Today, October 19th, Microsoft has released its long expected browser update, Internet Explorer 7. Several years behind the introduction of tabbed browsing in Firefox, Internet Explorer now features this function, as well as handling of RSS feeds and improved security.
A blatant lack of security, and tying users into forced usage of Internet Explorer only, had been on top of the critique list for Internet Explorer 6. Additionally, for developers it was simply put a nightmare to make proper W3 compliant websites work with Internet Explorer. The engine of Internet Explorer was based on an aging license of Spyglass Mosaic, from 1995.
From Wikipedia:
In 1995 Spyglass Mosaic was licensed by Microsoft, in an arrangement under which Spyglass would receive a quarterly fee plus a percentage of Microsoft’s revenues for the software. Internet Explorer 3.0 was released free of charge in August 1996. Microsoft thus made no direct revenues on IE and was liable to pay Spyglass only the minimum quarterly fee. In 1997, Spyglass threatened Microsoft with a contractual audit, in response to which Microsoft settled for US $8 million.
Technologically, Firefox, Safari and Opera have the lead. A relatively young offspring of the Mozilla Project, which is the source behind Firefox, is Flock. It introduced new sharing capabilities, integrating current blog- and picture management technology, integrating with blogging systems like Movable Type, Wordpress, and social websites like Flickr.
Next year, with the overdue release of Windows Vista, supposingly more security features will be added to Windows and Internet Explorer. It is yet to be seen if Microsoft can keep up with the developments of Firefox, Safari and Opera. In hopes to keep up with the speed of modern operating systems, Microsofts Windows Vista will mimic some of the behavior and usability of the recent releases of Mac OS.
Resources
Statistics of most used browsers
History of Internet Explorer
Mac OS Leopard
Manual semi-trackback (concerning IE 7 usability):
http://meiert.com/en/blog/20070115/internet-explorer-7-is-unusable-on-unwise-button-orders-and-hidden-menus/
Jens Meiert, January 15, 2007 01:37 PM