remain proprietary at every level.

Many questions have been left unanswered. Therefore we can only speculate, but if this is true, it could be yet another historic moment in computing history. Oddly enough, it's Microsoft making innovation... yet again.
#29.1 rpgfan on 01 Apr 2008 - 03:44
Darwin, huh? Which one? Apple Darwin or OpenDarwin?
#29.2 Regression_88 on 01 Apr 2008 - 03:49
(rpgfan said @ #29.1)
Darwin, huh? Which one? Apple Darwin or OpenDarwin?

Either would be ironic, no?
#30 +rm20010 on 01 Apr 2008 - 06:16
Okay people, there's a solution to avoiding news today, since 90% of it will be distorted.

It's called that shiny little red X at the top right. Or that glossy little red pearl on the top left. Or a gray X on the top right. Click it and your problems are solved. If that's not enough, severe the blue cable behind your computer. Let others have their laugh.

(yes, even if some of the jokes are lame)
#31 Xilo on 01 Apr 2008 - 06:57
loljokez

Still, knowing Microsoft, I wouldn't put it past them to do something like this.
#32 +RuudJacobs.NET on 01 Apr 2008 - 07:10
**** april fools. I hate it.
#33 XerXis on 01 Apr 2008 - 09:08
i hate april 1
#34 AminoSC on 01 Apr 2008 - 10:56
lol..this one didn't get me
#35 WarStorm on 01 Apr 2008 - 11:34
lol I imagine all the IE trolls will use this as ammo.
#36 karma on 01 Apr 2008 - 11:37
#37 Sevan on 01 Apr 2008 - 15:07
LIES

It's an April Fool's joke.
(1 reply) #38 C_Guy on 01 Apr 2008 - 15:07
Didn't anyone notice there was no official source for this? (In other words, April Fools)
#38.1 rpgfan on 01 Apr 2008 - 15:31
Yep, I noticed. I looked for the official source as soon as people started saying it was an April Fool's joke.

I just didn't want to spoil the fun. ^_^
#39 Oshkalabah on 01 Apr 2008 - 20:05
Lame
#40 dewaaz on 01 Apr 2008 - 22:20
April Fool's jokes aren't funny anymore.

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