Future Web pages may change (AP Photo/WalMart.com)
According to Microsoft, Internet Explorer 9 will utilize the graphic features of Direct2D for its rendering needs. This will mean significant speed increase for the web browser and new rendering possibilities not previously seen in the browser. One of the complaints with Internet Explorer browsers has been there lack of speed when compared to Firebox. This latest move may help to invigorate Microsoft's web browser.
According to Gregg Keizer of Computerworld, Internet Explorer 9 will be compatible with Windows Vista and Windows 7 but earlier versions of Windows. This will mean that anyone running Windows XP or earlier platforms will not be able to run the new web browser.
It is important to remember that Windows XP is still going to be supported up until 2012, which may delay some from upgrading to Microsoft's latest operating systems. It will be curious to see Internet Explorer 9 will pull ahead in the browser wars or keep running alongside its current web browser lineup. Some companies are pushing for 3d applications and web pages with 3d elements such as Nvidia. While Direct2D is not utilized for 3d graphics, it could be a step in that direction. However, it would not be be the biggest ramification of using Direct2D for the web.
Most websites are essentially text driven document with graphics and embedded multimedia. XHTML is a text page layout language which is composed of text formatting. However,one wanders what impact a web browser would have with greater graphical processing power. In the short term probably not much. However, for the very advanced developers, there may be a time when web pages are developed based on graphical foundations instead of text ones are commonplace. If such an event does occur then several problems may occur.
One problem is the tying end of Microsoft technology with web standards. Will people really want Microsoft to hold the keys to the kingdom? By tying in future graphical web pages to its Direct2D platform, some pages might be optimized for Microsoft browsers while being incompatible with other browsers. This may seem far off and far fetched but there is a remote possibility of it occurring. Most probably other web browser developers would also create similar Direct2D or other graphical rendering engines for the web as well.
Another problem is accessibility for those with impairments such as vision loss. Many special reading browsers and programs utilize the text foundation of current web pages to help process content for the visually impaired. However, such technologies fail when encountering graphical content. This is already occurring with Flash media presentations. With greater degrees of graphical web pages, this may become more of a problem for some users.
Hopefully these problems will be addressed with the changes coming not only with Internet Explorer 9 but with all web platforms across the board.
For more news about Internet Explorer 9:
- CNET With Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft fights back in browser wars
- eWeek: A Security Wish List for Microsoft Internet Explorer 9
- IEblog: An Early Look at Internet Explorer 9
- Internet Explorer to Get GPU Rendering....
- Microsoft reveals first Internet Explorer 9 details
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