Internet Explorer 8 Released 5pm GMT
Microsoft has announced that the latest version of its web browser, Internet Explorer 8, will be available to download at noon EDT (which is 5pm GMT) today.
The main improvements being flagged up by Microsoft concern speed, ease of use and security. The latter improvement was prompted by a study indicating heightened concerns about online security in US consumers as a result of the current economic climate.
“Customers have made clear what they want in a Web browser – safety, speed and greater ease of use,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. “With Internet Explorer 8, we are delivering a browser that gets people to the information they need, fast, and provides protection that no other browser can match.”
Here are some of the key new features, according to Microsoft:
Security - Blocks two to four times more malware attacks than other browsers.
Accelerators – Accelerators make it faster and easier to perform common tasks online by making Web-based services such as ESPN.com, Live Search and Sina available for use directly from the page people are viewing. Users can simply right-click a word or phrase and instantly map, e-mail, or share it.
Web Slices – Web Slices in Internet Explorer 8 makes favorite information from sites such as Digg, Yahoo! Mail, OneRiot, and eBay instantly available wherever someone goes on the Web.
Visual search suggestions – The Instant Search Box in Internet Explorer 8 enables rich, real-time search from sites such as The New York Times, Amazon.com and Wikipedia, as well as sites from people’s own Favorites and History, complete with visuals and detailed information that saves time.
Microsoft will be showing IE8 off at its MIX09 web developer conference today.
HEXUS
Tags: Amazon, Ceo Of Microsoft, Common Tasks, E Mail, Ebay, Economic Climate, Espn, Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft Security, New York Times, Safety Speed, Search Suggestions, Security Blocks, Steve Ballmer, Time Microsoft, Time Search, Visual Search, Web Based Services, Web Developer Conference, Yahoo Mail
aspex software is one of those customers who want safety, speed and ease of use; we currently use IE 7 and on recomendation we were on the verge of making the change to one if of its hailed competitors, Firefox or even Chrome!
When both these browsers were released though, there were quite a few teething problems behind all the hype!
IE 8 sounds like a very sound solution, but I wonder if one should wait a few months? Does anybody know how good it really is?
Hi Nick – the initial press I’ve heard suggests that the issues with speed and stability have received major attention and the prospects are good. If you like IE7 then its worth a try – you can always revert to Firefox or Chrome. personally I like Firefox but it is a choice only you can make. You should be able to do an install from scratch and leave IE 7 inplace. Or just make a system restore point before installing IE8. Let us know how it works.