A big step in browser-as-a-platform...

A big step in browser-as-a-platform...  It's extraordinary to see such broad cooperation amongst browser makers.  It's almost like they understand the value of standards :)  Even Microsoft is participating, which makes me wonder if the end days are nigh.  In any case, if this standard is actually widely deployed, it means that soon the browser environment will not be strictly a JavaScript world – any programming language could be supported in a cross-browser way.  Watch out, operating systems!  Browsers will be the new applications platform...