Read earlier today that "Firefox" as over taken IE in the EU. Seems that Microsoft is going to need to get IE 9 out with a big bang if Microsoft wants to regain their market share in the browser war.

MS need to get their lazy butts up ...and push IE9 out NOW in order to get back to the market ..

BTW ...i'm now "Chrome" all the way ... to me it's the fastest one so far ..

IE9 won't bring IE's share up again

There's a bright side to this: With the new and constantly-strengthening competition, Microsoft will feel compelled to do better to compete with the other browsers. I actually don't want IE to get a market share as high as it did during the IE5/IE6 era. If that happens again, Microsoft will most likely not pay as much attention to IE again like it did during the later IE6 era.

A few things I'm getting from MS's continued struggles with keeping it hot:

MS needs to reinvent it's Cult of Personality - Google, Apple, even Linux have developed extreme hotspots propping up their identities, brands, and philosophies. Even though there are hardcore MS users, there are also many who are very flexible and don't build the level of dedication or was it naivety?

MS is up against some very young (or young minded) and quickly growing companies. Granted if it wasn't for MS - many wouldn't be here but that's a different story.

Their commercials feel a bit behind in who they're targeting or are feel good clones of Apple or just a bit too kosher for the young consumer. I never get excited when I see an MS commecial (especially those stupid "Cloud") commercials, but a Mac, Andriod catches my attention and I only use macs on occasion.

I don't know what is the problem with the aesthetics, but IE9, Windows phone, and even Zune software don't have a strong appeal to me - granted I have no choice but to use the Zune software for my device (I think?). I still use WMP though

Klaw117 said:

There's a bright side to this: With the new and constantly-strengthening competition, Microsoft will feel compelled to do better to compete with the other browsers.

I totally agree

Web Browsers Jockeying for Usage Share as 2011 Dawns
The New Year holiday is barely behind us, but all the major web browser vendors are positioning themselves for another year of market share and mindshare battles. Microsoft announced some milestones for Internet Explorer (IE), focusing on the success of newer versions instead of its overall falling share.

Mozilla seized the top spot in Europe even as its overall share has flat-lined for over a year. And new industry darling Google Chrome leapt to 10 percent usage share by the end of 2011, and is poised for even more growth this year—all at the expense of IE.

Web Browsers Jockeying for Usage Share as 2011 Dawns

Looks like Opera has become nothing but a memory

I like Opera - looks like everyone has or is trying to clone their UI

How come there isn't much concern about the lacking popularity of Safari? You'd think the media would be all over Apple for that flunky. Still got growing pains right? I guess they get their break again.

What about all these chaps?

Browsers List

I'm guessing Chrome is up because of the popularity of the search engine, Android, and the hub bub behind Chrome OS. I would guess IE usage gained some ground when Vista and Win7 were launched. Firefox's popularity to growing development interests in Europe/Asia but also getting a bit too big for it's britches possibly?