Well it has been a little while since I blogged about “Persuading Microsoft to Implement the Canvas”, and unfortunately, it looks like none of the Processing.js users went through the process and requested the Canvas. (Please correct me if I am wrong). Microsoft held an online meeting today for Internet Explorer users to ask questions to a panel of Microsoft Internet Explorer experts, including experts from the development team. Naturally, I had to ask the question:
F1LT3R[12:58] asked the experts: Probably the most important question on my mind… do the experts know if future browsers will support the Canvas tag? Or has there been any experiments/work done from the development team with respect to the HTML5 Canvas?
EricLaw [MSFT] (Expert)[13:05]: Well, as you know, some browsers already support Canvas; there are a variety of plugins which aim to add Canvas support to IE7 and 8. We’re definitely hearing feedback from the development community that they’re interested in seeing canvas support in IE9, and there is at least one feature request filed in the Connect database.
It seemed from the answer that Microsoft were dodging my question. But when I re-read my question, I could see how it was a little too ambiguous. So I tried to get to the core of the matter by simplifying:
F1LT3R[13:07] asked the experts: Are the Microsoft Experts aware any experiments/work done from the development team with respect to the HTML5 Canvas?
Matt Crow[msft] (Expert)[13:10] I’m not sure I understand your question. We’re certainly tracking the progress of the HTML5 specification, and we’re gathering feedback about what features developers are looking forward to in IE9. At this time, we have no announcements to make on this front.
Another wise yet frustratingly political answer from the IE team. It is good to hear that they are “tracking” the HTML5 specification, but could it really be, that the development team with the most used browser in the world, was only listening to customers, without pursuing any development?
Lots of stuff 
F1LT3R[13:10] asked the experts: So the IE development team are officially doing nothing except listening to users re: the Canvas at this time?
EricLaw [MSFT] (Expert)[13:12]: We’re doing lots of stuff
Now we are getting somewhere! I know this response is even more ambiguous than my first question, but it leaves me with high hopes for the future of the HTML5 Canvas tag. Microsoft are more than listening to their users… they are doing “lots of stuff :)”. I can only imagine this means there is some kind of development going on.
I would guess that publicizing Microsoft’s Canvas developments would somehow be detrimental to the development process, which is obviously no good for anyone: so they choose to remain silent. Rumors have been circulating that Microsoft are planning to jump the gun re: the 3D Canvas Context and deliver a powerful Direct-X Canvas in IE9, while this seems to makes a lot of sense for several reasons, it remains… only a rumor.
F1LT3R[13:51] asked the experts: You say the IE team are doing “Lots of stuff” re: the Canvas, what sort of stuff?
EricLaw [MSFT] (Expert)[13:54]: We’re currently finishing up IE8 on Win7, and working to deliver a IE.Next release that will delight both web developers and normal users. Obviously, we’re very interested in feature requests and learning about any pain points with IE8.
Conclusion
Putting their comments in perspective, Microsoft are:
- aware that their developer-users are asking for the Canvas element
- focused on “delighting developers” with IE9
- doing “lots of stuff” re: the Canvas element
- announcing nothing!
While these comments make the dream of developing Canvas apps for wider audiences very tangible, I would have to advise: never to play Poker with a Microsoft employee.
The Future
The next IE Expert Panel will be held on the June 18th. If there is anyone else out there interested in Canvas, SVGs or any other HTML5 related issues in IE, sign-up, log in and join the W3C revolution. More details about the next here: Windows Internet Explorer 8 Expert Zone Chat
