The reason to have a 2D graphics library as part of the C++ Standard is to allow one to write a C++ program that does graphics such that it has only one dependency: an implementation of the C++ Standard. It won't be for everyone and certainly won't affect the ability to use any other graphics library. This is a good thing, IMHO. Same for more complete access to the file system, something that has also been missing from C++.
One of my biggest complaints about Peter K's "MathML is a failed web standard" is that most people read that without taking note of "web" in the middle. MathML has been quite successful in publishing and as a computer representation. As far as whether or not MathML is a failed WEB standard, I have a lot more to say about that here: http://bit.ly/1ZLfCF8.
Good answer. TeX is an input language and is fairly good at what it does for mathematicians. From a programming language and systems point of view, it is an ancient, ad hoc mess. TeX could be used as a computer representation, but it fails for that purpose for lots of reasons, several of which you mention here.
Most of you guys seem to be suffering under a big misconception. MathML was never intended to be typed by humans. Perhaps a few programmers might need to do it but not mathematicians, students, engineers, scientists, etc. Saying things like "I hate typing mathematics in MathML" is much like saying "I hate typing my word processing documents in RTF". Just say no. Like most XML languages, MathML is a computer representation meant to be read/written by software. If you want to enter math notation, use TeX or an interactive math editor like MathType (my company's product).
MathML allows math to be rendered to speech for people with disabilities, something that LaTeX won't do. It is also a much more solid REPRESENTATION. It is not an input language like LaTeX. Think of LaTeX as YOUR favorite math UI, whereas MathML is an underlying representation. The fact that you can View Source and read it is immaterial.
MathML is not a human input language! MathML is a representation. While comparisons with TeX and LaTeX are inevitable, they serve different purposes. Look at the HTML/CSS used to render a dynamic menu sometime. I'm sure it is pretty ugly too.
Word got out on MathJax a little early, as things tend to do on the web. We barely got a sample page up. Although it probably won't matter, our hope is you don't hammer MathJax too hard until we get things going and officially announce. Very soon now!
Paul Topping
Design Science, Inc. (one of the MathJax founders)
For the in-line version, is it possible to get the baseline on an equation to align with the baseline of the surrounding text? In your current demo page they are a bit off.
Our free MathPlayer plugin for IE enables it to display MathML. Except for having to be installed, it is as "native" as it can get. It even works with screen readers to speak the math for those that need that. See http://www.dessci.com/mathplayer.
Thanks Paul. I'm aware of Math Player, but I don't like the tradeoff of forcing our users to install a plugin for superior display quality/customizability vs. "it just works". The nature of our user base just doesn't make it feasible IMO.
I would be more willing to take that tradeoff in a LCMS environment though.
