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December 5, 2007 2:53 PM PST

Gates: Next IE to be IE8

by Ina Fried

Bill Gates confirmed that Microsoft will call its next browser Internet Explorer 8, though Microsoft isn't sharing much else, such as the obvious questions: When will it arrive and what features will it have?

The confirmation came during his speech at the "Mix and Mash" conference taking place this week in Redmond, Wash. In a posting on the IE blog, Microsoft general manager Dean Hachamovitch jokes about some of the names Microsoft ruled out, such as "IE 7+1" and "IEVIII."

But, seriously, folks don't care about the name. They care about features and timing. Hachamovitch pleads for more time.

"You will hear a lot more from us soon on this blog and in other places," he said. "In the meantime, please don't mistake silence for inaction."

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.
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Wow, the originality machine
by The_happy_switcher December 5, 2007 3:43 PM PST
in Redmond never stops pumping out 'new' products and 'new' names, does it?
Reply to this comment
Well I am an Apple FanBoy...
by Lee in San Diego December 5, 2007 6:10 PM PST
...and no fan of MicroSoft Explorer, but calling it Explorer 8 makes
sense from a branding point of view. That being said it doesn't
matter what they call it as long as they make web standards
compliant.
IEVIII....
by XoneDaGnome December 5, 2007 4:03 PM PST
Would be right title.. that way when I just glance at it.. It looks EVIL!!!!
Reply to this comment
IE Viii.
by kimatg December 5, 2007 4:33 PM PST
how about Internet Explorer Viii? lol
View reply
EVIL truth
by kool_skatkat December 5, 2007 11:13 PM PST
... they admitted to be EVIL
or is it just a poor way to copy Apple with the use of Roman numerals for numbers as in Mac OS 10 (Mac OS X)..
What about IE7?
by Skroob December 5, 2007 4:55 PM PST
I would worry about ironing out the kinks in IE7 before devoting $$$ and programmer time on the next version. That is, unless the new version addresses the problem.
In that case I would just call it a big patch with a pretty new skin.
Reply to this comment
The Version
by timber2005 December 5, 2007 6:01 PM PST
Well it depends how far the fix goes. If they redo the entire rendering engine so its CSS compliant through 2.1 (at least), then it really should be called IE8. Anything rendering wise can't be fixed but in a new version so IE verison hacks can apply to it. You cant just say IE7, unless patch m8452025.exe is installed.
worlds worst browser
by Riquez-001 December 5, 2007 9:22 PM PST
"ironing out the kinks"
& by that you mean fixing the disgrace that is the worlds worst
browser & barely worthy for viewing webpages.
IE7
by mkaz91 January 2, 2008 11:47 AM PST
According to Paul Thurrott of www.winsupersite.com, IE8 is supposed to fix a number of IE7's problems, especially its confusing new layout.
Microsoft
by greenengineseo December 6, 2007 12:15 PM PST
Since they are calling it 8. Most likely will be minor improvements. Word is they are focused on a new search engine so they are probably saving up the really cool names for that initiative lol.

Natalie, SEO Goddess
http://www.greenengineseo.com
Reply to this comment
by katmandue June 14, 2009 6:38 AM PDT
IE 8 stinks don't download and install.
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About Beyond Binary

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.


Beyond Binary is a look at how technology is changing our lives and the people behind all that life-changing stuff, with an extra emphasis on that which emanates from Redmond, Wash.

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