After giving an excellent overview of what microformats are, he writes:

Much in the same way that operating systems currently associate particular file types with specific applications, future Web browsers are likely going to associate semantically marked up data you encounter on the Web with specific applications, either on your system or online.

This is going to change the way we interact with data on the Web…

I’m a big supporter of microformats, which I use extensively on this website. Microformats provide a standardized way of marking up common data elements, such as contact information or weblog entries. That information is typically hidden, and only encountered by the computer. However, if these plans take hold, that information will be exposed to people in useful ways. For example, if you were browsing my contact information, you could automatically copy those details into your address book with a single click.

This shift transforms web browsers into “information brokers,” further solidifying their position at the center of personal computing. It’s interesting to note that this integration will work with both web applications and desktop applications. Firefox 2 started down this path with its feed subscription mechanism, and with Firefox 3 the capabilities will increase. Whereas once the operating system itself was solely responsible for launching applications, the web browser is taking over that role.

Included in the buzz surrounding the release are a couple of noteworthy articles. Mitchell Baker, CEO of Mozilla, wrote an entry on her blog that highlights the ideals and features that make Firefox special. Read/WriteWeb has an interview with Chris Beard, VP of Products at Mozilla.

I’m reminded of Firefox 1.0, which was released almost two years ago, on November 9, 2004. As part of the marketing effort for that release, Mozilla placed a two-page ad in the December 16th edition of The New York Times. Much of the funding for that ad came from donations by the community, including a small $20 contribution made by myself. As an incentive, contributors names were printed in the advertisement, which is available as a PDF.

Since that initial release, Firefox has grown to have over 70 million users. It spurred a new wave of innovation on the web, and serves as a driving force in moving the browser towards a full-fledged platform. Congratulations to the team at Mozilla, and thank you for your efforts.