yep, although it's not advisable edit your php.ini file, change short_open_tag = On, restart the apache server
I read the same that it was better practice to use '<?php' instead of '<?' but I'm not sure why. It is because '<?' can be interpreted as something else on some servers?
It isn't a good ideea to use <? instead of <?php because <? is used as starting tag in XML (eXtensible Markup Language), so when you use both languages it can create confusions. So I advice you strongly to use <?php and not the shorter tags
<? Wont read as an XML tag, you shouldn't have PHP code in your XML feed... It also isn't a valid XML tag as all tags need to be closed. It would have to be <?> </?>. Its best practice to use <?php as some servers have short tags (<?) turned off.
Ah I see. Thanks for explaining. I've only ever used servers that must allow short tags as I haven't experienced any problems to date. Agree <?php is better practice.