2009-01-04: New Hotmail / Windows Live Now Works With Firefox
Category: Industry News
Posted by: lnxwalt
I recently reported that Hotmail had locked out non-IE users with the new version of its site.
I can now report that Hotmail works with Firefox and Epiphany, but not SeaMonkey, Galeon, Konqueror or Opera. I haven't tested K-Meleon, Safari, Chrome, or Camino.
As an aside, I think there is something in ASP.Net that causes non-standard markup to be emitted. Both CareerBuilder and Monster have problems with users of the standards-compliant Opera browser. Is it intentional, or is it another coding error?
With Internet Explorer continuing to lose market share (currently at 68%), the use of IE-specific extensions can only cause ASP-powered sites (such as the MSN/Live family of sites) to also lose share to their more standards-friendly and multi-browser friendly competitors. This can only be good for the Web, since it reduces the ability of any particular entity to control users' access or experience.
We salute the end of single-browser dominance and continue to announce and proclaim the free and open Web. Openness wins, in the end. We all know it, even in the halls of Redmond and Cupertino. Openness (free / libre and open source software) will be the dominant software development model. Openness (open standards) will be the dominant way to choose file formats and network protocols--and the software that uses them. Openness (user-friendly data-collection, data-retention, data-dissemination, and data-destruction policies) will be the dominant way that government agencies and Web sites operate, as well.
I can now report that Hotmail works with Firefox and Epiphany, but not SeaMonkey, Galeon, Konqueror or Opera. I haven't tested K-Meleon, Safari, Chrome, or Camino.
As an aside, I think there is something in ASP.Net that causes non-standard markup to be emitted. Both CareerBuilder and Monster have problems with users of the standards-compliant Opera browser. Is it intentional, or is it another coding error?
With Internet Explorer continuing to lose market share (currently at 68%), the use of IE-specific extensions can only cause ASP-powered sites (such as the MSN/Live family of sites) to also lose share to their more standards-friendly and multi-browser friendly competitors. This can only be good for the Web, since it reduces the ability of any particular entity to control users' access or experience.
We salute the end of single-browser dominance and continue to announce and proclaim the free and open Web. Openness wins, in the end. We all know it, even in the halls of Redmond and Cupertino. Openness (free / libre and open source software) will be the dominant software development model. Openness (open standards) will be the dominant way to choose file formats and network protocols--and the software that uses them. Openness (user-friendly data-collection, data-retention, data-dissemination, and data-destruction policies) will be the dominant way that government agencies and Web sites operate, as well.
