Microsoft released the second beta of its upcoming Internet Explorer 8 web browser with a number of new features over the first beta that was launched in March earlier this year. In early June, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, then still a full-time employee of the company, promised that it would post IE8 Beta 2 before the end of August, and they have kept their promise and launched the new beta within the time allotted. Unfortunately they still failed to provide a ship date for the final version.
The company addresses 50 new features that include more than a few exclusive to Internet Explorer Only and aim the new Beta 2 Version of Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 at general audience rather that just web developers. Now the general audience including the IT staff will evaluate what works and what breaks in the latest browser from the software giant.
IE8 brings a raft of new security, reliability, and management features. The “Loosely Coupled IE” feature of IE8 enables it to enhance and speed up the browser by separating each tab into its own process.
A great new feature worth mentioning is the smart address bar. “About 80% of the time, when people are on the web, they’re browsing sites they’ve visited before,” said Pratt, pointing to this new feature. The other notable features include but are not limited to InPrivate Browsing, Search Suggestions, Compatibility View, Accelerators, Smart Screen Filter and WebSlices.
InPrivate Browsing: InPrivate browsers are separate windows that are spawned by the main IE8 process. You can run a private and a non-private browser window simultaneously.
Search Suggestions: Search smarter with detailed suggestions from your favorite search providers and browsing history. See visual previews and get suggested content topics while you type in the enhanced Instant Search Box.
Compatibility View: Internet Explorer 8’s built-in Compatibility View button enables you to display websites that were designed for older browsers. Simply press the Compatibility View button if you see display problems such as: misaligned text, images, or text boxes. It’s located next to the Refresh button on the Address Bar.
Accelerators: Accelerators let you complete your everyday browsing activities quicker and even discover new services. Start mapping, translating, emailing, and more in just a few mouse clicks.
SmartScreen Filter: New security features help to protect you against deceptive and malicious websites which can compromise your data, privacy, and identity.
Web Slices: Keep up with changes to sites you care about most. Add a Web Slice and you won’t have to go back to the same website again and again for updates on news, stock quotes, online auctions, weather, or even sports scores.
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