An interesting read on ComputerWorld discussing a bit of backlash to some of the IE 7 "boasting" that was going on on the IE Blog.  I put boasting in quotes because I don't think it really was boasting (maybe a smidge) though others claim that it was.  I think it was simply stating some facts that indicate some measurable success for the IE team.  That team put in a lot of work and deserve to be proud of their accomplishments.

Having said that, however (and you knew that was coming), I can fully understand the level of dissatisfaction around IE and Microsoft's overall position on the browser in the broader Internet ecosystem.  While IE was in beta and even after its release, I didn't agree with all of the rants about how IE didn't do this right or didn't support a particular standard .  I was a) impressed with the amount of work that was accomplished by a team that was basically resurrected from the corpse of the IE 6 code base (I have it on good authority that several chickens gave their lives at the necessary voodoo ritual to raise that team from the dead) and b) I figured we had a plan for moving forward.

It's (b) that has really got me shaking my head.  During the entire IE 7 dev cycle, we heard when asked why Microsoft was not doing x, y, or z was that this version 7 was the first step in a long journey.  Well, it really looks like that journey has turned into an extended layover.  No, I am not "plugged in" to what is going on with the IE strategy or futures. I am as much a mushroom in that regard as the average Joe or Jane on the street.  But, here are two things I do know.

1.  Its been quite a while since IE 7s release and we have heard zero hard details about what will be next or when it that "next" will happen.  In an era where Microsoft is trying to be more transparent about its product plans, this seems strikingly odd.  I'd like to think that there is some amazing plan brewing, and maybe there is, but as of right now all the tea leaves say we don't have much to talk about.  That's a shame for everyone affected, and that includes Microsoft.

2.  The state of IE on mobile devices?!?!  Good Lord, if I was to point to anything that makes someone question Microsoft's browser strategy, this is exhibit A.  The Windows Mobile browser is utterly atrocious and has not been updated in forever (at least five years or thereabouts???).  Its pathetic.  Its slow.  It crashes often.  It renders awfully compared to what is offered elsewhere.  It makes using almost any Internet site extremely tedious. The thing that makes me admire an iPhone is the better browser experience.  Music - whatever, I have a Zune that works great and I am not one that has to listen to music all the time, so having a separate dedicated device works very well for me.  UI bling - whatever, I use my phone for calls, calendar, email and I wish web browsing.  My Treo does all of those just fine, TYVM, except for the browsing.  We have had at least two major Windows Mobile releases (5 and 6) and Pocket IE has not changed one bit.  Shame on us as a company that claims to "get" the mobile computing market.

I like IE 7.  It's the browser I use by choice (using Firefox is totally allowed at Microsoft - more or less).  Firefox is nice, but IE is like a comfortable pair of jeans and I haven't experienced a big "ah ha" moment that has compelled me to switch.  I revisit Firefox with each big update and can feel the gap widening and it's probably a matter of time before I succumb to some new feature. I wish we all knew where IE was going next so I had something to look forward to.

Update:  Not 60 seconds after making my post, I saw in IE 7 (of all places) this post from the IE team that at least uses the words IE 8.  Short on details, but at least it appears that we may hear some details at some point in that hopefully not to distant future.