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."
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
great.
so they're only playing 5 years of standards catch up now...?
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.
I recently moved to firefox 3.0.7, and it is just so much faster than IE7.
If they were of the same speed, I think I wouldn't have bothered to move to firefox.
Is it faster as Firefox? This is something that still needs to be checked. But right now I'm happy with it.
p.s. Is there an add-on for automatic spell checking for IE as in Firefox?
Oh wait, it will be Microsoft versions of those standards, right? Like their face Javascript and their fake Kerberos?
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.
Who is spamming the web with ads? Google...You still want to use Google's browser so they could target YOU with their spam?
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.
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.
Stop the madness Microsoft! Just give the stockholders back their money and shutdown already!
Oh wait...
if MS shuts down wat'll happen to 90% the computers worldwide ?
not to mention the software developers and hardware manufacturers !
as much as I despise MS and their mantra of producing good enough products instead of cutting edge
they r going no where and the worst part if they do a lot of people would be affected not just MS !
Shutting down IE would be a good idea though !
I agree with your intelligent post.
it would be funny if MS releases OSX version of IE. Seriously, if you think about it its rather comical.
I have to admit, it would be a hoot if MS did make a new version for Macs.
http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-to-invest-150-million-in-Apple/2100-1001_3-202143.html
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.
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).
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.
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.
Dang you MS, make it easier for me to defend IE! :)
Microsoft inflicts Internet Explorer 8 today at noon; Mac users unaffected:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/20498/
Jeez, that would mean they can't bundle a file browser either.
Or a text editor.
What's left over after you remove all possible commercially viable programs?
Google had to rewrite their Google Friend Connect JavaScript to allow users to connect thru GFC sites becuase their JavaScript was only standards compliant.
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.
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?
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?
Chris Lang
- by tipoo_ March 19, 2009 10:14 AM PDT
- Funniest video Microsoft has ever made!
- Like this Reply to this comment
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