Utube to stop supporting IE6

[Lloyd Buchinski]

I especially liked the start of the story.

"YouTube will no longer support Internet Explorer 6, TechRadar can confirm, with Google beginning to roll out warnings to those accessing the video site that they should update to a better browser."

It's interesting for Google to throw a subtle hint toward MS, like "get a better browser."

Here is the rest of the article. Official: YouTube to stop IE6 support | News | TechRadar UK

It was just my little cheer me up, feel good story of the day. The sooner IE6 follows Dracula to the grave, the better.

[garyv]

I love it. Google is using Microsoft's own techniques to get people to switch over to chrome.

[Damien Roche]

LOVE it! ie6 is a disease that needs to be wiped from the techno-landscape.

[Emmanuel Inyang]

Originally Posted by garyv

I love it. Google is using Microsoft's own techniques to get people to switch over to chrome.

Yeah, or upgrade to IE8, I've upgraded to IE8 and it works perfect with youtube.

[indexphp]

Hell yea! Hopefully a big percentage of the internet will now finally upgrade to a real browser.

[Alex Sol]

Awesome!
I hope they also stop supporting IE7 and 8.
DEATH to the Gates Empire

[Lloyd Buchinski]

Originally Posted by Alex Sol

I hope they also stop supporting IE7 and 8.

What an enthusiastic guy. I enjoyed that.

[Ryan6]

Just means upgrade to IE8.

Carry on with your bitter hating. It won't get you anywhere. IE has the largest market share in browsers today with 65%+.

[garyv]

Originally Posted by Ryan6

Just means upgrade to IE8.

Carry on with your bitter hating. It won't get you anywhere. IE has the largest market share in browsers today with 65%+.

But with Google owning youtube, they can put a download link to the new browser right at the top of the page. And with youtube being one of the most visited websites on the net, that market share of microsoft's will be shrinking fast.

[GarrieWilson]

Originally Posted by garyv

But with Google owning youtube, they can put a download link to the new browser right at the top of the page. And with youtube being one of the most visited websites on the net, that market share of microsoft's will be shrinking fast.

No.

They have one on Google.com and it's not done much.

People using IE 6 will upgrade to 7 or 8. (8 is laggy)

YouTube and other sites don't see the need to write code for 3 versions of IE. Most people support the latest two and thats it.

[athibaul]

Originally Posted by GarrieWilson

No.

They have one on Google.com and it's not done much.

People using IE 6 will upgrade to 7 or 8. (8 is laggy)

YouTube and other sites don't see the need to write code for 3 versions of IE. Most people support the latest two and thats it.

I think it will depends on how many people are using IE6 only because IE7 and 8 require a valid Windows version. If these persons don't want to get a legal version of Windows, they might choose another browser such as Firefox or Chrome.

One thing is sure: not having to support IE6 anymore, a browser that doesn't follow today's standards, will be appreciated by many Web site developers.

Alain,

[stevereel]

Its about time to retire IE6. The web designers are cheering in unison.

[GarrieWilson]

Originally Posted by athibaul

I think it will depends on how many people are using IE6 only because IE7 and 8 require a valid Windows version. If these persons don't want to get a legal version of Windows, they might choose another browser such as Firefox or Chrome.

Most of those people arent using IE anyway.

I didnt know it required that Windows certify thing to get IE 7.

[geolt7]

Well, I guess it just means that IE has to make itself better.

[garyv]

Originally Posted by GarrieWilson

No.

They have one on Google.com and it's not done much.

People using IE 6 will upgrade to 7 or 8. (8 is laggy)

YouTube and other sites don't see the need to write code for 3 versions of IE. Most people support the latest two and thats it.

Yes but this is different. If they make you upgrade your browser in order to view videos, and then put a download button right there in your face, I'll bet they get a lot of converters.

[Daredevil Marketing]

In the screen shot I saw on Techcrunch, it looked like there were three buttons beside the YouTube notice. It said something to the effect of, "Try upgrading to the newest version of one of these browsers" and beside it there were buttons for Chrome, IE8, and FF3.5.

*Edit* Here it is:

techcrunch.c*m/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/youtube-ie6.png

(take * out of com and copy/paste)

[GarrieWilson]

Originally Posted by garyv

Yes but this is different. If they make you upgrade your browser in order to view videos, and then put a download button right there in your face, I'll bet they get a lot of converters.

Depends on how they do it.

Every major site I've try and force an upgrade link to the latest version of the browser they are using.

If they list only Chrome & FF (for Windows people) it will make a difference but I bet they will list Chrome, FF and IE 8. Which means people will get 8 because thats what they recognize and use.

I also dought it will be forced. The IE6 issues are normally layout issues.

Funny thing, my blog has IE6 at 45.5% , FF3 @ 20.8, ie7 @17.3, ie5 @ 5.8, ie8 @2.4

[jake_ie8team]

If you're planning on upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 in order to continue visiting YouTube, be sure to download and install IE 8 from wwwdotbrowserforthebetterdotcom?ocid=ie8_sm_a (Replace the "dot" with a period ".")
and donate to charity in the process. 8 meals are donated to Feeding America for every complete download and install of IE 8 from wwwdotbrowserforthebetterdotcom?ocid=ie8_sm_a
Also, for those of you who have already made the change and are pleased with your new browser, you should become a fan of the Official Internet Explorer Facebook page at wwwdotfacebookdotcom/internetexplorer to get all the latest news and info about IE 8.
- Jake
MSFT Internet Explorer Outreach Team

[Kezz]

Thank goodness for that. A little push like that from YouTube should help to get rid of that god forsaken piece of broken software forever.

For those who are curious, IE6 has nowhere near a majority user base. The stats as at June are:
IE6 14.9%
IE7 18.7%
IE8 7.1%
Firefox 47.3%
Chrome 6.0%
Safari 3.1%
Opera 2.1%

So, as a single browser, Firefox has an overwhelming majority with 47.3%. If you combine all 3 IE browsers, they still only have 40.7% now.

As a web designer, that is absolutely brilliant news. Designing for 3 different IE browsers that will each display a website differently ain't pretty.

Btw if you're intrested, here's my source: Browser Statistics

[Lloyd Buchinski]

Originally Posted by Kezz

Btw if you're interested, here's my source: Browser Statistics

I really appreciate people backing up the things they say and those stats were especially interesting. IE6 and 7 are declining faster than ie8 is going up. Thanks for the info.

I did have a burst of traffic from stumbleupon for a month or so, and during the whole time ff was used for over 90% of the visits to the site. At the time I did hope that it was the leading edge. Things are looking good.

[Ryan6]

Originally Posted by Kezz

Thank goodness for that. A little push like that from YouTube should help to get rid of that god forsaken piece of broken software forever.

For those who are curious, IE6 has nowhere near a majority user base. The stats as at June are:
IE6 14.9%
IE7 18.7%
IE8 7.1%
Firefox 47.3%
Chrome 6.0%
Safari 3.1%
Opera 2.1%

So, as a single browser, Firefox has an overwhelming majority with 47.3%. If you combine all 3 IE browsers, they still only have 40.7% now.

As a web designer, that is absolutely brilliant news. Designing for 3 different IE browsers that will each display a website differently ain't pretty.

Btw if you're intrested, here's my source: Browser Statistics

Load of rubbish.

Statcounter tend to get things right - As of 15th July 2009 - 61.29% IE.

EDIT: Other than Statcounter, Net Applications note 65.50% IE, as quoted on Wiki.

Keep dreaming.

[Kezz]

Erm, that's 61% total IE usage dude, vs 40%. And 30% FF vs %40.

I wouldn't say that is such a phenomenal difference that the data I linked to could be dismissed as a "load of rubbish".

I would suggest that nobody actually has a perfect crystal ball that gazes into the room of every internet user in the world. These measurements are not an exact science. I would say the real numbers will fall somewhere in the middle ground of all the available data.