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IE8 ready to name and shame non-compliant websites

This week saw Microsoft grab the heftiest pot it could find, march immediately over to the nearest kettle, erect around itself a grand house built entirely of glass and heft said pot at said kettle through the walls of said house. Yes, Microsoft's decided to name and shame the sites that aren't compatible with the now standards-compliant Internet Explorer 8. The results were predicatble.

"I cannot believe the absolute cheek and audacity Microsoft," spluttered lemonlainey. "If Microsoft had got it right from the get-go, then we wouldn't be having these problems."

To be fair, we bore witness to the internet's get-go and the nearest anybody got to standards was the use of capital letters. In fact there was much sympathy for the company.

"Microsoft will undoubtedly get a lot of stick for this considering those websites were designed for IE6, but you have to admire the fact that it's doing what the whole web community wanted it to do," said TimoGunt.

Alundavid agreed: "Ok I know Microsoft doesn't have the right to comment about web standards compliance. But if it makes enough noise it might just help to make a difference and get sites back to being written properly by not only good developers but by all developers."

Microsoft begins auction crackdown

As everybody knows, glass houses aren't cheap to erect, especially in these turbulent times, and even Microsoft is starting to feel the pinch. In fact, it's so sick of having its coffers raided by internet urchins that it has decided to put an end to the sale of Windows XP Blue Edition. Sadly, this has nothing to do with Channel 5's post midnight programming (Windows XXXP so to speak), but rather pirated versions of the software. The forums were divided by Microsoft's shock tactics.

"This is no better than companies sending out letters demanding damages for illegal file sharing, even if the victim is innocent," claims daftpunk.

"I listed a copy of Frontpage 2003 that was given to me as part

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of a hosting deal, and Ebay took it down after Microsoft alleged it was counterfeit. It had no evidence whatsoever yet I was not permitted to re-list the item."

Big_D wasn't convinced: "Usually such software is not for re-sale, so listing it on Ebay would be illegal. Whether it is counterfeit or you are breaking the licence agreement by trying to resell it is moot... At least Microsoft is going after people who are actually listing software for sale. Not randomly chosing addresses that might have uploaded something."

Ofcom: A quarter of UK dissatisfied with broadband speed

Pad the floors, pull up the chairs and make ready the sniffing salts because this week Ofcom delivered the sort of revelatory information that's more often delivered by a pale man on a horse who introduces himself as D. Eath.

Try not to pass out. Here goes... apparently, a quarter of the UK is dissatisfied with its broadband speed. Blimey, it's like an elephant tranquiliser, isn't it?

"Only a quarter... that surprises me," noted skarlock, forgetting the poor blighters in the countryside who think the postman running is broadband.

"It's probably because a lot of people don't understand the actual bandwidth/speed they are quoted," noted jameslyd. "In fact quite a few of them are just pleased that their connection is a lot quicker than their old dial up connection."

We're back to the postman, aren't we. steviesteveo concurred.

"I think if people have a more obvious way of checking their connection they'll complain a lot more. I get my glass topped up if it's not filled up to the marker. I'm being charged for the whole measure, I'd like to receive the whole measure. If there was a 'line on the glass' for broadband internet that falls short of what they expect, then I think they would be much more likely to say to their ISP, 'Hey, BT, you're short changing me'."

If only there was some sort of... watchdog, let's call it... to police this sort of thing. Alas, we may as well wish for a ride on a unicorn over a rainbow.

"Well, think yourselves lucky you have a choice. Just imagine yourself living in Hull."

We sympathise... oh, wait there's more.

"We have one choice, Kingston Communications. If you want broadband, you only have once choice, Kingston Communications. I can't wait for Ofcom to do something about the monopoly that KC has in Hull."

Afraid you might have to, matey. A quick check through Ofcom's schedule reveals it's busy for the next 40 years trying to find something with its elbow. Oh well, see you all next week.