Microsoft unveiled the beta version of Internet Explorer 9, the next release in its long-running browser franchise, during a high-profile Sept. 15 event in San Francisco. In addition to some key interface tweaks—the browser is now streamlined, with translucent elements designed to bring actual Web content front-and-center—IE 9 supposedly offers users greater speed and integration with Windows 7. Features include extensive support for HTML5, the ability to "pin" Web pages to the taskbar and a "Popular Sites" area that consolidates your most-visited pages in one place. Although Internet Explorer continues to hold a double-digit market share lead in the United States, it's faced a challenge in recent times from the likes of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. By offering shiny new features, hand-in-hand with various security and privacy controls, Microsoft doubtlessly hopes that users potentially on the fence about other browsers will fall back into the IE camp. Time will tell, though, whether users and developers find IE 9 compelling to the exclusion of its competitors.
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Microsoft's IE 9 Beta Offers Speed, Windows 7 Integration
by Nicholas Kolakowski
Stripped-Down UI
IE 9 offers a stripped-down user interface reminiscent of competing browsers. Microsoft claims it designed the browser to put the Web itself front-and-center, as opposed to the browser and its various buttons.
"New Tab" Icon
Clicking the small "New Tab" icon will open the "Your Most Popular Sites" page, which lists the key sites you visit. Users have the option of Hiding or Showing these sites via a one-click button, depending on their preferences.
Program Management
The handy "Manage Add-ons" window allows users to enable and disable those programs that might slow down their browser performance.
Familiar Favorites
Some things never change, or at least don't look very different: Internet Explorer's familiar "Favorites" bar.
Saving Website Tabs
Users can click-and-hold a Website tab, then drag it down to their Windows 7 taskbar, where it's pinned as an icon.
Aero Snap
IE 9 features Aero Snap, where the user can pin resized windows to the left or right of the screen. Users can also "tear off" Website tabs if they want to view two Websites side-by-side.
Clean Design
IE 9's streamlined user interface. In addition to the clean design, the browser offers a more discrete Notification bar on the bottom of the browser window, which doesn't require any action in order for the user to keep browsing.
InPrivate Browsing
Microsoft's InPrivate Browsing allows users to surf the Web without leaving traces that can be discovered later. Along with the built-in SmartScreen Filter, which evaluates potentially security-suspect Websites based on their reputation, it's part of the toolset designed to keep Internet Explorer browsing secure and private. So you can, er, not be procrastinating with Websites devoted to Halo: Reach.
Developer Tools
Built-in developer tools help with prototyping and debugging Webpages. IE 9 offers a network traffic inspector, tweaked JavaScript profiler and a user-agent switching tool.
Adjusting Features
IE 9 offers the familiar "Internet Options" for adjusting features such as Privacy and Programs.
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Microsoft unveiled the beta version of Internet Explorer 9, the next release in its long-running browser franchise, during a high-profile Sept. 15 event in San Francisco. In addition to some key interface tweaks—the browser is now streamlined, with translucent elements designed to bring actual Web content front-and-center—IE 9 supposedly offers users greater speed and integration with Windows 7. Features include extensive support for HTML5, the ability to "pin" Web pages to the taskbar and a "Popular Sites" area that consolidates your most-visited pages in one place. Although Internet Explorer continues to hold a double-digit market share lead in the United States, it's faced a challenge in recent times from the likes of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. By offering shiny new features, hand-in-hand with various security and privacy controls, Microsoft doubtlessly hopes that users potentially on the fence about other browsers will fall back into the IE camp. Time will tell, though, whether users and developers find IE 9 compelling to the exclusion of its competitors.