These numbers indicate that a large number of people use more than one browser. This is hardly surprising, given the addition of newer browsers like Google Chrome and Safari for Windows, and the recent upgrade of Opera.

It’s evident that web designers and developers will continue to need to support multiple browsers, and while modern browsers are generally more compatible than they have been in the past, developers will need to plan testing of their applications accordingly.

Which browsers do you test your sites for?

I have two computers: a MacBook Pro and an iMac. Even though Firefox 3 is my default browser on both computers, I regularly have at least three different browsers open to do what I need to do in my work day. Certain sites only work in Internet Explorer, while others simply behave better in Chrome or Safari. Other sites are bookmarked in Safari solely for the iPhone.

Foxmarks has long been the free go-to utility for syncing bookmarks between multiple instances of Firefox. I’ve long preferred Foxmarks to Mozilla Weave which, while it syncs more information between Firefox browsers, I’ve found to be less reliable. For non-Firefox browsers, I’ve had to use my.foxmarks.com to access sites using IE or Safari that are bookmarked in Firefox.

No more. Last week, Foxmarks introduced syncing for both IE and Safari (I can’t wait for a Chrome version).

How does it sync browsers that don’t support plug-ins the way Firefox does?

On the Mac, it installs a new system preference:

On the PC, it’s a little application that can also sit in the system tray:

This solution is not quite as elegant as it is for Firefox, where it can work entirely in the browser without requiring any additional system resources. On the other hand, you don’t have to wait for IE or Safari to launch to sync bookmarks, like you do with Firefox.

After a few hours of testing, I’m quite satisfied. Make a change to bookmarks in one browser, and within seconds the files are synced in all other browsers, regardless of the platform. I did notice that the Firefox “Bookmarks Toolbar” is renamed to “Links” during the sync and is accessible through a drop-down menu in the upper right corner.

Limitations:

• It does not appear that Foxmark’s new password syncing is available outside of Firefox. For site password syncing that is available cross-browser, I would highly recommend 1Password on the Mac (works in both Firefox and Safari) and RoboForm on the PC (works in IE and Firefox, among others, not including Chrome).
• On the Mac, it only works in Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5)
• On the PC, it only works in IE 6 & 7 and it’s a bit buggier than the Mac/Firefox syncing. It did crash IE once for me. Of all the browsers I use, I’m in IE the least so this is not an issue for me. But if IE is your mainstay browser, perhaps because a work-related application requires it, you should probably hold off on Foxmarks.

Have you tried Foxmarks? What tools do you use for browser bookmark syncing?

Even within those broad categories, though, the market is more fragmented than ever before: Firefox 2 and 3 are both in substantial use, as are IE6 and IE7. It’s worse in some markets; I have one customer who requires IE5.5 compatibility due to restrictions on browser version at a government agency. Some people want to address this by campaigning against IE6, but that still seems quixotic to me. With no end in sight to new versions, and intense competition in the browser market, it seems like this problem will only keep getting worse.

If you create web pages, what’s your testing strategy? What browsers do you consider important enough to check?

WordPress

Many Backend Improvements

WordPress.org focused 2.5 on implementing a much-needed facelift and adding functionality to the administrative interface. The dashboard has been un-cluttered considerably, creating a welcoming environment when you first log in to your blog’s back-end. Also, administrators can now install dashboard widgets that show items such as stats about your posts, comments, incoming links, popular news, and so on. Some of the widgets feature RSS feeds for easy tracking in your favourite RSS reader.

New Post Editing Functionality

Features presented inside the blog post editing screen include multi-file uploading that includes a progress bar. This means no more having to upload files one at a time, providing a huge time-saver. Also, if your jpg images have EXIF data you’d like to show, WordPress will automatically extract that data into fields you can use.

If you have a blog that has multiple authors, the WordPress folks have addressed a major issue: concurrent editing protection. Now in version 2.5, if you edit a post that someone else has open as well, you’ll be prompted. No more auto-saves overwriting each others edits. WordPress will automatically lock the post and prevent concurrent saving.

If you’ve used WordPress’ new multi-file upload feature and have uploaded a batch of photos, you’ll enjoy the new built-in gallery as well. There is new short code for displaying galleries with thumbnails and captions. Users can also leave comments on individual photos. WordPress.org has documentation outlining the syntax for using this new functionality.

Safari uses will enjoy the new post editor as WordPress 2.5 includes Tiny MCE version 3.0 which boasts improved compatibility with Apple’s Safari browser.

Finally, WordPress search now indexes web pages, in addition to blog posts. This much needed feature adds to WordPress functionality as a CMS for a small website.

WordPress 2.5 has some much needed features and has advanced its functionality for anyone who wants to publish their own blog or website. To get started, make sure your hosting environment features PHP and MySQL (these components power WordPress) and download WordPress. Their 5-minute installation set is also available.

Alternatively, if you’re upgrading from a previous WordPress version, check out the upgrade instructions or use the WordPress Automatic Upgrade plug-in.