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No, compiling is for the Apps people, not us admins. Besides, it's not as impressive a Web Server written in Postscript

IMO, IE's main problem is entirely caused by the lack of :before and :after elements for curvy corners, making sites like slashdot dangerous to read because you can easily poke an eye out on the sharp corners if you aren't careful. Curvy corners can also be also done using browser specific CSS -moz-border-radius or -webkit-border-radius tags, but even IE8 lacks this.

While Ruby and Java are nice and all, I give you Brainfuck and Ook!.

True, rounded anything is hard to achieve with the current CSS support we have in browsers. However, a lot of that is addressed with CSS3. Check out http://virtuelvis.com/download/218/border-radius.html to see a preview of some of the border-radius properties - most of which don't work in many browsers.

For now, I try to add any non-semantic HTML with Javascript, at least to keep it out of the way. It's a pretty ugly way to do things, but it's what we have to work with currently.

I choose to use IE7 because its what I choose. I'm not ignorant, I'm not a fanboy, and I'm not brainwashed. I just prefer it.

I prefer Firefox to IE, but to each his own.

You can block Flash with Opera using user stylesheets:

http://operawiki.info/FlashBlock
http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

The iPhone trademark is what is at issue between Cisco and Apple. That has nothing to do with IP or Copyright,

Meh, Large companies would have you believe that Trademark, Trade Secrets, Copyright & Patents (along with other intangible or government granted monoopolies) all fall into the 'Intellectual Property' basket.

Oh, and I could have been referring to either Cisco or Apple with my comment. Apple's complained about people violating it's copyright/look'n'feel/whatever countless times. But seems to have absolutely no problem violating some small guy's copyright

Heck, I like to switch stylesheets based on window size even so why not make that possible also without resorting to Javascript

You mentioned CSS3, so you may be aware of this already, but CSS media queries will eventually do this. AFAIK, Opera is still the only browser with even experimental support for them, though.

Ever notice how much stuff in Apple's forums end up in their FAQ

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

If you know how to code properly and comply with standards set by w3c, IE has minimal problems.

Given the dismal level of CSS support in IE (57% of CSS 2.1 in IE7, compared to upwards of 90% for Firefox 1.5 and Opera 9), it's quite easy to write properly standards-compliant CSS that IE just doesn't understand.

Writing standards-compliant code is a good start, but you also have to do one or more of the following:

1. Limit yourself to features that are implemented in Internet Explorer.
2. Accept that IE won't display your page quite the same as other browsers do.
3. Try to work around the missing functionality, differing interpretations, or bugs such that IE will do what you want. Unfortunately, this often involves adding non-standard code or re-mingling presentation into your content.

Of course, the same is true of any other browser that you choose to support, since no one has managed to cover 100% of the specs, never mind 100% bug-free. But given the much higher levels of support the top ones provide, you're less likely to encounter a showstopping gap in Firefox or Opera's presentation. (It does happen, just to a much lesser extent.)

if you are having major problems, your code must not be up to par with w3c's standards.

See, this is why I like to refer to "specs" rather than "standards." Calling something a specification is unambiguous: it's a document that specifies what something (in this case, a browser) should do. A standard could be, as in W3C standards, a standard way of doing something, or it could be a standard against which something is measured. Standards-compliant code is not code which is "up to standard," but code that follows the standard way of using CSS, HTML, etc. -- well-formed, no errors, not relying on proprietary features, etc. A standards-compliant browser is one which complies with the standard way of displaying CSS, HTML, etc.

EvilML is a great example of the two meanings of standard: it's standards-compliant, as it's a valid HTML 4.01 Strict document. But I wouldn't consider it "up to standard" in terms of good coding practices, cross-browser or not.

Semantics are also very important. Do you code with semantics in mind?

OK, now you're just being silly. Semantics are great for maintenance, search-friendly sites, and producing clean code, but they're on the content side. CSS is the presentation side. But I suppose you get bonus points for buzzword use.

I think the more limiting issue is that it is so hard to do AJAX across domains. XMLHttpRequest doesn't work, nor do hidden iframes.

Not true - there's a trick to get around iframe cross-domain security. You can still see the URIs of the frame. This means that the domain you are attempting to access can supply a special page that calls XMLHttpRequest on your behalf and streams the data to you by updating the fragment identifier.

It's an awful hack, but it's been wrapped up in an XMLHttpRequest emulation by Dojo.

Looking further ahead, there's already a proper model for cross-domain communication, and Opera already supports it.

What I have to ask is, "Is CSS to blame for the tiny text in boxes with horizontal scrollbars?"

Ok. I realise this answer is coming very late, but no: Your browser is. This is a particular aspect of Gecko's special handling of font declarations that specify monospace. See Monospace, Firefox and braindeath and Sizing monospaced fonts

The w3c validator is fine, to my understanding this is valid html

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2004/02/evilml

You can use Greasemonkey scripts in Opera. Under preferences, advanced, content, javascript options. You tell it the folder you have the scripts in, and put ;greasemonkey after it. Actually, Opera has it's own "User JS" thing. I'm not sure if you can mix those with greasemonkey scripts or not. This and the linked next article talk about Opera equivalents to extensions.

Web statistics (and I use that word loosely) that companies like OneStat sell are highly dubious, for all kinds of different reasons. I'd explain exactly what they do wrong, but their technical specs are a bit lacking, wouldn't you say? If you don't believe they are full of it, try reading this:

The OneStat.com solutions provide executives, marketers and webmasters with answers to critical e-business questions such as:

• Who is visiting my website?

Yeah, really convincing and doesn't sound like snake-oil peddlers at all.

And guess what, Opera can be extended in many different ways:

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions
http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

And guess what, Opera can be extended in many different ways:

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions
http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

You can find "Flashblock" for Opera too.

Here are some additional links with more information and screenshots, so you won't have to wade through all of the Opera forums to find them:

• The Slashdot Widget
• Pictorial walkthrough of Opera 9
• UserJS.org -- Granted, Opera can run many Greasemonkey scripts, the userjs.org feature of Opera allows some additional capabilities. These scripts are all compatible with Opera, and have undergone QA to verify that scripts are non-malicious, and as efficient as possible
• Widget developer tutorial - If you want to get started writing widgets, here's where to go
• Screenshots and explanations around the tab (and ctrl-tab) thumbnails
• Opera Search engine customization
• In-depth information about the content blocker
• Opera User stylesheet information

Opera Watch's take on this. See the comment where VirtuElvis (an Opera developper) says they probably got confused with the Opera Platform SDK.

Because if this was implemented as part of the browser, many websites would block Opera outright, and with good reason.

It is possible to do AdBlocking in Opera using URL filtering. See Opera equivalents to Firefox extensions. There's also a second part. HTH.

Because if this was implemented as part of the browser, many websites would block Opera outright, and with good reason.

It is possible to do AdBlocking in Opera using URL filtering. See Opera equivalents to Firefox extensions. There's also a second part. HTH.

Opps, sorry! :-( If you ever happen to want to try again check out this. Depending on what other extentions you use you may also be interested in this second article.

Opps, sorry! :-( If you ever happen to want to try again check out this. Depending on what other extentions you use you may also be interested in this second article.

Bugmenot can be added through a custom menu or button. The button is avalable here: http://nontroppo.org/wiki/CustomButtons and many others are as well. As for the rest, I don't know. You (and other FF users looking to switch) should check out http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions and http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii for some other alternatives, although I can't find anything for Hit-a-hint (whatever that is), Noscript, or Downthemall.

Bugmenot can be added through a custom menu or button. The button is avalable here: http://nontroppo.org/wiki/CustomButtons and many others are as well. As for the rest, I don't know. You (and other FF users looking to switch) should check out http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions and http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii for some other alternatives, although I can't find anything for Hit-a-hint (whatever that is), Noscript, or Downthemall.

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions
http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii
http://userjs.org/

What were you saying again?...

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions
http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii
http://userjs.org/

What were you saying again?...

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

Which means it is also cool, fuzzy and makes you dizzy! Purrfect ;)

Some people might even get courageous after using it. And others might even get more chicks/hunks.

Don't forget to pay the newly released community portal a visit too: http://my.opera.com/

If you think you are going to miss some extensions when switching take a look at the informative postings here:

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions

or here

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

For even more User JavaScripts look at http://userjs.org/

Which means it is also cool, fuzzy and makes you dizzy! Purrfect ;)

Some people might even get courageous after using it. And others might even get more chicks/hunks.

Don't forget to pay the newly released community portal a visit too: http://my.opera.com/

If you think you are going to miss some extensions when switching take a look at the informative postings here:

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/01/opera-and-f irefox-extensions

or here

http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2005/09/opera-and-f irefox-extensions-ii

For even more User JavaScripts look at http://userjs.org/

>So while RSS is stuck with regular HTML (escaped markup, whoa!) and images in its contents, Atom can already embed other XML namespaces like XHTML, SVG, MathML, FOAF, Dublin Core...

FOAF and DC can be used in RSS 1.0 (which is RDF) without any problems. It's even quite natural to use RDF vocabularies in an RDF syndication format. I agree on the content encoding matter.
Guessing what format RSS 0.9x/2.0 tags use (plain text, escaped HTML, CDATA, ...) sucks big time
(see
http://virtuelvis.com/archives/2004/03/11-ways-to- valid-rss)

"The fact is not who converted whom from the other side, but how many IE users switched to Opera VS. FF. In that regard, I think FF won big time."

"but konqueror, which is also a brand new browser doesn't quite reach"

"Although it's hard to get statistics, it's my (wild) guess at any rate."

(This is a partial repost from my own blog entry on Opera 8

Opera is giving away free licenses to people who help spread Opera. That's right, you can get a free license for an ad-free Opera, provided you do the following:

1. Register an account at the My Opera Community
2. Create an affiliate link on your blog or web site. Your link should be to http://my.opera.com/username/affiliate/ (substitute username for your My Opera username, replacing any spaces in your username with +). You can use either a text link, or one of the supplied banners.
3. Get fifty people to download Opera[1]

[1] It's actually getting them to visit my.opera.com, but: People should really, really try Opera 8. It's quite brilliant, and in many ways sets the standard for what a web browser should and should not do.

I think there must be something here you don't get: Referer spammers spam because there are public pages listing referrals.

Not listing refererrals will take away their incentive to spam.

As for protecting yourselves by other means, such as using tarpits, blocking them, one way or another, that is a separate measure.

Hey, you know that by making your stats available on the web you are doing the following:

You are helping (referer) spammers!

1. Thousands, if not millions of websites are beginning to experience real problems with Referer spam
2. The prime motivation for referer spam is PageRank whoring
3. Web sites that publish refererers, give spammers the illusion referrer spamming helps.

So, for the love of [insert deity here], would you please password protect such pages

With the danger of being modded way down by the zealotist crowd: If you are going to complain about Microsoft patents, could you instead point at the real problems:

• Microsoft are seeking a patent for URI rewriting
• United States Patent Application 20040260722

That particular patent, if granted, will in effect make mod_rewrite infringe. Not that Microsoft would stand a chance in court with this patent, since mod_rewrite predates both the application, and referenced patents.

And if you want a laugh from the MS' patent portfoliom you should know that Microsoft holds a patent for an apple tree named Burchinal Red Delicious. (US Patent PP14,757

With the danger of being modded way down by the zealotist crowd: If you are going to complain about Microsoft patents, could you instead point at the real problems:

• Microsoft are seeking a patent for URI rewriting
• United States Patent Application 20040260722

That particular patent, if granted, will in effect make mod_rewrite infringe. Not that Microsoft would stand a chance in court with this patent, since mod_rewrite predates both the application, and referenced patents.

And if you want a laugh from the MS' patent portfoliom you should know that Microsoft holds a patent for an apple tree named Burchinal Red Delicious. (US Patent PP14,757

I keep a list of earthquake related resources.

as for their statement about it being a replacement for powerpoint, I don't think that this will fly either unless they either: a) find a company to make a powerpoint alternative which saves to html files b) make the aforementioned software themselves.

I would find a remote control a better option than speech, since a remote control wouldn't force me to scream "NEXT SLIDE" across the room like an idiot before it recognizes what I'm saying. It would also be much smoother to just press a button on a remote control.

But, seeing as it's GPLed:

Waste-source

Please, mirror the file instead of using this as sole source. I have no opportunity to set up BitTorrent here, and I have maximum transfer per month constraints. I will pull the file after 1GB is transfered.

People are even willing to switch. After redesigning redesigning a couple of personal sites, making use of CSS MSIE cannot handle, people have actually been willing to switch

For the first of the two sites, the non-MSIE audience is now at 75% and visits have increased about 50% since the redesign. For the second site, the MSIE share is down from 60% to 38%, with a +50% increase in number of monthly visits.

Yes, these are small sites, but still, people are willing to switch. I have actually seen a lot of people switching from MSIE to Opera 7, and also a signifcant number of people have switched to either Mozilla or Phoenix.

People want tabbed browsing. They want mouse gestures. They want security. They despise pop-ups. And they want something smaller, faster, better. And for the first time in years, they actually are willing to do anything about it.

This is because the Mozilla quirks mode seems to mimic Netscape 4.x rather than IE4/5. This is not because Mozilla is a better quirks renderer than Opera.

As I've said in another reply and on my personal site, Microsoft seems to be specifically targetting Opera for a non-accessible version.

I did a little bit of research on this, and tested if any versions of Opera actually needed the stylesheet Microsoft is serving. Not even Opera 3.62 benefits from the stylesheet MSN wants to serve.

I don't for one second believe that MS is doing this for any other purpose than making Opera look bad. Why? Because in the mobile / Small-screen-market, Opera is definetly their biggest threat. The mobile market is the only browser market that still has a great potential for growth. Microsofts want to own that market. Currently, they don't. Microsoft won't own that market with Opera around. But they know they can't beat Opera in that market without first killing off Opera on the desktop.