MicroTechXP

Consistent with our efforts to promote further interoperability across the Web, Microsoft will be releasing Internet Explorer 8 to render content in its most standards-compliant way by default. Giving top priority to Web standards interoperability allows us to help web developers and designers drive toward the ideal of “write once, run anywhere”, freeing up more time to innovate rather than modify content for different browsers. This commitment also addresses several development and design pain points from previous Internet Explorer releases.
However, browsing with this default setting may cause content written for previous versions of Internet Explorer to display differently than intended. This creates a call to action for site owners to ensure their content will continue to display seamlessly in Internet Explorer 8. As such, we have provided a meta-tag usable on a per-page or per-site level to maintain backwards compatibility with Internet Explorer 7. Adding this tag instructs Internet Explorer 8 to render content like it did in Internet Explorer 7, without requiring any additional changes.
We are encouraging site administrators to get their sites ready now for broad adoption of Internet Explorer 8, as there will be a beta release in the third quarter of this year targeted for all consumers. To learn more and get started, please follow the step-by-step instructions located at KB952030. [MSDN Blogs]

Mozilla Corp. Thursday confirmed that it will release the final beta of Firefox 3.0 shortly, and that it expects to deliver the finished browser to users in June. Firefox 3.0 Beta 5 has been code-frozen, said Mike Schroepfer, Mozilla’s vice president of engineering, and is working its way toward release. “That will be the last beta for Firefox 3.0,” he said. Once Beta 5 is out of the way, developers will move to the Release Candidate (RC) stage.
Release Candidate 1 (RC1) should be ready sometime in early May, said Schroepfer, assuming Mozilla meets its current schedule. “The release candidates will move a little slower than beta,” he continued, noting that the company must make allowances for public feedback.
View: The full story @ PCWorld

The browser that helped kick-start the commercial web is to cease development because of lack of users. Netscape Navigator, now owned by AOL, will no longer be supported after 1 February 2008, the company has said. In the mid-1990s the browser was used by more than 90% of the web population, but numbers have slipped to just 0.6%. In particular, the browser has faced competition from Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE), which is now used by nearly 80% of all web users.
“While internal groups within AOL have invested a great deal of time and energy in attempting to revive Netscape Navigator, these efforts have not been successful in gaining market share from Microsoft’s Internet Explorer,” said Tom Drapeau on the company’s blog.
View: Full article @ BBC News

AOL has released a beta version of its AOL “OpenRide”, codename “Helix.” This new version should be replacing OpenRide after the beta is over.

Welcome to the beta test of AOL’s newest software in development, codenamed Helix. It integrates email, Web browsing, instant messaging, and other online activities into a single, easy-to-use application, letting you multitask in fewer clicks and fewer hassles. With a sleek, modern interface and convenient new features, it is designed to help make everything you do online faster and easier.

Highlights include:

• Improved Navigation: A new “AppMap” feature located between the Web button and Search field on the toolbar, instantly displays clickable thumbnails of all your open windows. Now you can find what you’re looking for instantly - and switch windows with just one click.
• Tabbed Organization: Tabs on email, browser and IM windows allow you to surf, send mail and more, without cluttering your screen.
• More Email Options: New, streamlined AOL Mail lets you send and receive messages using multiple email accounts, including GMail, Verizon and many more, in the same window.
• Enhanced IM: AIM 6.1 is built right in so you can see which buddies are online, chat, share pictures and more.
  Easy to Use: New functionality allows for fast, easy transfer of your Favorites and Personal Filing Cabinet from AOL 9.0 to Helix.

Standard Internet behaviors include:

• Web browsing without sign in.
• Local favorites with feeds support.
• Inbox view of received mail.
• Multiple email accounts can be accessed from one mailbox.

View: AOL Helix Site

Mozilla’s web browser Firefox is becoming increasingly popular, gaining on average an extra 3.1 percent of the ma rket in 32 European countries in the past four months, according to French web monitoring company XiTi Monitor. Since its launch, Firefox has been steadily gaining market share from the dominant browser, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE). In the first week of July 2006, Firefox had 21.1 percent of the market. In the first week of July 2007, Firefox held 27.8 percent of the European market, according to XiTi Monitor’s report.

“It’s a nice way to get started on a Monday morning,” said Tristan Nitot, president of Mozilla Europe. “I hope we continue to gain market share, as our goal is to promote choice. Monopoly leads to lack of innovation.”

View: The full story @ ZDNet UK