History of the browser user-agent string

webaim.org

36 pointsspydez4 comments

This is why you should test for capabilities, not agent strings. I propose a new string called "capabilities" which is a delimited list of standardized test suite sections your browser passes.

Of course, your browser could lie about its capabilities, as many Direct3D drivers do. And you will still need to test in every single browser, as game developers need to hire labs to test on the 150 most popular 3D cards.

Although, a web browser IS web-connected :-) We could have another new string which is "I swear I am actually this browser and version." and someone (cough Google? cough) could create a web service with a mapping of real browser agent string to real tested no-foolies caps.

Venturing off-topic, but...

game developers need to hire labs to test on the 150 most popular 3D cards

With this in mind, I find it odd that console games cost exactly the same as the PC version. Surely they can pass some of that savings (from only having to test on one machine) on to me? :P

They do: you don't need to pay to upgrade your hardware every year ;-)

You have to add the costs of licensing. Anyone can publish a game for PC, but you have to pay Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo to release a game for their console.

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