IQue - Our Twist on the Web

At a developer conference this week, Microsoft announced it would be releasing a cloud computing service alongside its forthcoming operating system, Windows 7. Cloud computing is a broad term that describes software and services made available on the Internet instead of on local computers and servers.

Examples of current cloud applications are the various Google Apps like Google Docs, where word processor and spreadsheet applications are not installed on a local computer, but rather exist as a service accessed online. One of the benefits of cloud applications is that, because they exist online as opposed to on a single computer or network, they can be accessed from any computer. Also, because the services exist across a number of servers, there is great reliability, as well as the capability to handle spikes in online traffic.

The Windows announcement is a clear response to companies like Google and Amazon.com, an early pioneer in commercial cloud services. While Microsoft certainly has the resources to commit data centers to these services, it remains to be seen how they will fare in this newest stage of computing.

Shortly after writing Comparing Web Browsers, Internet giant Google threw their hat in the ring of Web browsers with Chrome. The release (complete with its own promotional comic) followed years of speculation about if and when Google would develop a browser: some argued it would just be another player in already crowded field, while others felt it was the next logistical step for the Internet giant who was already heavily integrated with existing browsers through toolbars and other features.

Now that I’ve had a few weeks to work with the browser, its strengths and weaknesses are becoming more apparent. In the flurry of hype following its release, Chrome saw its market share spike to just over 3% (no small feat, considering mainstay Opera currently holds a mere 2%). Since then, however, use has dropped off. With the release of new cell phones using Google’s Android platform – and the Chrome browser – the adoption rate may increase. Here are some thoughts from a developer and user perspective:

Developer: Chrome uses WebKit, the same browser rendering engine as Safari, so site testing doesn’t mean having to account for an entirely new rendering. Google’s custom Javascript engine V8 was designed from the ground up to run more quickly and efficiently than existing engines – a benchmark which it reaches handily.

Equally important though, is that the browser carries Google’s signature minimalist look. Most browsers frame their window with borders, toolbars, widgets and other elements. In Chrome, these framing elements (which, in Web jargon, are ironically called “chrome”) only exist along the top, allowing maximum real estate for the beautiful websites we design. And isn’t that what’s really important?

User: Any browser worth its salt now offers tabbed browsing (if you’re on Internet Explorer 6 and don’t know what I’m talking about, please stop reading for a moment and upgrade). While it’s a fantastic feature, it can support some bad habits like leaving several (sometimes dozens) of tabs open, which I tend to overlook until something I’m loading causes my browser to freeze or hang. The result: many, many Web pages I can’t view until my browsers works through whatever it’s dealing with or, worse, it freezes and I have to restart.

One great feature of Chrome is that each tab runs as its own process, instead of them all running under the umbrella of a single process. That means if one tab is loading slowly, freezes or crashes, you can still access the other tabs without issue, and don’t have to reload them all if one has to be shut down. While this means a little more system resources up front, it can be a valuable asset for those who, like me, tend to abuse tabs.

Other Chrome features include integrated security features that warn against sites with malware or phishing threats, a streamlined download system, and a combined search and address bar. And for those worried about a record of their browsing habits, Chrome features an Incognito mode that will prevent the sites you view from being logged in your browser history.

On the downside, Chrome is still a beta release, and a few minor bugs are being ironed out. More importantly, though, is that the community of developers whose add-ons and plug-ins made Firefox so popular has not had time to develop around Chrome yet. So for those Firefox users who can’t imagine living without NoScript, AdBlock and FlashGot, you may have to wait awhile before Chrome becomes attractive.

As web designers, we must always be conscious of a user’s experience when visiting our websites. One major aspect of that is making sure that a website provides a functional and comparable experience to the user, regardless of what browser they are using. Over the years, developers have often pulled their hair out trying to make a website perform well under the significantly varying standards of different browsers.

From a standards point of view, the situation has gradually been improving in the last few years. Browsers that were once running roughshod over industry standards (I’m looking at you, Internet Explorer), have made concerted efforts to move toward adherence. But there are still notable differences between browsers from both a development and user perspective, so here are some things to consider when choosing a browser:

Internet Explorer (IE)

For some, Internet Explorer continues to be indistinguishable from the Internet: it’s what you click on your desktop to access the web. Many users are not even aware that they have a choice in web browsers, thanks in large part to Internet Explorer being packaged with Windows operating systems (a famously controversial practice).

Developer: from a development perspective, IE can be very vexing. Early on in its development, IE expanded on a lot of the web standards to allow for some novel functionality. This was not a problem in 2003, when over 90% of users browsed using IE. But other browsers started springing up, and it became increasingly apparent how many websites had been built using standards that didn’t work outside of IE. So, a website that looked terrific in Explorer suddenly looked like a Picasso painting in Opera. The mantra among many web designers became “build it according to standards, then hack it as needed for IE.” Microsoft has made great improvements towards standards adherence beginning with IE7, and is expected to build on that with IE8. The issue is that an estimated 25% of web users still use IE6, which lacks support for some key functionality (countless web pages have been devoted to workarounds for IE6’s inability to support transparent PNG images). As long as a significant percentage of people are using IE6, it will continue to be the thorn in the web design industry’s side.

User: IE made some great advances beginning with IE7. Besides improved support for web standards, there were added features like tabbed browsing, an RSS feed reader, and multi-search box. Of course, the cynic would point out that these were already features in other browsers first, but Microsoft has always done well incorporating existing ideas into their products. If you’re looking for a familiar experience, or require IE (e.g. for Exchange web access), then you can definitely use it without raising the hackles of web developers. Just be sure you’ve upgraded to version IE7 or later, or you’re missing out.

Firefox (FF)

Originally a branch-off of the Mozilla Suite in 2003, Firefox has become Mozilla’s flagship product. Since then, the browser has steadily grown in market share, thanks in large part to IE users jumping ship over security concerns. In addition, Firefox is an open-source browser, allowing a wide community of developers to create extensions and plug-ins that build on the FF experience. Mozilla has also recently released Firefox 3, which improves on web standards support and updates their bookmark system and download manager.

Developer: Having developed around the quirks of IE6 for so long, web developers breathed some relief when Firefox gained popularity. While it has its own idiosyncrasies regarding web standards, they are quite minor by comparison. And with its growing popularity (W3C has its adoption rate at over 40%), FF helps ensures consistency among viewers.

User: While IE has made improvements to security in the last few years, Firefox is still widely considered superior against security threats like malicious scripts and phishing. And it is simply the champion when it comes to customizing your browsing experience. In addition to standard features like a download manager to handle the various things you grab off the Internet, its community of open-source contributors have created thousands of custom themes, plug-ins and extensions. This allows you to optimize and extend your browser functionality to suit your use. One downside is that Firefox tends to be a bit more taxing on a computer’s resources than other browsers, particularly with a lot of add-ins running.

Opera

Over a decade old, Opera has never made a big dent in the browser market, but it has maintained a small, devoted group of followers. It has enjoyed better success with its browser for mobile phones and PDAs. In addition, Nintendo selected Opera to be the browser for its Nintendo DS and Wii systems. While the browser originally had to be purchased, and then later was supported by ads, as of 2006 the desktop browser is ad-free and at no cost to download.

Developer: Opera is a quick-performing browser that utilizes notoriously strict standards support. The upside is reliable performance, security and consistency. The downside is that with fewer than 2% of users browsing with Opera, many developers will focus on IE and FF performance. One factor in Opera’s low adoption rate is that poorly built websites tended to display badly due to its strict standards adherence. Over the years, individuals who have tried Opera may have experienced problematic browsing and fallen back to a more forgiving (read: less standards-compliant) browser.

User: With recent versions, Opera has made incorporated some workarounds that help users view websites that do not adhere as strictly to web standards. Sites can still behave unexpectedly, however. And while Opera shares Firefox’s reputation for security, it lacks the wealth of open-source contributions. While this helps prevent buggy or insecure code from being added, it also limits what features can be enjoyed. Luckily, many of Opera’s standard features (like the widely emulated Speed Dial) and add-able Widgets offer some nice functionality.

Safari

Since 2003, Safari has been the default browser for Apple computers. In 2007 the browser was ported to Windows for the first time, allowing it to reach the wide audience of non-Apple users. The browser has also seen a lot more exposure as the default browser for the iPhone.

Developer: Safari far outperforms the previous default Apple browser, the now-defunct Internet Explorer for Mac. And now that the Windows version is available, the browser has become more than just an afterthought in a web developer’s process.

User: While Safari also lacks a lot of Firefox’s customizability, it likewise doesn’t suffer from the same bloated demand on your computer’s resources. It is also notably quick to load HTML and CSS, and handle Javascript. For lean, speedy browser, Safari makes a great choice.

Which Do You Choose?

While Firefox is the current rising star in the browser world, there are many reasons to look at other options. Beyond the major players, smaller browsers enjoy their ardent supporters who are attracted to more niche features or use (for example, Flock, which focuses strongly on the integration of social media and networking). Whatever you choose, be sure to keep your browser up to date with security patches and updates to ensure safe browsing and the best enjoyment of what the web has to offer.

And if you are still using Internet Explorer 6, please upgrade! The web development world will thank you.