Microsoft: IE8 still beats Firefox, just ignore those pesky add-ons |
Connect with TechFlash on our Facebook page for all the latest technology news headlines and commentary, plus information and access to special events, photos from events, promotions and more.
Today On Techflash
- WTIA announces Industry Achievement Award finalists
- What's the most you'll pay for an app? Execs have their limits
- Apple seen unveiling iPad 3 in first week of March
- Paul Allen's Vulcan wants taller South Lake Union buildings
- Bezos loses $300M on Forbes' billionaire list
- Startup seeks a new start: What's next for EquaShip?
- UW opens New Ventures Facility for startups
- Apps for daily living: Executives name their favorites
- Check out this app: Executives list the ones they use most
- Microsoft, Apple speak out on patents amid mobile-technology wars
- Keiretsu Forum NW invested $24 million in 36 startups in 2011
- TechNet study: Washington third in 'app economy' jobs
- Pioneer Square: a little fiber to go with all that brick
- 'Fast Pitch Forum' to debut May 27 with some familiar names
- Pioneer Square: a little fiber to go with all that brick
- Startup seeks a new start: What's next for EquaShip?
- What's the most you'll pay for an app? Execs have their limits
- Keiretsu Forum NW invested $24 million in 36 startups in 2011
- Amazon, Apple make tech the new stable source of jobs in the U.S.
Mass High Tech
- Microsoft Build: Windows 8 preview a hit, but are investors unhappy?
- Build an app in a day at Mobile App Hackathon
- Beefed-up Skype for Windows; Indie author joins Amazon's 'Kindle Million Club'
- Only solution to Xbox 360 update error is new console
- Ballmer: Windows Phone update 'Mango' has over 500 new features
Microsoft: IE8 still beats Firefox, just ignore those pesky add-ons
With Firefox 3.5 now finished and available for download, Microsoft used the occasion to tout the speed of Internet Explorer 8. Whereas previously Microsoft focused on page load times, the company today made the case that IE8's "Accelerators" make it faster to use.
Accelerators let Web users highlight text on a page and right-click to bring up a menu to automatically insert and use that text on other sites, rather than cutting and pasting. Microsoft offered up a video showing how Accelerators speed up simple tasks, but it made a point of noting that "all tests were performed using the default installation settings for each browser. No additional add-ons or extensions were added."
Why is that important? Well, it just so happens that an easily installed Firefox add-on called KallOut offers similar functionality.
It would be much more interesting to see a true head-to-head challenge, pitting IE8 vs. Firefox with the KallOut add-on installed, to see how many steps each requires for basic tasks.
For example, one common use is to highlight an address on a page and insert the text into an online mapping service, without cutting and pasting. In our casual use of the KallOut feature for that purpose, the add-on seemed to rival IE8 Accelerators in terms of speeding up the process. But we haven't yet had a chance to conduct extensive testing, so we'll be interested to hear what people say based on their own experiences with each browser.
Even if there are subtle differences, the situation raises, yet again, the question of whether browser users should get those kinds of extra features out of the box or add them on by choice. It often comes down to the personal preference of the individual user. Many tech-savvy PC users prefer the add-on approach, but casual PC users often want their software to have as many capabilities as possible by default.
Should be interesting to see which approach prevails in the long run.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
TechFlash Team
Recent Sponsor Posts
Who's creating today's energy efficient buildings? Find out at the BetterBricks Awards, Feb. 16
BetterBricks Awards salute the individuals leading the way for high performance commercial buildings with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Join us as we recognize these standout green building professionals.
Award categories include: Advocate; Architect/Designer; Facility Manager/Operator; and Owner/Developer.
Keynote Speaker: Kevin Kampschroer, Director of U.S. GSA's Office of Federal High Performance Buildings. Kevin leads the U.S. General Services Administration's efforts in building sustainability and accelerating industry adoption of sustainable principles across all aspects of a building's life.
Register here by February 10!
If you are interested in buying a table, email Monica Alquist or call her at 206-876-5404.
The Triple Door Presents: The Atomic Bombshells "J'ADORE!: A Burlesque Valentine"
Seattle's reigning Burlesque super-troupe delivers a gorgeous and glittering VALENTINE featuring some of the Bombshells' most exhilarating acts to date. J'Adore! promises to celebrate l'amour with good humor, style, and a healthy dose of dazzle! Bring a friend, a lover, a family member, or a secret crush, and celebrate with the Valentine's Burlesque spectacular that will leave you shouting: "J'ADORE......The Atomic Bombshells!" The incomparable Jasper McCann emcees with high style and charm.
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
The Triple Door Presents: Bob Mould – See A Little Light: An Evening of Reading and Music
"Bob Mould. Those two words are synonymous with integrity. From Husker Du in the last century to right at this moment, Bob is the real deal, writing and playing music for music's sake. He's a great songwriter and performer. I have been a fan of Bob's for thirty years now with no end in sight." -Henry Rollins
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
Why Choose BDO for your SOC (previously SAS 70) Reports?
BDO’s experience in providing attestation services (SAS 70/SSAE 16, AT 101, AT 201, AT 601, etc.) to a broad range of industries, and our team of skilled professionals distinctly qualifies us to serve as your company’s Service Auditor. By leveraging the BDO global network of control specialists, we are poised to provide global services in more than 1,000 offices and across 119 countries. Many organizations find that investing in reports on controls may result in benefits, including:
• Increased client confidence
• Improved competitive advantage
• Minimization of frequent audits
• Streamlined business processes and controls
• Enhanced risk management
For detailed information contact Paul Martini at pmartini@bdo.com.
