"The next version of Internet Explorer, IE8, has passed the Acid2 test, which has historically been one of the toughest Web standards and compliance tests to pass... No version of IE has been able to pass the test, while mainstream competing browsers like Opera, and Apple's Safari have managed to be compliant for the last few years. Mozilla's upcoming version 3 of Firefox is also set to pass the Acid 2 test, although the current shipping version of Firefox (version 2) will not."

Good milestone, and about time. But I'll hold the praise until they release (when?), and when they can finally force IE6 users off that horrible version!

"The world of standards-based web design and development has been undergoing something of a shake-up these past few days; Andy Clarke’s “CSS Unworking Group” seems to have opened the floodgates to expressions of dissatisfaction with the current method of progress (or lack thereof) in developing and standardizing new features for web developers and designers... how to produce a process whereby standards bodies can respond quickly to innovative ideas, and wherein innovators will encourage standardized, interoperable implementations of their ideas. "

Why can't the world be a straight-forward, non-political, friendly place? Damn politics. :)

"A few days ago, Scott Gilbertson declared “[t]he iPhone is Internet Explorer 4 all over again,” alluding to the walled-off nature of many web sites and apps being developed just for the iPhone (as they were back in the day with IE 4). Joe Hewitt was quick to reply, arguing that being like IE 4 is not such a bad thing, claiming that the devices drives innovation on the web, which is what’s needed."

The arguments are interesting - do check out the linked Joe Hewitt post too. Ultimately, the problem with standards are that they will always be behind, and won't allow the specific integration needed to create a good, extensible platform.

"Microsoft is supporting a chief rival to its Office suite for approval to a national standards board. The company announced yesterday that it voted to add the Open Document Format (ODF) 1.0 to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) list. ANSI is a private, nonprofit organization that coordinates and develops U.S. standards for products and processes."

I'll bet many are just wondering why Microsoft are doing this. Some ulterior motive? Maybe, but at least they said upfront that they will promote OOXML for standardisation next, not trying to sneak it in later. Thumbs up.