IE6 finally hears the Death Rattle

Internet Explorer 6 is like a bad date that just won't take the hint. The long standing browser has been causing headaches for web developers and designers since 2001, and until recently people have done nothing but accept the abuse. Recent news, however, suggests we may have finally had our fill of abuse from IE6.

Internet Explorer is the main web browser that many of us nerds learned to surf the web on. Back in the early part of the decade, IE6 did its job and did it well. This was in large part because no other options existed. Before Microsoft was legally forced not to, they had the ability to bundle the browser with the Windows operating systems, which led to Microsoft experiencing a 95% market share for internet browsers. And when that many people adopt a product, it then becomes impossible to move away from.

Today, we have far superior browsers in the market like Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Safari, as well as Internet Explorer 8 (I hate to say it, but IE8 is pretty slick). These browsers are not only standards compliant, which IE6 is not, but they have evolved into all-encompassing utilities that reach far beyond the internet and into your everyday lives. I can't imagine life without FF and all of its plugins, let alone surfing the web without it.

I liken the IE situation to one of your grandparents living until 204 years of age, and then thinking they could adequately compete in the NFL for a starting RB position. In 2001, IE6 was just what we needed, but for the web to continue evolving and growing, the browser that requires the most time, energy and effort to make things work must be permanently retired. Not just retired, but banished from even coming close to a computer connected to the internet.

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Phoenix OpenCoffee Club

If you're an entrepreneur or investor in Phoenix looking to meet with like-minded people over great coffee, then come out to Phoenix OpenCoffee. OpenCoffee is a weekly meetup intended to bring together talented entrepreneurs and local investors in the informal setting of a coffee shop.

The OpenCoffee Club was started to encourage entrepreneurs, developers and investors to organize real-world informal meetups to chat, network and grow. It originated in London by Saul Klein, a venture partner at Index Ventures. Since then it has expaned to over 80 OpenCoffee Clubs worldwide with the PHX version starting this past April.

Since the startup Community is beginning to sprout here in the Phoenix area, Curtis Miller at Flatterline thought bringing OpenCoffee to Phoenix would be a great idea. Curtis was inspired by a recent trip to Boulder, CO, where he attended an OpenCoffee Club get together. Seeing the Boulder startup community embrace such a vibrant event to discuss ideas, share problems, give advice and listen to each other made him motivated to bring this type of event to Phoenix.

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Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference on the horizon

This coming Wednesday, Nov 19th, some of us nerds will be attending Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference. The Third Annual Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference will be held on November 19th, 2008 from 7:30am - 7pm at The Buttes Resort (2000 Westcourt Way, Tempe, AZ).

It is a conference designed to help build the critical mass of the Arizona entrepreneurial community. It is an exciting way for entrepreneurs to meet each other, connect with resources, and gather information.

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Happy Birthday ColdFusion

It's hard to believe that ColdFusion is 13 years old this year. In the web world, that's ancient. But despite all the up and coming new languages, ColdFusion has proven it is still a major player in the world of dynamic websites.

Simon Whatley writes a great article about how ColdFusion is largely mis-understood that explains ten ways how and why CF is still a major player after all these years:

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