Is Internet Explorer 8 a decent product?
Jun/09Comments
I’m a web developer by trade. I spend my days in front of a computer screen typing away code that makes web applications work. One of the biggest gripes web developers have about this business is compatibility between browsers. Each browser manufacturer each has their own interpretation of HTML, CSS, Javascript and other technologies that go into making this page — and every page — work. When browsers don’t interpret things the same way, you find sites that break in some browsers but not in others.
Internet Explorer Logo
Internet Explorer 7, and especially 6, was notorious for breaking web standards compliant web sites because of how Microsoft interprets web technologies. Browsers like Firefox, Opera and Safari aren’t perfect either, but they’re closer to that arguably unachievable mark. But what about IE8? Has it finally decided to adopt technology standards that are more consistent with the rest of the industry? Is the browser more convenient to use than major competitors like Firefox and Opera? I took a look around the Internet and here’s what I came up with.
Computer World
Computer World generally sings its praises by mentioning respectable improvements in the new version, like a superior tabbing feature compared to its earlier versions. For example, “When you open a new tab from an existing page, the new one opens directly to the right of the originating one, and both tabs are given the same color. That way, all related tabs are automatically grouped and color-coded,” the article states. Also, CW likes the new address bar, which now searches previously viewed web sites in a fashion that Firefox and Chrome already do.
Deep sea photography captures striking images
Jun/09Comments
Underwater photography is a lot of fun – so long as you’re using an underwater camera and not thoroughly destroying your regular one. This photo was taken by a National Geographic photographer by the name of Emory Kristof who was involved in the design of an underwater robot (equipped with photographic equipment) that found the Titanic.
Deep sea photography of a sea nettle (National Geographic)
This photo of a sea nettle shows the spendid quality that the remote-controlled robot cameras can get at very low depths. According to National Geographic, this photo was taken in the Canada Basin, Arctic Ocean.
Iranian football players banned for wearing wristbands
Jun/09Comments
Iranian football team (AFP)
Now this is rich – to protest the extremely controversial “victory” of Iranian wild man and ruler Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, some players of the nation’s football (soccer, to us) team wore green wristbands. At least one player claims he was forced off the team (banned) because of it. An Iranian newspaper promptly changed the word “ban” to “retired”, but the effect is still the same. If you show opposition to Ahmadinejad, even if by doing nothing other than wearing a wristband, you will suffer the consequences of a corrupt government’s backlash. Keeping the people in line with the government is of utmost importance to a government who cannot afford dissent.
Dissent is absolutely critical if people want to remain free. Arguably, the Iranian people were never truly free to begin with, but a government willing to retaliate against its own people by exerting its power to punish for no other reason than dissention is a government that fears its populace. A government that cannot possibly stand on its own merits is forced to fear the population and protect against a quite natural backlash in response to aggression and hostility.
Early heat caused dust storms in the Middle East
Jun/09Comments
This was Nasa’s photograph of the day back on March 5th – the photo itself was taken February 28th during a significant dust storm that plagued the United Arab Emirates due to February heat that almost touched 100 degrees.
Dust storm over United Arab Emirates (NASA)
Interesting that the storms were so severe that it actually obscured the Terra satellite’s view of the Arabian Gulf.