Microsoft set to unleash Internet Explorer 8

LAS VEGAS--Aiming to better compete against a growing list of rivals, Microsoft on Thursday is launching Internet Explorer 8, the latest version of its Web browser.

IE 8, as the browser is known, was first shown a year ago and has been in testing for months. The new browser adds security improvements, a private browsing option, as well as the ability to save pre-defined "slices" of a Web page for at-a-glance viewing.

But perhaps the biggest change in the browser is one made behind the scenes--the decision to make the browser better adhere to Web standards. That should make life easier for Web developers in the future, but also poses compatibility challenges for sites that are optimized specifically for older versions of IE. In part to address this, Microsoft has a "compatibility" mode that lets Web sites indicate if they would prefer to be run by an engine that is more like older versions of the browser.

As expected, Microsoft is using the Mix 09 conference for Web developers as the launchpad for IE 8.

The release of IE 8 comes as Microsoft has been losing share to leading rival Firefox and also seeing stepped-up competition from Google and Apple, among others. The global market share of Internet Explorer, which was more than 90 percent in 2004, ended last year at just above 70 percent, according to Net Applications.

Both Google and Apple have been touting the performance of their new JavaScript engines, but Microsoft has sought to downplay speed concerns. The company last week released a video it says shows that, in many cases, IE 8 is just as fast as other browsers in loading popular Web sites.

"In most cases the difference could literally be measured by a blink of an eye," said Microsoft Senior Director Amy Barzdukas. "That kind of speed becomes almost a push."

Despite IE's waning share, the European Union has said it is considering sanctioning Microsoft for bundling a Web browser into its operating system in the first place, a move that it says appears to violate its antitrust laws.

As for IE 8, Microsoft will make it available for download beginning at 9 a.m. PDT on Thursday, but will wait a while before it begins to push it to Windows users who have their computers set to get the latest updates automatically.

A version of Internet Explorer 8 will also be built into Windows 7, though it is one of many Windows components that users will be able to turn off if they wish.

As for the future, Microsoft isn't saying much about its browser plans, but corporate vice president Mike Nash did seek to quash speculation that IE 8 will be the end of the road.

"I can't say what it will be called," he said of the next version of the browser. "But we're not done."

[Tergon]

Ina, did they say what (if anything) was changed between RC1 (not ready for primetime iMHO) and the released version you're reporting on?

[stockyjoe]

Seriously, I mean RC1 is ok but not totally ready for prime time. If this is it IE is way behind Firefox, Safari and Chrome

[Goodbye Helicopter]

more standards compatibility?<br />great.<br />so they're only playing 5 years of standards catch up now...?

[pentest]

If MS is only 5 years behind the browser curve, they are doing very well...for microsoft.

[ikramerica--2008]

If IE is not required to do various tasks in Windows 7 like some IE versions were in some older Windows versions, why does the EU have a beef? It's just a free application.

[shootthecops]

it would be cool to be able to uninstall IE

[BOTNET]

you can uninstall it in Windows 7

[Lumiseon]

No, it's more along the lines of it can be disabled. Not uninstalled. Besides, they're still half-forcing you to have it, because Micro$oft.com won't run correctly on better browsers like Firefox, Opera, or Safari.

[Seaspray0]

Opera a better browser? According to which village idiot? Oh yea... you.

[lxnyce]

"In most cases the difference could literally be measured by a blink of an eye," said Microsoft Senior Director Amy Barzdukas. "That kind of speed becomes almost a push." <br /><br />You're kidding me right. Have you ever tried running a javascript heavy page? The difference is clear. That's like saying that people don't use js heavy pages, but rather static pages like they did nearly a decade ago. Go to any map site for directions and compare the performance.

[kojacked]

He was spinning hard. While it may be true that many javascript lite pages load in a similar amount of time the other browser will crush IE in most cases.

[shelby_sf]

Yes, there is a huge difference in JS heavy pages vs. non-heavy JS pages. JS performance is pretty much the whole point on Chrome, FF35, and IE8....

[Seaspray0]

Java is the property of Sun. Microsoft no longer provides the java virtual machine. Perhaps you should ask Sun why java is not performing up to steam in IE.

[HlLLARY CLITON]

IE 8 is slooooow

[Rolker]

I think that the most important improvement should be the speed. If they don't change this, more people will keep moving to other browsers. <br />I recently moved to firefox 3.0.7, and it is just so much faster than IE7. <br />If they were of the same speed, I think I wouldn't have bothered to move to firefox.

[Rolker]

I just downloaded IE8 and from what I'm experiencing, it is faster than IE7. <br />Is it faster as Firefox? This is something that still needs to be checked. But right now I'm happy with it. <br />p.s. Is there an add-on for automatic spell checking for IE as in Firefox?

[ewelch]

So, instead of breaking 20 web standards, it only breaks 10?<br /><br />Oh wait, it will be Microsoft versions of those standards, right? Like their face Javascript and their fake Kerberos?

[myles taylor]

The thing is, Microsoft only has the market share because people don't know any better and IE is the default browser. Would anyone actually choose to use IE if given the option? Would anyone in their right mind? I think not. <br /><br />How many blinks of an eye does it take to make a minute? An hour? A day? If you spend as much time online as I do, then the blink of an eye could add up to a lot.

[alenas]

I chose IE8 to be my default browser. I have an option too - I have latest Chrome and Opera, but I prefer IE. You know why? Because of Roboform and IE7Pro. Can you turn off ads with Chrome or Opera? Nope... <br />Who is spamming the web with ads? Google...You still want to use Google's browser so they could target YOU with their spam?

[tm_anon]

@alenas<br /><br />I use Flock or Firefox with Adblock Plus. Since Firefox has better pop-up blocking and since Flock has that same pop-up blocking, I don't worry about those as well as not worrying about ads. <br /><br />Besides, IE never cut it for me. Just took too long to render and it used too much RAM while doing so. Flock is much more stable than Firefox in the RAM department, not sure why exactly but it is.

[tipoo_]

alenas....are you kidding me? You know that Microsoft is one of the worlds largest spam ISP's, right? Why do you think they even put the effort into making their own web browser?

[kojacked]

Why would anyone waste their time berating Microsoft for trying to improve? <br /> <br />Stop the madness Microsoft! Just give the stockholders back their money and shutdown already! <br /> <br />Oh wait...

[UserNameIsAleadyInUse]

Why would anyone named "kojacked" waste their time berating Microsoft for trying to improve? That's a good question.

[seven7dust]

shut wat down ? IE ? or the company ?<br /><br />if MS shuts down wat'll happen to 90% the computers worldwide ?<br />not to mention the software developers and hardware manufacturers !<br />as much as I despise MS and their mantra of producing good enough products instead of cutting edge<br />they r going no where and the worst part if they do a lot of people would be affected not just MS !<br /><br />Shutting down IE would be a good idea though !

[The_happy_switcher]

"Stop the madness Microsoft! Just give the stockholders back their money and shutdown already! "<br /><br />I agree with your intelligent post.

[aMUSICsite]

So when is the Mac version coming out ;)

[Tedders85]

Hopefully never. The world would come to an end.

[sythara]

lol, <br /> <br />it would be funny if MS releases OSX version of IE. Seriously, if you think about it its rather comical.

[SlimGem]

I used Internet Explorer for years on my Macs; it got the job done.<br /><br />I have to admit, it would be a hoot if MS did make a new version for Macs.

[myles taylor]

I commented on this last night and then I had a dream that I downloaded the Mac version of IE and it worked great. Weird....

[Seaspray0]

I got my smile for the day. As to the post from amusicstie and the replies... thanks, guys.

[eadeguzman]

this reminds me... IE at one time was the default browser for the Mac...<br /><br />http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-to-invest-150-million-in-Apple/2100-1001_3-202143.html<br /><br />sythara -- is that comical? Apple begging from 150M investment and a commitment from MS to keep Mac versions of Office? It's the key element that started Apple's turnaround.<br /><br />It would be good to have IE on the Mac again... as there is Safari for Windows now. As a developer, that will really be great... so I don't have to run parallels just to run IE (when I'm on a Mac).<br /><br />By the way, all good points on the speed... Yes, it's important, but it's not everything as most folks here tend to imply. IE performs fairly ok running Google Maps and other "js heavy" pages. I believe that most non-technically inclined people won't notice the difference.

[superman227]

Firefox with IETab for me. Most websites that require IE for whatever reason will work with IETab installed in Firefox.

[PoisedSimplified]

Webslices is a joke compared to the Interclue add-on for Firefox.

[boe_d]

I just downloaded the beta again last week - it is extremely unreliable - I can't believe MS thinks it is ready for prime time! I spoke to an MS MVP - he said the same thing - said it was useless in Windows 7- had to load firefox. I sometimes use firefox or Chrome but I'm fine with IE7. I want something faster but IE8 just crashes faster than any other browser.

[uusirna]

IE8's javascript performance is as bad as IE7's. Just try adding a 5k-long note to threetags.com in FF/Chrome (3-5 secs) and IE (3-5 mins). 50x-100x difference!

[codynews]

Why is IE8 just a bigger and uglier version of IE7 :( MS needs to make an "IE Slim" that would be like Chrome.<br /><br />Oh, and why can't I drag tabs around? I mean like off the browser or onto another brower window? That's one of my fav parts of Chrome.<br /><br />Dang you MS, make it easier for me to defend IE! :)

[darfjono]

i can't wait to not download it and completely ignore its existence like i already do

[The_happy_switcher]

I agree with the Mac Daily News headline regarding this:<br />Microsoft inflicts Internet Explorer 8 today at noon; Mac users unaffected:<br />http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/20498/

[scottthesculptor]

"Despite IE's waning share, the European Union has said it is considering sanctioning Microsoft for bundling a Web browser into its operating system in the first place, a move that it says appears to violate its antitrust laws. " <br /> <br />Jeez, that would mean they can't bundle a file browser either. <br />Or a text editor. <br />What's left over after you remove all possible commercially viable programs?

[Seaspray0]

It only took the EU over 10 years to figure out IE was bundled with windows 98?

[CaptThom]

Aside from my personal and professional distaste for most things Microsoft, I must offer this: I think it's fair to assume that most people blogging here are tech-savvy, and thus, they can easily justify their disdain for the company's products. But the reality is that MANY regular people use MS browsers, if only because they don't know any better. And there's no reason to think that will change overnight. So, as a web developer, I welcome any attempt by the Dark Side to become more standards-compliant, since it will make my life a whole lot easier. Now, as for Microsoft's idea of what standards-compliant means, well, that's a different story altogether....

[ChrisLang]

You are very correct CaptThom.<br /><br />Google had to rewrite their Google Friend Connect JavaScript to allow users to connect thru GFC sites becuase their JavaScript was only standards compliant.<br /><br />Currently W3Schools ranks IE at less than 50% adoption. On my own sites they are below that. The new version of Firefox actually works well. It is fast, stable at compiling AJAX and I can run 50 open tabs without hacking up the config file to get it to run.<br /><br />With Google becoming more and more dominant in the entire Internet realm why does Microsoft continue to try to hang on to their market share with nasty tactics like proprietary website coding? <br /><br />I run my entire online business thru my browser. Why does Microsoft not understand they have lost the race and just give us something we can work with?<br /><br />Chris Lang

[dung_h2]

now i can't see IE 8 Final at microsoft.com. What's happened ?

[tipoo_]

Funniest video Microsoft has ever made!