1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

News Google sounds death knell for IE 6

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by CardJoe, 24 Feb 2010.

  1. CardJoe

    CardJoe Freelance Journalist

    Joined:
    3 Apr 2007
    Posts:
    11,346
    Likes Received:
    316
  2. Jamie

    Jamie ex-Bit-Tech code junkie

    Joined:
    12 Mar 2001
    Posts:
    8,180
    Likes Received:
    54
    Besides web search this could be the best thing Google has ever done.

    We need companies like this with the power to change the user base to push web browsers forward.
     
  3. Singularity

    Singularity ******* Operator from Hell

    Joined:
    2 Mar 2008
    Posts:
    583
    Likes Received:
    4
    IE6 is old and broken. Just let it die already. Why continue to support it if everyone CAN upgrade to a normal browser? It's not like is forced to use it with no alternative (except enterprise users, but that's just stupidity on the IT department's part).
    Time to move on, otherwise we'll be living in the past. Might as well support the ol' Netscape too :D
     
  4. mi1ez

    mi1ez Modder

    Joined:
    11 Jun 2009
    Posts:
    1,615
    Likes Received:
    101
    Completely pre-empted me there!
     
  5. antiHero

    antiHero ReliXmas time!

    Joined:
    19 Jan 2005
    Posts:
    2,037
    Likes Received:
    13
    Thanks Google! Its about time. Luckily IE6 has such a small market share in finland (4%) that most devs dont support it anymore.
    But if IT departments have not upgraded yet for other reasons why would they do it for Youtube support?
     
  6. 500mph

    500mph The Right man in the Wrong place

    Joined:
    22 Jun 2007
    Posts:
    2,129
    Likes Received:
    33
    Now they need to put this on the search page to make sure plenty of people see it.
     
  7. Mr T

    Mr T 4 Left Into Long 3 Right

    Joined:
    14 Nov 2001
    Posts:
    1,742
    Likes Received:
    0
    As a web developer this can't come soon enough.
     
  8. Darv

    Darv Bling!!

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    1,692
    Likes Received:
    6
    It's a good step by Google. At work we are all stuck on IE6 for god knows what reason. However Youtube is banned during work hours it's not exaclty going to make our IT department want to switch.
     
  9. eddtox

    eddtox Homo Interneticus

    Joined:
    7 Jan 2006
    Posts:
    1,296
    Likes Received:
    15
    No sympathy for IE6. It should have died a long time ago and maintaining support for it isn't doing anyone any favours, least of all those people running IE6. It is trivial for most people to upgrade their browser to something more recent.

    As for corporate entities, do we care? Surely the whole web-dev world doesn't need to maintain support for an archaic browser just because a few corporations refuse to upgrade. The IT Techs of said corporations should be aware of the benefits of newer browsers, and if they keep using IE6 despite all of those benefits, that is their choice and they have to live with the consequences.

    IE6 was released on the 27th of August 2001 (eight and a half years ago). IE7 was released on the 18th of Oct 2006 (three and a half years ago) and IE8 was released on the 19th of March 2009 (nearly a year ago), it's not like people haven't had enough time to move on. Eight and a half years is an awfully long time in the Tech industry.

    (dates are according to wikipedia)
     
  10. Darv

    Darv Bling!!

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2002
    Posts:
    1,692
    Likes Received:
    6
    As I recall IE6 was released with windows XP. Now how many people are still using XP? ;)

    I'm certainly not supporting IE6 but within a big company (for instance my company has 40,000+ employees) it's not just a case of upgrading everyones browser and it certainly wouldn't be some tech guys decision. It would be up to the management to approve something like that and they simply don't understand why it needs changing. IE6 works, to a degree, so they won't understand the benefits.
     
  11. Mongoose132

    Mongoose132 Duckmad

    Joined:
    23 Aug 2007
    Posts:
    783
    Likes Received:
    22
    Our whole School System still uses IE6, asked the Admins if they'll be upgrading any time soon after they saw this, and still no luck, wish we could get access to Chrome or FF, six feels so outdated after using the modern equivalents, after all the small short cuts and handy little things implemented over the years, it feels weird :p
     
  12. SlowMotionSuicide

    SlowMotionSuicide Come Hell or High Water

    Joined:
    16 May 2009
    Posts:
    835
    Likes Received:
    20
    Too bad we're still forced use to IE6 at work :(
     
  13. FelixTech

    FelixTech Robot

    Joined:
    12 Jun 2009
    Posts:
    357
    Likes Received:
    8
    Way to go Google, fighting old software and creating work for the IT sector at the same time!
     
  14. V3ctor

    V3ctor Tech addict...

    Joined:
    10 Dec 2008
    Posts:
    584
    Likes Received:
    3
    Still on IE6 and Windows 2000 here... And I'm forced to use it, it crashes every 5 pages... :(
     
  15. badders

    badders Neuken in de Keuken

    Joined:
    4 Dec 2007
    Posts:
    2,642
    Likes Received:
    74
    This is exactly the sort of thing that needs to be done to encourage IE6 to die.
    Corporate IT will sit up and listen, as YouTube is a major site.
    The thing holding most Corporate environments back from upgrading, is the support costs. First off you have to deploy the newer versions, then you have to pay for support when a user calls the helpdesk and complains that their Web Applications (that were designed for IE6) do not work anymore. THEN you have to pay out to re-write or find alternatives to those applications, all the while taking the hit for the lost productivity, or rolling back changes.

    I know this is somewhat simplified, and could be mitigated by good planning, but every corporate environment running IE6 will run into these issues.

    Several sites have stopped working at work for me in IE6 - google maps locks up the browser, and Akamai control centre has critical Layout issues :(
     
  16. Xir

    Xir Modder

    Joined:
    26 Apr 2006
    Posts:
    5,412
    Likes Received:
    133
    Me! :D
    Also my work, and therefore IE6.

    Personally I use firefox, but also in an older version as the last updates to a new version always killed my plugins/links. (and I'd have to kill the "awesomebar" again) *sigh*

    New computer -> New OS -> new browser :thumb:

    Really? In my company Youtube is blocked...so is ebay.... (and the "Gaming" section of BitTech along with all other gaming related sites)
     
  17. dslickness

    dslickness What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    27 Feb 2008
    Posts:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    RIP EI6, you were good to us way back then. But now you are a dead horse that people are still beating.
     
  18. NiHiLiST

    NiHiLiST New-born car whore

    Joined:
    18 Aug 2001
    Posts:
    3,987
    Likes Received:
    6
    A 10% market share? Try 17%, it's best not to get browser usage stats from sites about web development, they tend to be somewhat skewed ;)

    As others have said, people using IE6 are either locked in by their company's software setup, or aren't the type to use YouTube or Google's "web apps" much. If this move causes IE6's market share to drop by more than 2% I'll be stunned. It's a shame, some of my clients at work could save thousands if that browser would just roll over and die.
     
  19. deadsea

    deadsea What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    9 Oct 2009
    Posts:
    197
    Likes Received:
    6
    I'm still on XP, but hell no to IE6. That browser is the reasoon why i need to have ie tabs installed on FF.

    Personally, upgrading to Win 7 is a dumb option for me. Since when does the OS cost 60% the price of the hardware?
     
  20. Sparrowhawk

    Sparrowhawk Wetsander

    Joined:
    14 Feb 2004
    Posts:
    584
    Likes Received:
    1
    Tell them IE6 is a major security vuln. and that they need to switch to Firefox or Chrome. Seriously. If Google can be hacked because of IE6 (IIRC), anyone can. :wallbash:
     
Tags: Add Tags

Share This Page