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IE9 runs on exactly 0 mobile devices. I don't think it's fair to call a browser "modern" when it's the only browser that doesn't run on at least one mobile devi

by cryptoz 16y ago

IE9 runs on exactly 0 mobile devices. I don't think it's fair to call a browser "modern" when it's the only browser that doesn't run on at least one mobile device. Safari, Opera, Chrome [1], and Firefox all run on a variety of platforms including many mobile devices. And given that most people see "mobile" as a defining element of modern tech, it's pretty awkward to call a Windows Vista/7-only web browser "modern". Microsoft even has their own, Windows-based mobile platform but it runs IE7/8. If IE9 is modern, why can't I hold it in my hand like every other web browser? [1] While I suppose Chrome isn't branded as such on Android, the Android 3.0 browser is so close in both appearance and capability (and likely, code) that it seems silly to keep them apart.

ryandvm 16y ago
That's kind of a silly criticism. The mobile versions of all the major browsers are basically only the rendering engine stuck into a mobile shell. At that point, Safari and Chrome are both based on Webkit, and as such they are practically the same browser. And anyway, it probably won't be long until Windows Phone 7 gets a Trident refresh from IE9.
- cryptoz 16y ago
  > The mobile versions of all the major browsers are basically only the rendering engine stuck into a mobile shell. So why hasn't MS done that with IE9 then? Why can't we have IE9's rendering engine on a mobile platform? From what I hear, that would be a significant improvement over the IE7/8 combo that they're shipping right now. > And anyway, it probably won't be long until Windows Phone 7 gets a Trident refresh from IE9. I'll take a bet on that. $10 says it'll be 2012 before that happens.
  - kenjackson 16y ago
    They've already announced that IE9 will be available on WP7 later this year.
    - cryptoz 16y ago
      I'm still willing to bet. :)
earnubs 16y ago
I take the point but I don't think this is valid criticism of IE9's 'modern' pretentions. (And anyway, Chrome doesn't run on mobile devices, neither does Safari. What you have are various implementations of Webkit, all different across the various OS versions.)
powertower 16y ago
I do not associate the word "modern" with "mobile" at all (at least not in the Windows OS / desktop browser market). Though, falling over backwards trying to post something negative whenever Microsoft is praised is associated with a few other things such as: zealotry, lack of confidence, ignorance.
- cryptoz 16y ago
  I am pleased with IE's changes and Microsoft's dedication to bring a better web along. But I strongly disagree that this alone means that IE is now "modern" because is so many other ways it is stuck in the past. It may be an excellent browser (I don't know, my OS doesn't support it) and it may be the fastest out there and it may be very standards compliant. But that definitely doesn't automatically make it modern.

by cryptoz 16y ago

ryandvm 16y ago

That's kind of a silly criticism. The mobile versions of all the major browsers are basically only the rendering engine stuck into a mobile shell. At that point, Safari and Chrome are both based on Webkit, and as such they are practically the same browser. And anyway, it probably won't be long until Windows Phone 7 gets a Trident refresh from IE9.

cryptoz 16y ago
> The mobile versions of all the major browsers are basically only the rendering engine stuck into a mobile shell. So why hasn't MS done that with IE9 then? Why can't we have IE9's rendering engine on a mobile platform? From what I hear, that would be a significant improvement over the IE7/8 combo that they're shipping right now. > And anyway, it probably won't be long until Windows Phone 7 gets a Trident refresh from IE9. I'll take a bet on that. $10 says it'll be 2012 before that happens.
- kenjackson 16y ago
  They've already announced that IE9 will be available on WP7 later this year.
  - cryptoz 16y ago
    I'm still willing to bet. :)

earnubs 16y ago

I take the point but I don't think this is valid criticism of IE9's 'modern' pretentions. (And anyway, Chrome doesn't run on mobile devices, neither does Safari. What you have are various implementations of Webkit, all different across the various OS versions.)

powertower 16y ago

I do not associate the word "modern" with "mobile" at all (at least not in the Windows OS / desktop browser market). Though, falling over backwards trying to post something negative whenever Microsoft is praised is associated with a few other things such as: zealotry, lack of confidence, ignorance.

cryptoz 16y ago
I am pleased with IE's changes and Microsoft's dedication to bring a better web along. But I strongly disagree that this alone means that IE is now "modern" because is so many other ways it is stuck in the past. It may be an excellent browser (I don't know, my OS doesn't support it) and it may be the fastest out there and it may be very standards compliant. But that definitely doesn't automatically make it modern.