Microsoft to Release Internet Explorer 7 - Is Your Web Site Ready?
Microsoft to Release Internet Explorer 7 - Is Your Web Site Ready?
Your new Web site is up and running with all its unique and user-friendly features. Your customers are happy, and you are happy. Business is good.
And now youve heard that Microsofts Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7), with a whole new set of enhancements and improvements (the technical details of which only Web designers may be able to understand) is on the horizon. According to Adam McFarland of iPrioritize, those improvements will include such things as tabbed browsing, better printing, RSS feed integration, more advanced searching, and better security features, as well as a plethora of add-ons to enhance the user experience . Even if you dont understand the how of these features youre glad that such technological advances will improve the services you offer your customers.
However, it is NOW time before its release for you to prepare for the advent of IE 7. Why? There are several important reasons:
- IE 7 may arrive as a forced update, and that update may happen overnight when it happens.
Kevin Yank makes the following statement in the SitePoint Tech Times: "Word on the street is that, upon its release (before year's end), IE 7 will be pushed out as a forced update to Windows XP users everywhere, as was done for Service Pack 2. The move to IE 7 among the end-user masses will not be a gradual migration, but a sudden and significant shift." Find out what else Yank has to say at the following site: http://www.sitepoint.com/newsletter/viewissue.php?id=3&issue=147&format=html
On Microsoft's IEBlog, the IE 7 development team refutes the idea of a forced update. They say, "Additionally, users will not be forced to migrate to IE 7 when its released. Of course, we hope our users will upgrade were proud of IE 7 and are excited to see it ship! But, if you dont want to move, you wont have to." Read more about what the development team says at: http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/08/30/730878.aspx
- Your Web site may need updates to be viewed properly by the IE 7 browser.
Microsoft has already released Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 (RC1). The RC1, which can be downloaded from the Internet Explorer site, will allow you or your Web developer to test your sites and to update them to work with the new browser. Adam McFarland recommends downloading RC1 to a computer other than your primary machine [because] you still want IE6 on your primary machine at least until IE7 is officially launched .
Markus Mielke, a Microsoft Program Manager, offers users and developers, among other items, the Information Index for IE 7 and the IE 7 Readiness Toolkit, which pulls together documentation, tools, and guidance for developers, testers, and ITPros to prepare sites, extensions and applications for IE 7. Mielke also asks for, and promises, assistance: As we struggle to balance the needs of our user customers with the desires of web developers, we need your help. The only way for us to continue to improve our standards support is to get your help in changing your sites for IE 7.
With these tools, as well as the latest information about the IE 7 changes at such sites as http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/, you can avoid receiving phone calls and e-mails from customers wondering what has happened to your Web site. So, be proactive. Serve your customers before they even know they need your assistance. In fact, if you and your Web developer troubleshoot any interface problems ahead of time, your customers may never know they could have also had the problems they hear others complaining about in the days to come.
- You want quality time with your Web developer in order to update your site for IE 7 and you want that time provided in a timely manner i.e., before the IE 7 release.
Because almost every advance in technology causes problems with previous generations of that same technology, you need to expect some difficulties with the arrival of IE 7. Therefore, contact your Web developer now to schedule the time needed to test your site. Do not wait until you get that first phone call.
As Jay Massey of Coco Design Associates says:
I am looking forward to the release of Internet Explorer 7. This version of IE7 represents Microsoft's greater adherence to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards. These standards have existed for more than four years and represent internationally accepted guidelines for Web development. Just like the Firefox browser, IE 7 was developed with W3C standards in mind. Upgrading to either IE 7 or Firefox is a very good thing.
The primary consideration for a Web site owner is how the IE 7 upgrade will affect the look and possibly the functionality of their current site. Existing web sites that are built to the W3C's standards should do fairly well with the new IE 7; however, older Web sites (2+ years), or sites that are developed with a focus on IE6 functionality, may have a few problems. We at Coco Design are aware of a few issues relating to how the new Internet Explorer 7 addresses cascading style sheets, some content management editors and possibly JavaScript. These are typically easy to remedy and we recommend that Web site owners review their options for an IE 7 maintenance update before their visitors start complaining.
Bottom line: IE 7 is not a bad thing; it is a significant improvement over IE 6. However, Web site owners and Web site developers will be busy for a couple of months working out a few details.
You can get more information on W3C standards at http://w3.org/.
Contacts:
Coco Design Associates, Inc.
P. Jay Massey
President
850-434-2626
jay@cocodesign.com
About Coco Design:
Founded in 1994, Coco Design Associates, Inc., the makers of the 1DotNow and CocoEasy line of web products, provides scalable, easy-to-maintain websites and powerful web-based applications that bring value to the client's bottom line. Their core business expertise is the development of custom e-business architecture including web design, internet marketing, application development, flash animation, database integration, e-commerce, and intranet/extranet solutions. President and CEO Jay Massey is a recognized speaker on internet marketing strategy.
Website: http://cocodesign.com
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