This site now uses HTML5 and CSS3


What does this mean?

In much the same way everything technological evolves and gets smaller, faster and more efficent, so too do the mechanics that keep it running behind the scenes. HTML, the basic structural language of the web, is introducing version 5, while CSS, the language that defines the look of the web has reached level 3.

The use of this cutting edge technology means that certain effects and visual elements will only be displayed to their full potential in modern browsers. As a general rule, try to avoid using Internet Explorer, at least until version 9 is released.

That's all gravy but how does it affect me?

I, like many people, used to have a trusty Nokia 3200. It did everything I needed at the time. Over the years I've updated though. I could still use it for 98% of what I use my current phone for(Sony Ericcson C902 if you were wondering). However, everything from text messages to web pages would look very different between the two phones. Web browsers, the software used to display web pages, are the same. If you're not sure exactly what a web browser is, this short video by Google explains it quite well:

Every browser and every version of each browser displays the web slightly differently. Most browsers have comparable levels of support for HTML5 and CSS3 with the exception of Internet Explorer. It's up to users to have a reasonably current version of their browser of choice(unless you've Google Chrome which updates itself).


Which browser do I choose for best results?

It's not my place to say what the best browser is, it varies for each individual's browsing style and what they do on the web. There is primarily a choice of the big five:

  1. Mozilla Firefox
  2. Google Chrome
  3. Apple Safari
  4. Opera
  5. Internet Explorer(the only one I'd actively advise against for various reasons)

Install and try out all five if you want. My own usability testing has revealed:

  • Google Chrome, Apple Safari (and Firefox 4.0 beta) do the best job of displaying this site.
  • Mozilla Firefox 3.6 and Opera 11 currently don't support CSS3 transitions so effects using this will not appear.
  • Internet Explorer 7/8 is acceptable but will have less effects again as it supports very little of the HTML5/CSS3 standard.
  • Internet Explorer 6(which predates that Nokia 3200 by two years) users are on their own. Effects will not be applied and layouts may vary.


Is there really much of a difference?

See for yourself...