Microsoft to start pushing IE 8 browser
Microsoft said it plans next week to start pushing its Internet Explorer 8 browser to consumers who have Windows' automatic-update feature turned on.
Among IE 8's new features are "accelerators," which let people take actions from within a Web page, such as getting a map or composing an e-mail.
(Credit: CNET)The software maker released the browser for download at last month's Mix conference and had said it planned to start pushing the browser out in the coming days.
"Starting on or about the third week of April, users still running IE 6 or IE 7 on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2008 will get will get a notification through Automatic Update about IE 8," Microsoft said, though a representative said on Monday that this will not take place until next week, at the earliest.
The update process will be gradual, with only a small percentage of users seeing the new browser pushed out next week, Microsoft said. Although the code will be downloaded automatically, users will have to opt in to have the browser installed. In addition to saying yes or no, users can also opt to be reminded later.
Businesses will still be able to block the browser download entirely, while those that had been using a prerelease version of IE 8 may already have been prompted for an update.
The release of IE 8, which features a private-browsing mode and greater adherence to Web standards, comes as Microsoft continues to cede browser share to Mozilla's Firefox and other rivals. A version of IE 8 is also being built into Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7 operating system, though users will also be able to turn off the browser.
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. 
"IE FAILZ"
"MS CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT"
"FIREFOX KILLS IE"
"MS IS ABUSING THEIR MONOPOLY TO PUSH IE"
"FUD FUD FUD FUD"
Did I miss anything?
how are we going to get rid of that POS
cause it's messing up the internet everyday it exists
#1 reason to use Firefox = Security
(No I haven't used IE8 - sorry don't plan to - cant even remember the last time I used IE7)
All Hail the Fox!!!!
Hail it dammit = P
IE8 takes ages to load pages.
My standard browser was IE7 (loved it) but now I am going to change my backup Firefox browser into my standard browser. Ill check back on IE8 in a few weeks, hopefully they will have patched it.
Wouldn't have "up"graded IE7 if I would have known this before.
Bad move.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=754
You are far to kind to the makers of internet exploder.
Just tell them that the page doesn't support IE 6 and give them a link to update the browser. Problem solved.
Does anybody know what that's supposed to mean? Does it mean what I think it means - that M$ will "push" the browser out to everyone, whether or not you want it, and only "activate" it if the user "opts in"? If that is the case, are they doing it this way because it contains critical patches for the OS or so they can claim "millions of users downloaded IE8, proving it's a success"? I have my Automatic Updates set to tell me there is an update BEFORE downloading anything - will my settings be honored here or will M$ simply push it out to me whether or not I want it? Is winblows once again going to tell me it's installing updates when I shut down, even though I never told it to update in the first place (YES, that has happened more than once - which brings up a second question; is there any way to see what update it's trying to install when it does this?? Is it possible to override it's override of my settings and prevent an update that's installing behind my back in this way???)?
Honestly, I'd like to know. I will never use IE again in my entire life, even if it was the last browser on the planet, but I did upgrade to IE 7 when it came out because it also patched components of the OS. It's never once been launched (well, maybe once when it finished installing - I think it launched itself, but I closed it immediately) and it's shortcuts were immediately deleted, how much of that "pain" do I have to repeat this time around?
And people wonder why I so vehemently hate fista sp3 - err, I mean w7. Forget security (M$ did:)), forget internet exploder (M$ did that too, until FireFox started eating their lunch), it's M$'s arrogant attitude that they somehow own my machine that makes them unwelcome (updates that happen without my permission, not to mention that WGA affront to their "customers", or slaves more like it).
Ubuntu doesn't do that.
You still use Windows so all this crap your calling people who use Windows still applys to you.
Your more of a sheep then anyone else you complain daily buy still use it?
firefox rules... chrome won't be so bad after they develop more plugins.
TIP:when installing it will ask you about extras(accelerator,etc), use custom and say no to everything except the SmartScreen Filter.
use IE and the new one alway got something miss up sometime u get pop up and still come even with all then update and more update and firefox was alway there just help u out and say fk the IE :P
firefox was alway Security and when they update it it just get better IE is only good for when u need to use it
at as alway. IE is ok but it suck most of the time. and still ok to use but it does still feed like IE is not be so Security any more.. that why we have firefox it Security. so i hope someday the IE get fix someday and turn back to be 100% Security agin. for now it just better to get Firefox to use it got better option. :)
If you want to help, tweet on twitter when you receive a notice from Windows to update to IE8 and tell everyone your OS, country, IE6/7 and we can track the rollout together.
- by Dzinpa April 24, 2009 10:21 AM PDT
- You guys at CNET and other IT field have an agender to just undermine IE8. You mean to promote Firefox and that is what you have been trying to do all these years. I want to tell you that IE8 is going to a force to reckon with. To me IE8 has all that it takes to make surfing/browsing save, secure and even faster than some of us have been anticipating! If you can configure it and surf in InPrivate Mode I can assure you that safety is assured. The earlier some of you at CNET and elsewhere looked independently and objectively at what the new browser offer the better a service you will do to a greater number of internet users. After all Mozilla Firefox has its share of flaws; let's faceit! And more importantly, Firefox has never completed its long touted Porn Monde. Some of you made a lot of noice about this more than a year ago!!! Here we are with Redmond coming on tops this time.
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