There been a "perfect storm" developing over the future of Internet Explorer that provides a classic example of how the viral nature of how the new media space works. The noise level continues to increase about what Microsoft is up to with regards to bringing out a new version of Internet Explorer in advance of and/or separate from what will be included in Longhorn. Here's a timeline.
Scoble's comment "leak" - Robert Scoble "leaks" that Dave Massey has retuned to the IE team.
http://radio.weblogs.com/0001011/2004/06/16.html#a7776
Dave Massey's post: Return of the xxxx? - Dave Massey posts after the Scoble "leak". In a blog with fewer than 20
posts, Massey generates nearly 300 comments.
http://blogs.msdn.com/dmassy/archive/2004/06/16/157263.aspx
Slashdot: Microsoft Is Planning To Renew IE Development - Slasdot picks up the news, generating its typical amount
of reaction and argument from the pro- and anti-Microsoft crowds in that community.
http://developers.slashdot.org/developers/04/06/20/1740256…
Neowin: Microsoft Bringing Back the IE Team? - Neowin picks up on the Slashdot thread, generating even more links
and posts.
http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=21472&category=mai…
Then, on Channel 9, a number of conversations crop up in the Coffee House section.
Channel 9: Here's a hint on how to find out the new features badly needed in IE…it's called Firefox
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=10681#10681
Channel 9: When will we see features that Internet Explorer lacks in Internet Explorer?
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=341
Channel 9: If there is a new IE
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=10677
In a related post (though not directly linked to this coversation) Lockergnome's Chris Pirillo suggests it's time to
"dump IE"
http://channels.lockergnome.com/news/archives/20040615_why_y…
Personally, I would love to see Microsoft respond to the challenges Firefox has presented with its recent releases. It's a fine browser with some very nice features that should be in IE like tabbed browsing support. It will be most interesting to watch what the chatter volume does, if anything, to create a greater sense of urgency at Microsoft to react.
1. From my perspective, the browser Microsoft should be checking is MyIE. It has the tabbed interface, but allows you to save “Groups” of related pages. It is very cool.
Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Michael Hyatt