Version usage statistics for everything on the net.

[drudge]

I just recently posted my portfolio on here for people to check. The issue of using iframes was brought up as maybe it might not be accessible on all peoples machines. As a web designer I'm often confronted by compatibility issues with software and the use of certain things in web pages. A common questions is, how many people have '????' installed or turned on? etc.

I only really know of this stat on how many people have flash player installed?
http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/version_penetration.html

I'm positive that other companies and universities have done studies into 'version penetration and stats of other things that are used on the net.

I have searched high and low for issues on who can see iframes, javascript, what browsers are most common and in which countries.?. But to no avail.

I'd like to start this thread in bid to gather such information, a simple thread, for stats on the web.

Thanks and I'll keep looking.

 

[webado]

It's not that too many people use browsers that do not support iframes or javascript - it's that many people activate security features that disallow those elements. Iframes for all their being neat, are also much maligned as permitting spoofing, so advisories from Secunia and others have been to turn that off in the browser. Javascript is a vehicle for delivering (unwanted) ads as popups and popunders, so lots of people disable that too - by themselevs or by using some anti-spyware programs that do it for them.

Browsers meant for portable devices like cell phones are limited and usually won't support iframe and/or javscript.

 

[drudge]

Yes, Christina, I think it's such a shame that the vandals of the internet (as I like to call them), feel like they can abuse the internet and luckily for them no consequences happen as a result of their actions. We the users, are forced to adapt and make our life difficult (i.e. not putting direct mailto links in our web pages). The internet should not be like that. But that's another thread, I think. ;-)

I would like to really see some stats on who has these security features.
So that us web designers can get a better understanding of who will be able to see the pages we design.

 

[webado]

Since these are definite posisbilities you have to assume they will be used by some. Thus you have to build your site so it can work in all ways.

Don't forget search engine robots which don't "do" javascript (thus ajax is out too), nor frames nor iframes nor flash nor image-based or videos or audio content. You need to make use of alternate methods for all of these.

 

[NeilB]

One size fits all

I didn't want to post on this one in case I spoilt what you wanted the content of the thread to contain, but Christina has touched on what I was going to say and so I will say it. Drudge - if you think it spoils the thread then pm me and I will delete it with pleasure.

I think I must be the anti christ to someone like Christina coz I'm not bothered that my site is not validated and W3C compliant and the like. I don't know what you lot are on about when youare talking about all this code etc. BUT i do believe that the 'vandals' as you call them force the issue and make a 'one size fits all' situation. In other words, websites will play safe ad have content that can be seen by the vast majority oof the internet - for those very few percent of people who are outside of the majority of net users - unlucky. This approach prevails throughout society in a variety of mediums - ranging from clothes to sporting goods - things are manufactured for the majority of people not for everyone.

I am not saying thi is right, just the way things are. The internet seems to be going the same way. I read of a minority of users who use a variety of different browsers (when I look at my stats it is a small minority) and I don't get it.... why? IE 6 and IE 7 are up running and working with pretty much everything that the average comp user wants....

I have laid my head on the block - let the choppig begin....

Later
Neil

 

[webado]

It's all about exceptions all the time. That's the only way to make things for everyone. Because everyone is not like everyone else

 

[drudge]

i was thinking about this post been more a place to share stats like this:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/intc0806.pdf
UK broadband v's dial-up

However, I'm finding nothing like an 'online census' (my new keywords for google).

and I realise there is a lot to moan about and it seems this post will turn into a place for moans and groans about accessibility. Which is still fine.
If anyone wants to PM me any links, please do, I'll be gathering them up and creating a place for them on here and my blog (when I have a few substantial ones).

 

[drudge]

aaargh, got something worth looking at
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp
which mentions browser usage, javascript, screen resolution.
and a lot of the data shows trends throughout the years.

and another:
http://www.thecounter.com/stats/
on browsers

And some nice insight into large domains daily browser stats can be found here:
http://www.webreference.com/stats/browser.html
http://www.ews.uiuc.edu/bstats/latest.html

and an article to contradict all the data in the above links can be found here:
http://www.pantos.org/atw/f-35448.html
It basically says this 'No statistically reliable survey of browser usage exists.'

This is also the biggest list of stats, I have found:
http://www.waller.co.uk/web.htm
However, true they are, some interesting things, though.

 

[travelswcharlie]

I'm positive that other companies and universities have done studies into 'version penetration and stats of other things that are used on the net.

I have searched high and low for issues on who can see iframes, javascript, what browsers are most common and in which countries.?. But to no avail.

I'd like to start this thread in bid to gather such information, a simple thread, for stats on the web.

Thanks and I'll keep looking.

Here is an excellent research firm:

http://www.marketingexperiments.com/

I'm not sure they have covered your subject, but if you search their archives, you will find many good sources.

A paragraph of description from their site:

"MarketingExperiments.Com is an online laboratory with a simple (but not easy) five-word mission statement: To discover what really works. We engage in Research, Publishing & Education, and we test every conceivable marketing method on the Internet."