Another example of Microsoft holding back the web

HTML5 and Standards Based Video (http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/05/google-dailymotion-endorse-html-5-and-standards-based-video.ars)
Microsoft's slowness to adopt emerging standards is probably the biggest hurdle that is impeding adoption of the HTML 5 video element. Microsoft is still struggling to implement long-standing Web standards, so it seems unlikely that the software giant will jump on board with a highly complex emerging standard that is still in the draft stage. Microsoft also has some competitive interests on the table that conflict with standards-based video efforts. Specifically, Microsoft is pushing its own Sliverlight browser plugin as an alternative.

Aside from Microsoft, virtually every other browser vendor already has an HTML 5 video implementation or has publicly announced plans to develop one. Microsoft's dominant marketshare, however, largely deflates the value of that widespread support in the broader browser ecosystem. There are some factors that could potentially push Microsoft into action, but it's hard to imagine it happening any time in the immediate future.

Unless we all vow to dump this turd of a browser, IE, and get all our friends and family to do so, too.

I won't argue that IE is a turd. In using IE8 over the past month or so, I'm actually very impressed with the step forward Microsoft has taken. It's far from perfect, but still a step in the right direction.

I don't claim to know much about HTML5 support, so I'll abstain from any opinions regarding it.

However, I'm not all against the development of Silverlight. Just because it benefits Microsoft doesn't mean it isn't a good idea - the fact that Adobe Flash has a virtual monopoly on online video is certainly far from the perfect answer. Silverlight may not ever completely accomplish its mission, but the fact remains that alternatives to Flash need to be made available.

I found the best alternative to Flash you could ever find!

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/433?src=api

I groan every time I go to a website and a slow, bloated flash starts loading. I realize at that moment that I'm going to waste 10 minutes of my life trying to find the info I need via a confused flash interface. Anything that makes this Flash annoyance go away is a good thing.

Yeah, MicroTurd sucks big fat donkey dong - we've all known it for a long time. I personally use FF and love it. I have so many add-ons that it loads pretty slow, but I wouldn't give it up for anything.