IE8 opt-in becomes IE8 opt-out

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I am very pleasantly surprised. Microsoft have announced today that they have reversed their decision on the new standards mode trigger in IE8; instead of having to opt in to standards mode by using the META tag, you will have to opt out by using it instead.

In light of the Interoperability Principles, as well as feedback from the community, we’re choosing differently. Now, IE8 will show pages requesting “Standards” mode in IE8’s Standards mode. Developers who want their pages shown using IE8’s “IE7 Standards mode” will need to request that explicitly.

This is a very wise decision, IMHO (and I’m not the only one to think so). Standards-aware developers can code their sites to meet the latest standards in all the major browsers, and anyone who finds their site displaying strangely in the new Explorer can fix it with a small line of code.

Microsoft’s Interoperability Principles promise more open protocols and adherence to standards. I think this is a very welcome move, even if a small part of me is wondering what the catch might be…

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“IE8 opt-in becomes IE8 opt-out”

  1. […] Links is saying “I am very pleasantly surprised; this is a very wise decision.” Robert McLaws thinks, […]