The New Browsers on the Block
Browsers, Why Bother?
In the world of e-commerce, the most optimized, up-to-date coding and rendering is vital for site interaction. With new browsers, though, come new responsibilities - at least from a programming standpoint. Eventually, older browsers are weeded out, newer browsers take over, and upgrades are made; however, it is a necessity to make sure that any website or online store is picture perfect in all rendering browsers. Not doing so will alienate potential buyers from your site, plain and simple - both the early-adopters with the newest, hottest browser and the tech-averse with archaic, versions of obsolete browsers. In order to help you future-proof your online store, here’s what is new and up-and-coming as the new browsers on the block.
Internet Explorer 8 (IE8)
From a normal viewer’s perspective, Internet Explorer is just as good as the next browser. However, from a programming and usability perspective, there are many differences that could wreak proverbial havoc to the design and development of a Website.
Standards, Compatibility, Usability
With the release of Internet Explorer 8 approaching rapidly (projected for June 2009) and several Beta versions already in place, Microsoft decided it would be best to address the issues of web standards and better functionality in their newest installment.
The browser originally was set to work off of the default behaviors developed in IE8 and currently used in previous versions, but after several discussions Microsoft has decided to default to “super standards mode” while allowing the user to toggle back to normal behavior if desired. This change will prevent programmers from needing additional Meta tags in the code header, as well as incorporate new rendering and scripting engines developed for IE8.
IE8 is set to be Microsoft’s most standards-compliant browser to date. At the end of 2007, the browser passed the ACID 2 test. ACID is a series of tests to identify rendering flaws within web browsers. This test checks to see just how compliant the browser is at ensuring support for web standards. A modification such as this to the standards of IE8 could prove extremely beneficial to websites programmed using highly efficient and search-engine-friendly cascading style sheets (CSS).
As far as compatibility, there are many websites that have been developed to work well with the default standards of IE6 and 7. With the numerous changes implemented into the new release of IE8, these websites may have problems with the visual compatibility and rendering within the new browser. However, IE8 has a new feature to help with this! In the IE8 toolbar, users will find a Compatibility button. When clicked, the browser will render the website with the IE7 standards, while saving this change for future visits.
Unlike previous versions, Internet Explorer 8 will be completely CSS 2.1 compliant. Also, the new browser allows for additional CSS 3.0 attributes. CSS allows for more effective visual and interactive customization of a website. More attributes available for a particular browser means that a wider variety of user experience and site functionality improvements can be implemented.
Finally, from an end-user perspective, not only is the new IE browser beneficial to programmers, but with a rapid startup and faster page loads, IE8 may just turn heads and change the opinion of web surfers around the world. New enhanced tab features help with user-friendly functionality.
Google Chrome
For a company that spends all their time working on the Internet and using web browsers, creating one of their own was just another notch on the belt for Google. The basic look of Chrome is similar to that of the Google search page — a clean and fast loading environment for users. Chrome is open-source, meaning any programmer may access the code for the browser, and Google is looking for innovative modifications to mold their browser to the needs of their users.
Standards, Compatibility, Usability
The Google Chrome rendering engine and web standards are the same as that of Apple’s Safari browser. Pages displayed on Chrome will appear as they do in Safari. However, Apple’s newest project, Safari 4 has passed the ACID 3 Test with a score of 100, whereas Google Chrome has only scored a 78. Both of these web browsers are running off of the WebKit framework created by Apple, which is, in my opinion, the most efficient on the web.
Along with an amazing rendering engine, Chrome brings with it the V8 JavaScript engine. Results from V8 are clear as day. JavaScript is widely used on the web and is growing more and more popular for site interaction. With a need for a faster, more efficient engine, Chrome has answered the call.
In the SunSpider test, similar to the ACID tests, but for JavaScript rendering engines, Google Chrome posted a load time of 3,471ms. Using the same test, Internet Explorer 7 posted a 12,866ms load, and Firefox 3 came in with a time of 6,701ms. JavaScript-based web applications will run faster, giving web pages themselves faster load times.
In the same manner as a computer operating system, Google Chrome was created to run different processes per tab. This way, each tab can be working to load a page at once without the need to wait on any other tabs to finish. Separating the processes increases loading speeds making the web browser much more efficient.
The basic design of the browser gives a clean, user-friendly experience and also decreases startup time. Google is known for simplicity, first with their homepage, and now their web browser. Based on efficiency and functionality, Google Chrome will be a browser of choice in the near future.
Summing up
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser will be much better with their new Version 8 release. The increased web standards give this browser better rendering more comparable to that of Firefox and Safari. If your choice is currently Internet Explorer, then you will need this upgrade!
Google Chrome has a different spin on development, but a more efficient look on browsing. Between easy JavaScript rendering for web applications, faster page loads, and separate tab processing, Google has released a web browser that everyone should test out.
Solid Cactus Web Developer Joel D. Nye Contributed This Post
Solid Cactus, Inc., headquartered in Shavertown, PA, has designed or redesigned more than 3,500 e-commerce sites. Solid Cactus is an Inc. 500 company and was named one of the "Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania" in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The company serves a growing base of medium to large size clients with a full array of web design and e-commerce solutions including: Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Management, Affiliate Program Management, Call Center Services, Back-End Order Management, Print Design and consulting. For information, visit SolidCactus.com or call 888.361.9814.
This post is filed under Developers' Corner and has the following keyword tags: browsers, design, emerging technology, css, compatibility.
2 Comments
SliveRock says:
"...it is a necessity to make sure that any website or online store is picture perfect in all rendering browsers. Not doing so will alienate potential buyers from your site, plain and simple..."
That is not true at all, and, in fact, spits in the face of innovation. Your website does not need to be "pixel perfect" in obsolete browsers, it needs merely to look professional, and work. Users that are still stuck on IE6 either 1) don't know any better and won't know/care what your site looks like (to an extent), which I can ascertain by the fact they don't care how their browser works, or 2) they have to use IE6 for some old corporate intranet and they should expect that websites they visit will use new techniques that won't be "pixel perfect" in every browser.
Customers aren't comparing screenshots from Gecko/Webkit/Trident side-by-side to see whether they will purchase at your store. And, personally, if people still crawling around in IE6 get weird effects when viewing my png based transparency effects they shouldn't be surprised... it's innovation, it doesn't mean the company isn't reliable.
smartsales says:
While I haven't seen IE 8 yet, I hope it works as described. I am a devoted FireFox user and would love to see IE 8, and Chrome and Safari incorporate the plugin concept that has seen so much success in FF.
Chrome, at this time, is blah for me. Yes, it is fast, but appearance is as important as speed. Everything is so grayed out (okay, light blue) that I find myself having to search for browser functions. An example is a download progress box. Chrome sticks it in the lower left corner and it is so pale it become hard to read. Subtle can be overdone.
Just my 2¢ worth.
Richard Hill Smart Sales, LLC
