Microsoft unveils Internet Explorer 8
It took many years from IE6 to IE7, but this browser is still quite new and Microsoft is already releasing a first beta version of IE8. MS unveiled the beta version of Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) for developers at the annual MIX08 conference in Las Vegas. The beta version of IE8 includes better predictability when designing sites, full support for cascading style sheet (CSS) 2.1 at release to manufacturing, and integrated developer tools to quickly debug HTML, CSS and scripts in a visual environment, Microsoft said. “A lot of the end user or consumer features are not featured on this build because it really is targeted at the developers and the designers,” Matthew Lepsen from the Microsoft IE development team, said on a video produced by Microsoft’s Channel 9 site. While the consumer version of IE8 will differ somewhat from this first beta, it will not be a dramatic change, Lepsen said. The software giant again stressed the browser’s interoperability. Microsoft on Tuesday announced that it will make IE8 standards compliant.
The browser will render the Acid2 browser test correctly, and fully supports CSS 2.1, Microsoft said. In an apparent coincidence, the Web Standards Group announced the release of the next-generation Acid3 test on Wednesday. The beta will also include two new features, dubbed Activities and WebSlices. Activities is intended to provide quick access to services from any Web site, Microsoft said. Once downloaded through the IE8 service guide, users can look up or send certain information from the Web. Those on a restaurant Web site, for example, can click within the page to get maps, look up news on the restaurant, blog about it, or share on Facebook. Activities will also feature partnerships with companies like eBay and Stumbleupon, which eBay acquired in May. Highlight something on a Web site, right click it, and see if that item is available on eBay without ever leaving the original Web site, Lepsen said. It will be interesting too see a final release, which will probably appear at the almost same time as Firefox 3.0.
Source: PC Mag
Comments(53)
who still uses internet explorer anyway?
Faster i want to download it now can somebody tell me the link XD
who needs ie ?
firefox is here to stay
who the hell uses IE? grandparents and folks on their first pc lol.
damn thing uses way too much ram and resources and it sucks anyhow
firefox 1.x was faster than 2.x so wonder what will happen with 3.x
but microsoft decided to change the appereance as well
so ie7 became too hard to use for those who were used to earlier version, hopefully they will go back to old-style drop down menus which everyone is familiar with
same happened with office
and media player
@1,3,4:
lots of companies, schools have preconfigured pcs that restrict downloading stuff so there are lots of people who have to use whatever they are given to use
Download links:
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/internet-explorer-8-beta-download-links/
screenshots and few more info about it ->
http://lifehacker.com/364289/internet-explorer-8-beta-1-available-for-download
IE still sucks. I didn’t know people still used it.
tried firefox b4,didnt like it cos the torrent file dl problem,been using myie2/maxthon for years so far.has firefox fixed problem in the latest virsion yet?
dont use ie7 either.
@10
firefox can’t fix you being dumb
Download
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Vista
http://rapidshare.com/files/97429555/IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Window XP
http://rapidshare.com/files/97434956/IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe
Well if this version is standards compliant and adheres to CSS 2.1 fully then as a Website Developer I welcome it with open arms, even though it comes way too late.
As for the comments on ‘who uses IE anymore” or “who needs IE”, IE is still the most popular browser for the general public, therefore when designing a website it needs to be compatable with IE as well as Firefox, and to some extent Opera and Safari ( although their share of the browser market is minimal ).
There is a very useful free tool for Website Designers who need to run different versions of IE on the same computer. Maybe useful for a few of you.
Install multiple versions of IE on your PC
http://tredosoft.com/Multiple_IE
Internet Explorer 7 running side by side with IE6. (standalone)
http://tredosoft.com/IE7_standalone
@11
that was a couple years ago when I tried out firefox,never tried again since. guess kind people must be dying out and only the mean species like you are left.
I say the same as in the other IE8 posts couple of days ago. It’s about time! Hopefully they don’t mess this up so that web developers eventually (when older IE is phased out) can stop wasting time on IE hacks and only have to develop a single standard compliant site.
I’ll give IE8 a try but I’m pretty sure I will stay with Firefox because of it’s layout, features, extensions etc.
@14 johhn: Unfortunately you are correct. Being kind doesn’t get you anywhere in this world.
I don’t know what torrent problem you are referring to. Only “problem” I’ve experienced is that a few sites torrent links ain’t automatically forwarded to the torrent client so you have to manually select Open with… I think it’s because of how some sites links are written, javascripts and stuff.
@13 “As for the comments on ‘who uses IE anymore” or “who needs IE”, IE is still the most popular browser for the general public”
The problem is people didn’t have a choice in the first place. IE8 ain’t gonna change nothing for me when I’m developing sites, oh one thing MAYBE I don’t have to check if it’s working in IE finally!! STOP USING CRAP BROWSERS PEOPLE!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/albill/2313174452/
IE8beta…epic fail.
For the love of Christ, it crashes when l click on favorites. Thought it could not be worse then the previous version, who was i kidding!
Damn just tryed it out and it broke my internet connection took me 45 mins 2 sort it out.
I think this might be interesting for a lot of you guys.
http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html
Vista x64
http://rapidshare.com/files/97473909/IE8-WindowsVista-x64-ENU.exe
Vista x86
http://rapidshare.com/files/97473910/IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe
Xp x86
http://rapidshare.com/files/97473911/IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe
Those who think people should just move to Firefox over IE have a blinkered view on the world. IE is the standard build for many business machines and many will never allow an open-source web browser to be run on a corporate network.
For home use, yes move to FF. But IE will never die, so people like me will continue to earn a fortune writing business apps
this beta check wga or non legit user can try too?
seriously who the hell uses IE? and if you do use it, ur suck a nUb.
@DmentD: Latest statistics (January 2008) show that 54,7% users use IE!
Firefox 37,2%,
Mozilla 1,5%,
Safari 1,9%,
Opera 1,4%! LOL!
Mozilla 1,3%! Sorry!
funny when ppl talk about acidtest if any webdesigner would care about it. acidtest is another nerd myth that they reference in tests but the real world dont give a f.u.c.k.
@23
to bypass all windows wga check just use muBlinder… google it.
firefox is a big crap.
long life ie8 .
hate ppl that f*** with the creators of firefox.
only slaved mind here.
DmentD,
most corporations do. and when you grow up and get a real job (not as a cashier at BB), you’ll see not that easy to install apps on your corp machine.
“Firefox Fanboys are so scared people may actually read this page and make up their own minds that they have gone to great lengths to censor any discussion of this page”
lol!!!!!!!!!
http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html
internet explorer still most stable on my pc! firefox crashes way to much.
I agree that Firefox 2.x is using a lot of memory and is not that stable!
@31 Good find!
Firefox sucz: You do realise that your ‘Firefox Myths’ page is out of date, right?
Not only do you fail to explain exactly why Firefox is “A big Crap”, you also embarrased yourself over several inaccuracies.
I read your Firefox myths page, and do you know what? I don’t care whether it’s Firefox, or Fire-Fox, or about the small niggling things. What I do know is that Microsoft Internet Explorer simply does not run half as well, or as stable as any Firefox release that I have ever used, and that Firefox has never attempted to integrate itself into my operating system.
So please explain exactly what you don’t like about Firefox, and what Internet Explorer does better than Firefox, or shut the f.u.c.k up!
@trell
come on .. make a big post defending your browser and make my day. lol !!! lol!!!
what a loser.
fanboy = emo boy .
most schools use ie7.. firefox is still useless to schools and other businesses..
is this stand alone beta thingy?
so i can use this beta thingy installed with out removing ie6?
I’m not allowed to use anything else in work apart from IE -they just wont have Opera or firefox for some stupid reason
@Zen: There is Ad Blocker for IE for your knowledge! (IE7Pro addon) LOL!
come on, who on this earth use internet explorer?
I don’t care what they do to IE, I still won’t use it because it’s HIDEOUS.
yah, even in my school all computers have got Firefox installed. =)
people people people
quit wasting your time and start using opera it pwns all both IE and Firefox and to prove so ..http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html
its much faster.
more efficent .
BUT lacks… greasemonkey… lolz
Opera is much faster, but speed isn’t everything. I can see both sides of the IE FF argument, but I would have to side with Fire Fox users for these reasons. Firefox has a built in spell check, built in pop up blocker, nice crisp look, may more customizable. Sure you can add a pop up blocker for Internet explorer and get enhancements. But, Firefox comes equipped with everything you need! Internet explorer is fine to use if you are at your business and have no other choice; but any other time I would go with Firefox. Opera is for people who trip on the speed of an internet browser, but i would rather use IE7 than opera. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, if everyone was supposed to like just one browser than there would be that JUST ONE. But everyone likes different things and should just stop arguing.
I hope they make it more usable, i find it really difficult to find anything now with IE7. Firefox is so easy to customise, i just couldn’t live without it.
(Microsoft) Web Slices = (Apple) Web Clips
I have to say i really like the Activities contextual menu looks really useful…However I think I’ll wait for Firefox 3 when they finish with the betas
I’m using Opera on Windows. Opera is for people who want small and fast browser with a lot of features out of the box. IE has the fastest startup time on MS Windows machines, it is good when you want to check the web on the rush. Firefox is my favourite browser on Linux. Every cat has an attitude.
LAWL…….. IE????
Firefox FTW
Why don’t they just join forces and become one ruler of the browsing world?! You know? Isn’t Sony and Microsoft finally putting their heads together with the playstation/xbox (blueray) situation? It’s not like they still can’t be freaking rich, right!? It all goes to the one thing… Who’s got the most power? Well.. the answer really is…US damnit…the consumers… and aren’t we always right?! So let’s just tell them that it would be a lot nicer if they just pull together on this so we can view and download their cracks alot easier and faster….
Ok…enough bs… for one session.
@25 philips14c:
Where did you find that numbers? They ain’t even close to the ones I got.
Truth is, if it wasn’t part of Windows nobody would use it. Hopefully Europe will stop MS from forcing it onto all Windows users with Windows Update.