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Sabine Brockmeier

The new Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 - featuring XING Webslices and Activity

Sabine Brockmeier on 8.04.2008 at 09:29 h

Today Microsoft announced the German launch of its new Internet Explorer 8 beta 1, and we’re proud to report that XING is among the initial launch partners. The new Internet Explorer comes with two new great functions, “WebSlices” and “Activities”. Just in time for the launch, we have made sections of the XING website available as Webslices (visitors to my profile, messages and contacts to confirm). We’ve also decided to offer the XING keyword search as an “Activity” integrated into IE8.

First, to the “WebSlices”: Users of the new internet explorer can keep track of new users that have visited their profile or of new messages or contact request that have arrived, just by clicking on the tab at the top of the page.

080407_ie8_webslices

What’s more, the XING “Activity” allows IE8 users to highlight any keyword on any website and do a XING search by clicking their right mouse key – choose “Find on XING” and you will get the number of XING search results that match your key word.

 

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47 Comments

Peter wrote on Apr 8, 2008 6:18:41 PM:

Nice work on the Webslices and Activities, very cool stuff. I'm with Me.dium, and Microsoft actually presented our Webslice Discovery and Activity pieces at the IE8 launch. Our social browsing add-on, as well as our IE8 add-ons could be very useful tools for you and your clients. We'd love for you to check them out and give us your thoughts.

http://www.me.dium.com/ie8

me.dium username: pjn

Gustavo Abero wrote on Apr 14, 2008 4:05:45 AM:

Me parece sumamente interesante este sitio y quisiera integrarme a su uso, pero no encuentro la posibilidad de que este en español.
gracias

Michael wrote on Apr 14, 2008 5:52:34 AM:

Persons with self-respect do not use the Internet Explorer.
They love their freedom.
They use Firefox.

Max wrote on Apr 14, 2008 8:49:02 AM:

The WebSlices are yet another perfect example of MS not sticking to standards - in this case hAtom - and XING supports this behavior by supporting IE8. see http://microformatique.com/?p=229

Holli wrote on Apr 14, 2008 9:24:30 AM:

Why go away from standard-browsers (and features) and supporting "well-known-troublemaker"-software?

Hanno wrote on Apr 14, 2008 9:44:49 AM:

My colleagues and I have long abandonded using IE for three main reasons:
a) It's way to insecure
b) It collects too much data in the background and is not controllable in any way
c) It only runs on Windows -- what about us, using Solaris, HP-UX, Aix and Linux?
Finally: Why should somebody "invent" new features just to break existing standards, making use of these impossible?

We already experience problems visiting different site on the web, thus questioning the basic meaning of the internet: Information accessible for everybody.
You may even consider this technology part of censorship.

Jochen wrote on Apr 14, 2008 10:10:42 AM:

I'd like to support the "No IE" people here. What XING plans seems to me like a resurrection of the disastrous "This website is optimized for Internet Explorer" thing of hobby website programmers who always thought that "Computer" and "Microsoft Windows" are synonyms.

IE has always been way behind Firefox or Safari in terms of usability, security and implementation of standards. And, no, I do NOT consider "Windows" a standard, just because a lot of people use it.

Sven wrote on Apr 14, 2008 10:38:19 AM:

I also would love to block my profile for IE users to show they are using trojan software. Firefox should be the preferred browser.

Sabine Brockmeier wrote on Apr 14, 2008 10:42:12 AM:

Great to read this passionate discussion and all your opinions. We'd like to give our viewpoint too. Let's for a moment put aside the fact that Microsoft have developed "webslices" and "activities" and let's just regard these two features for what they are. These features are quite exciting for Internet Browsing - giving Internet Users access to information in a few clicks instead of having to open up numerous tab browsers, calling up a relevant web page, getting the information required and navigating back to the original page - "Webslices" will certainly make people's lives easier. We're positive that IE8 will not be the only browser that will be offering these features - in fact activities are also available for Firefox 3.0 Beta too: http://www.kaply.com/weblog/2008/03/07/microsoft-activities-for-firefox-new-version/ The point is that the Internet is constantly maturing and developing and it's exciting to see where the Internet is heading in terms of usability. Webslices and Activites - allow users to access XING information wherever they surf on the Net.

Mathias Zettler wrote on Apr 14, 2008 12:23:43 PM:

XING should not push any browser or plattform. "The futury is open" does not mean to buy M$ products. I'm using Linux. Thanks for the "activities"-Link of Firefox!

Samuel wrote on Apr 14, 2008 1:32:38 PM:

I think the "Webslices" and "Activities" features on IE* are great, but do they actually make people love IE the more or turn to the windows platform? I don't think so.

I love Firefox and will always recommend Firefox to people. I am happy that the same features will be available for Firefox users as well. Chao!!!

Gerd Castan wrote on Apr 14, 2008 2:37:07 PM:

Looking for exciting features for internet browsing?

I have several ideas how to visualize XING content with SVG. Supported by almost any browser.

Best regards, Gerd

Stefan wrote on Apr 14, 2008 3:29:02 PM:

Strange that Xing supports a certain browser - obviously, the "*Open*BC" mentality has been left behind long time ago.

Nicole Simon wrote on Apr 14, 2008 3:34:14 PM:

Guys,
has anyone of you actually looked into what webslices are doing and why they are worth supporting? :)

I expect them to appear in FF and co very soon, because the features behind it are awesome.

Plus let's not forget that IE still has a huge market share especially in the area where people will use this new feature.

And before you get the wrong idea - I have been using netscape now firefox exclusivly for over a decade and will install it everywhere I can get my hands on. ;)

Henri Zix wrote on Apr 14, 2008 8:16:01 PM:

re: XING Webslices and Activity

No one in this right mind still uses IE!

Please supply the new tools to the Firefox browser.

Thanks

Max wrote on Apr 14, 2008 11:54:40 PM:

A few notes to Sabine:

I think, no one is denying the usefulness of Activities or WebSlices. Thats not the point. Its MS being not a teamplayer again and not sticking to standards.

To explain this:

Activities is a lot like the Operator Plugin, which is available for FF a long time now and I think it will be in FF3 too. MS is playing catch-up here.

Operator allows for richer interaction with data on websites that have been marked up with microformats. Xing uses a lot of Microformats already last time I checked. So Operator users basically dont need Activities. They have it already. At Xing.

The link you provided above is from the author of said Operator plugin.
Mike Kaply did indeed an Activities plugin, but he does NOT agree with how MS implemented Activities: http://www.kaply.com/weblog/2008/03/19/an-analysis-of-microsoft-activities/

WebSlices in turn use the hAtom microformat to find updates on websites. hAtom is basically an HTML representation of an RSS Feed. Neither hAtom, nor RSS was invented by MS. At John Allsopps Blog, again a noteworthy figure in Microformats, at http://microformatique.com/?p=229 you can read him complain that MS did not stick to hAtoms specs and abridged it into the new and proprietary hSlice.

Both complaints address the same issue. Instead of working WITH the people that are a driving force behind microformats the MS ppl go and do their own thing. And this is what MS has done in the past over and over again, to the dismay of developers all over the world. I cannot imagine your developers were happy when they heard they should develop for IE.

Well, but since this is all about marketing anyway, I do understand that Xing chose this road. It's a good opportunity for marketing but that doesn't mean it is also any good for a standard compliant web.

Henning Hucke wrote on Apr 15, 2008 9:31:49 AM:

I wish you would also support other vendors with this intensity. What about sunbird/lightning ical calendars at least readable from a personalised source? What about SIP-Accounts and not only Skype ones?

Ralf Weber wrote on Apr 15, 2008 9:59:25 AM:

Moin!

I just canceled my premium subscription. I can not support a company that is abandoning open standards and is instead partnering with a company that has been convicted to abuse it's monopoly.

IMHO you should direct your development activities to open standards (ical, caldav, vcf) and not support proprietary technology that aims to vendor lock you.

So long
-Ralf

Erich Parzefall wrote on Apr 15, 2008 10:49:14 AM:

I can't understand why Xing is supporting IE 8 Beta - nobody want to use IE. Even big companys go away from IE and use f.e. Firefox as Standard Browser. Its not a good act of Xing to support such a browser.

regards

Erich

Rainer Puschner wrote on Apr 15, 2008 1:04:05 PM:

Oh no!

Please do not support this M$ crap. They are not using standards. They are the best in creating their OWN "standards", that people will use (just because of the number of installs of IE). But thats not in the sense of an "open" (BC) architecture.

If there IS a standard, use it.
Webslices and Activity are NOT standards, so do NOT use them.

Easy, huh??

Carsten Grießhammer wrote on Apr 15, 2008 4:30:58 PM:

I always wonder why an introduction of a new website feature has to be discussed in such an emotional way and ends up in inappropriate and overweening demands, not to use a certain feature or not to use a certain browser.

First, it's an addon, that XING offers its users. An offer we can take or reject.
But we don't have the right to demand an abdication of that offer, just and only because we don't like the browser, that supports it.
Btw.. Firefox 3 will support webslices soon.

Second, I don't know any browser that supports all webstandards. Sure, MS went down a road far away of most standards in the past, but that course is about to change with the release of the IE 8 which is designed and meant to support W3C standards.
The more IE 5,6,7 users update to IE 8, the more important is the compliance of web standards even for IE-website developers - which is a demand of many IE/MS-complainants.
Thus an update to IE8 should be a step towards web standards in general for IE users. Friends of Mozilla should be happy about this, if we are really talking about web standards here.

And if a web feature as webslices would tempt people to leave their IE-quirks-modus browser and update to a more standard browser, this should be good for all of us, who want to be independent in out choice of browsers when we visit websites.

regards
Carsten

Ralf Weber wrote on Apr 15, 2008 5:13:23 PM:

Moin!

@Carsten:
It's an addon that xing is only offering to a slice of users. I can't use it!

While you're statement about standard compilant browser probably is true, the question behind it is choice. I can't choose to use webslices and my favorite browser.

Websites should be as browser neutral as possible and xing is abandoning that route, and that's a very bad thing IMHO. Also I know of a lot of web sites/applications that are IE specific, but I don't know of a firefox specific web site, that can't be viewed with IE.

So it doesn't matter which IE a user has a user moving to IE8 will again have and use features that lock him into that browser and platform.

So long
-Ralf

UID1 Usability Consulting wrote on Apr 15, 2008 5:51:23 PM:

A great leap forward!

I'm glad with the CSS2.1 support, finally. In my opinion the slice & activity concept is really innovative, because it allows better & faster access to special interest themes. I design websites in travel- & tourism environment and can imagine, that IE8 allows a variety of sophisticated and user centered functions for a better travel experience.

Carsten Grießhammer wrote on Apr 15, 2008 6:22:11 PM:

@Ralf
It's an addon that IE8-Beta-1 users can use now and Firefox users can use soon with an addon.
I would guess that there are many more Firefox users than IE-8-Beta users..
Why is no IE6 user complaining here that he has to update anything?

I know as many websites that can't be viewed with IE as I know websites designed for it.
I believe, that Firefox users tend to romantizice their favorite browser in terms of security, standards and choices.

An upcoming feature that offers new comfort for IE8-Beta users (now) and Firefox 3 users (soon) for viewing information that can be seen quite comfortable on any regular way as well (now for everyone) is not a lock out of anybody but just a gimmick for a in the future wide area of browsers.
With your argumentation you should fight against Flash or Java based websites as well or even more as they can't be used at all without a software add-on. Those addons started with a small number of users once as well and are wide spread now.
So, be reasonable, get the xing information with the possiblities that your favourite browser offers, and use another browser if you are in need the use of non standard features.
XING is not hiding anything behind software barriers nor chaining itself to a certain type of browser. It just OFFERS a new and comfortable feature for some users now and for many users soon. That's development. That's change. That's what the web is about.

I use both browsers - depending on the best choice for certain sites and for sure I had my moments as well when I had to make web applications run for different browsers. But I don't get the sense of abandoning progress in web features here.
Would be different if XING would announce that a part of the information couldn't be seen anymore without the installation of a 3rd party plugin. But that's not the case. It's additional. And hence you have the choice.

..as well as I choose not to comment this any further :)

Carsten

Jesko Arlt wrote on Apr 15, 2008 9:43:50 PM:

1st: In the past we've learned, that it's impossible to establish web-standards, bound to only one browser.

2nd: I'm impressed by the Microsoft 2008 evolution towards social web. For example the Live Writer and some user userful tools. WebSlices seems to be another interesting feature for a kicking, bubbly, vivid web. Wow - they're comming and the web is in motion.

Digging open sources implies an open mind!

Jesko

Marco Daniel Nattler wrote on Apr 15, 2008 9:52:59 PM:

I´m really not proud to say, that I decided t change my IE 8.X into Firefox...

That´s life!

Marco Daniel Nattler wrote on Apr 15, 2008 10:08:23 PM:

Dear IE-User!!!!

I´ve just installed Firefox - and the difference is amazing - it´s ten times faster....

Thank´s guys!

Craig wrote on Apr 16, 2008 7:22:56 AM:

Could you be more accurate in your definition of 'launch partner'? What was your commitment here? Some details would be appreciated

Markus wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:11:49 AM:

Hello,

nobody who attaches a little bit importance to system security would use the Internet Explorer.
So do I. I don't even have Windows. What's with these users? Do we have to change our operating system to visit XING in future?
Well done, you support non-standard functions of the browser with the worst standard support of a well known troublemaker company according to standard support.

Regards,
Markus

SoehnelS wrote on Apr 16, 2008 10:49:23 AM:

New futures: yes
Only for one Browser: no! never!

I hate this sites who only made for a special browser.
Some differences displaying the site with one or the
other browser may be ok (for small sites), but not in
functionality.

(Sorry for my badly english!)

Greating
Sven

Sabine Brockmeier wrote on Apr 16, 2008 11:13:28 AM:

@Craig: „Launch partner“ means that XING belongs to the first providers in Germany, that offer WebSlices and Activities – available in time for the launch of the German version of IE 8 Beta 1: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie8/welcome/de-de/default.html

Tom wrote on Apr 16, 2008 1:16:32 PM:

Great Work! This will keep up innovation.
Thanks XING and MS.

Ralf Weber wrote on Apr 16, 2008 2:05:02 PM:

@Carsten

The announcement didn't mention anything about that feature coming to Firefox, but feel free to tell me when it's available and where to download.

Can you please tell me the URL of a decent popular website that can not be viewed with IE. I mean sure a few lines of javascript can cut IE users out, but in the real world this isn't the case, whereas it is and was the case that websites are available to IE users (e.g http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050906-5278.html)

The real problem with IE is that it takes away your freedom of choice when it comes to operating systems.

I have no problems with java or flash, they are available on a wide range of platforms, and java even is open source. I do have problems with stuff that takes away your freedom of choice (e.g Quicktime, WMV).

I also do not have a problem with new features, as long as they are widely available. Currently the webslices feature isn't available to me, as I am normally not running windows.

And I am not fighting anyone, I just try to explain my rationale why I canceled my premium subscription, and want to explain what has to happen if Xing wants me back as a paying customer.

So long
-Ralf

Ruediger Biernat wrote on Apr 16, 2008 3:51:03 PM:

Xing,

do you really think that Microsoft is the one and only? I switched to Firefox long ago because of security reasons. And if someone can read those news then it seems I am not alone:

german:
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/IT-Analysten-Windows-kollabiert--/meldung/106358
english:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9076698

Thanks for all the fish,
Ruediger

PS: I am also reconsidering my premium memberchip

Hanna wrote on Apr 16, 2008 5:56:55 PM:

I am a Firefox user....
Could you make this feature available for this browser as well?

Abe wrote on Apr 17, 2008 9:53:25 AM:

One more Firefox user here who will not use something that works in one system only.

Chris Kooij wrote on Apr 17, 2008 11:28:22 AM:

I need to seriously reconsider my XING Premium membership! In my line of work, Internet Explorer is and has been the only internet browser causing lots and lots of trouble in relation to the development of websites. A real pain in the ass. In certain cases I have solid proof that - of all 9 browsers we use for reference on the Mac and PC - Internet Explorer is the only real troublemaker performing differently on a PC. So Xing... Reconsider also and... don't!

esvillel wrote on Apr 17, 2008 5:26:03 PM:

me considero una persona divertida, me gusta el deporte y las fiestas.Estudio en la Universidad de La Habana. Cada vez que puedo leo o me voy al cine.No fumo,y bebo muy poco apenas lo necesario.....

VorsichtFalle wrote on Apr 17, 2008 5:45:30 PM:

I am running Linux for 4+ years instead of Windows so i really don't see any benefit, at least for me and all the other non-IE-users out there. But no worries, just keep on supporting proprietary techniques, someone will probably like and/or hype it.

Cheers to all who have the opportunity to think about and/or use alternatives for a good reason!

adan barrios cortes wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:56:03 PM:

Nice day and salutations every one.
Perhaps we in the prime time we recognize voice and could watch over the person and the computer with tecnics we feel as we are in the same place for our sences also our soul to notify more efficientness.
be part of human rights.

idelverto chipana pusari wrote on Apr 17, 2008 11:31:57 PM:

me parece excelente este medio de comunicacion aunque le falta perfeccionar para hacer contacto directo de esa forma concretar negocios ,etc.

Ing. Enrique Elias Paredes wrote on Apr 18, 2008 3:07:58 AM:

explorer es una de las herramientas de uso obligatorio por decirlo asi, por la versatilidad de su uso, y cada version nueva trae mejoras considerables, si me gustaria ser parte de las pruebas que hagan.

Lukas Wiesner wrote on Apr 18, 2008 3:18:18 AM:

welcome back to the 90s.

quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_war

"The browser wars encouraged two specific kinds of behavior among their combatants:

1. Adding new features instead of fixing bugs [...]
2. Adding proprietary features instead of obeying standards [...]"

Kesici wrote on Apr 18, 2008 7:44:11 AM:

i, think. Firefox and Safari is the better solution for surfing in the web. ThinK different !

Patricia wrote on Apr 18, 2008 10:05:03 AM:

Not good news for me as a Mac user. If your site gets increasingly optimised for IE rather than Firefox, I might go back to LinkedIn. What's the point of paying premium membership if I can't use some fucntionality?

Gerardo Pedrozo Passennheim wrote on Apr 18, 2008 11:12:50 AM:

Si está en castellano/español no tendría problemas ya que es muy interesante el programa. Gerardo

Sabine Brockmeier wrote on Apr 18, 2008 11:42:42 AM:

Thank you for all your comments, it was very interesting indeed to read all your different opinions and points of view. I’d like to wrap up this topic and point out in conclusion that Webslices and Activities are part of a concept that can work on every browser, including Firefox. We’re constantly trying to provide our members with the best service we can offer here at XING and do not prefer any particular browser. Like I said before, we are positive that Webslices and Activities will soon be found on every browser in the future (in one form or another) and when this time comes, XING will be ready to offer these services to our members too.

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