The tech community (at least the media within the tech community) has been a-buzz with the pending release of Internet Explorer 7. For nearly all users, this doesn't mean squat. Browsers are released (and patched) with such regularity that it's a case of the boy who cried software release.
However, for web developers, the release of a new browser can have significant implications. If old methods change or behave differently, it could break a lot of existing sites out there. It could also mean new, exciting ways to implement your favorite website features.
So apparently, The Web Standards Project has created a new test to see if browsers meet their criteria for compatibility and functionality. This is called, literally, the acid test. As explained on their website, "Acid2 was inspired by Microsoft's announcement of IE7," although they claim that it's not the target of the test.
Not surprisingly, the new Internet Explorer fails the acid test as explained in this article found on C|Net. The article (which is likely more techie than most people care to read) goes on to tout how Microsoft is once again bringing down the Internet by brazenly ignoring the standards set by the WSP.
Let me get this straight.... the new IE7, which isn't even released, fails a test which was created specifically because of IE7. A test which didn't even exist before IE7 was announced. And this is cause for outrage?
Even more brilliant is the last paragraph of the article... which goes on to explain that NO browser fully meets the acid test. Of course, this is no big deal... since the other browsers are "very close," "working in preliminary builds," and are committed to "full support"... although do not say WHEN it will be supported.
This is just another classic example of how the media bashes Microsoft because it's the "cool" thing to do in the tech community. Meanwhile, those of us who are Microsoft developers have to fight that stigma with every new client.
I'm not trying to say Microsoft is perfect... but to bash them like they're the only ones with software problems is really unfair. The only reason their problems are front-page news is because they're the most popular software company out there. I suppose it's a good problem to have!