Firefox 3.7 vs IE 9: Race for Direct2D graphics

Mozilla has begun a race, as they want their Firefox 3.7 browser to beat Microsoft’s IE9 for inserting Direct2D graphics support. Both companies are working very hard, and it could go either way. If I were a betting man, I would go with Firefox offering the support first.

According to The Register, Bas Schouten, a programmer for Mozilla has said that he managed to load Direct2D support into an alpha build of the next Firefox, version 3.7 for Windows computers. This was only a few days after Microsoft announced its plans to just consider the option for Internet Explorer 9.

We know that things are in the early stages, but the early signs certainly look good. However, there is a downside, this will only work with newer PC’s, older models will not have the hardware to support such a feature.

As Firefox has already used Direct2D and DirectWrite technologies it certainly looks as though they will get the jump on Microsoft, but do not write them off just yet. Firefox is expected to be released in the first part of 2010, Microsoft have only just begun work on IE9.

Who will make use of Direct2D support first, Mozilla or Microsoft?