> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.chrismessina.me/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Apple embraces microformats in new .Mac webmail - URL: https://www.chrismessina.me/blog/apple-embraces-microformats-in-new-mac-webmail/ - Published: 2006-10-28T23:55:38.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-25T03:38:37.000Z - Author: Chris Messina - Tags: microformats, Mozilla, Open source, Technology, Web building [](http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/282011362/?ref=chrismessina.me)If you've been [playing with](http://gigaom.com/2006/10/26/dot-mac-mail/?ref=chrismessina.me) the [new .Mac webmail application](http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/26/apple-updates-mac-webmail/?ref=chrismessina.me), something under the surface very significant is present, but you'd probably never realize it. In fact, if it weren't good works like [Jon Hicks'](http://www.hicksdesign.co.uk/journal/?ref=chrismessina.me) [*expose-mf.css* browser stylesheet](http://www.hicksdesign.co.uk/journal/highlight-microformats-with-css?ref=chrismessina.me) (view the above image [without the stylesheet](http://flickr.com/photos/splorp/280320675/in/set-72157594346627247?ref=chrismessina.me)), you'd probably have no idea that beneath the surface, Apple was quietly giving a nod to an [upstart open source community](http://microformats.org/?ref=chrismessina.me). Given the [source code](http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/282011458/?ref=chrismessina.me) that I've been provided, I can confirm that Apple has indeed added support for [hCard](http://microformats.org/wiki/hcard?ref=chrismessina.me) in [.Mac webmail](http://www.mac.com/webmail?ref=chrismessina.me), though not without a few errors (notably [the 'n' optmization](http://microformats.org/wiki/hcard?ref=chrismessina.me#Implied%5F.22n.22%5FOptimization)). The significance of this can certainly be understated at this point, as [few applications are built to take advantage of microformats browser-side](http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/dmose/archives/2005/11/webapp%5Fintegration%5Fpoints%5Fmicr.html?ref=chrismessina.me) (adding address cards that are *already in* your address book *to* your address book doesn't make much sense) however, with [Greasemonkey](http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/?ref=chrismessina.me) and other ideas like [GreaseKits](http://webkit.pbwiki.com/GreaseKit?ref=chrismessina.me) making the rounds (okay, so I came up with GreaseKits), we can count this as yet another feather in our cap as more and more large vendors make their web properties more semantically rich, opening up possibilities previously inaccessible given the sheer cost of maintaining one-off [scrAPI techniques](http://thormuller.com/netpositive/2006/03/02/here-come-the-scrapis/?ref=chrismessina.me). Now when you write a script to parse, augment, enhance or "user-interface-ize" microformatted content, it will work everywhere that microformats show up -- not just one site at a time. With [Firefox 3 looking to add support for microformats](http://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Feature%5FBrainstorming:Microformat%5FHandling?ref=chrismessina.me), it's positive support by folks like Apple that will provide fertile ground for what the next generation of mashable web services looks like. --- ### 馃挰 Comments from the original post **[torresburriel.com » Blog Archive » Microformatos en el webmail de Apple](http://www.torresburriel.com/weblog/2006/10/29/microformatos-en-el-webmail-de-apple/?ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2006-10-29 06:54:30 \[...\] Leo en el weblog de Chris Messina que los responsables del nuevo webmail de Apple han decidido microformatearlo, de tal modo que los contactos que manejemos en ese sistema estar谩n construidos siguiendo el est谩ndar hCard. Lo cuenta en Apple embraces microformats in new .Mac webmail. Ello abre la puerta a futuras integraciones con otras aplicaciones que tengamos en el sistema, as铆 como con otros sitios web. \[...\] **[Todd Sieling](http://toddsieling.com/?ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2006-10-29 09:33:27 Wow. That seems like a faster adoption rate than normal for Apple when it comes to new standards and formats. Go Apple! **[luke dorny](http://brandamage.com/?ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2006-10-29 12:11:47 Excellent wrap-up, Chris. This is excellent news. /me raises glass to the 脗碌Formats crew and contributors芒鈧γ⑩偓娄 slurp! **[.Mac microformats at microformatique - a blog about microformats and “data at the edges”](http://microformatique.com/?p=52&ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2006-10-29 17:11:50 \[...\] Chris Messina posts today that Apple鈥檚 new Mail service at .Mac, all sexy Ajaxy stuff by accounts, also uses hCard for its online address book. \[...\] **[Judson | Expose-mf.css reveals Apple using Microformats](http://thepodcastonline.com/?p=9&ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2006-10-30 11:45:49 \[...\] FactoryJoe Reports: If you芒鈧劉ve been playing with the new .Mac webmail application, something under the surface very significant is present, but you芒鈧劉d probably never realize it. In fact, if it weren芒鈧劉t good works like Jon Hicks芒鈧劉 expose-mf.css browser stylesheet (view the above image without the stylesheet), you芒鈧劉d probably have no idea that beneath the surface, Apple was quietly giving a nod to an upstart open source community. \[...\] **[microformats | weblog | dotMac Webmail implements hCard](http://microformats.org/blog/2006/10/31/dotmac-webmail-implements-hcard/?ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2006-10-31 11:11:41 \[...\] As reported by Chris Messina, Apple鈥檚 dotMac team has added hCard support to their webmail application. \[...\] **[Internet Explorer 8.0 will support microformats at FactoryCity](http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2006/10/29/internet-explorer-80-will-support-microformats/?ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2007-01-23 13:45:46 \[...\] discussions around support for microformats in Firefox 3, and Apple showing strong support for microformats as well, it鈥檚 only a very short amount of time before we can move on from \[...\] **[microformateurs » Blog Archive » DotMac Webmail impl脙漏mente hCard](http://microformateurs.org/2007/04/11/dotmac-webmail-implemente-hcard/?ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2007-04-11 01:10:42 \[...\] cela a 脙漏t脙漏 rendu compte par Chris Messina, l鈥櫭兟﹒uipe de dotMac d鈥橝pple a ajout脙漏 le support de la hCard 脙 son application de \[...\] **[mario](http://www.glashercegovine.com/?ref=chrismessina.me)** 路 2007-05-08 07:57:50 I dont know.Yahoo is Yahoo.