Application Development: Microsoft IE9 Release Candidate: Why You Need to Try It

Microsoft IE9 Release Candidate: Why You Need to Try It

by Darryl K. Taft

Cheat Sheet

Microsoft has developed a "cheat sheet" that highlights all of the major changes that have occurred in IE9 between the beta and the RC version released on Feb. 10. The cheat sheet can be found at this site.

Tests

Microsoft has submitted tests to various standards bodies to test IE9 against the leading Web standards. The test results can be found at this Website.

Downloads

IE9 RC enables users to easily view and track their downloads.

Most Visited

With IE9 RC, you can access the sites you visit most—all in one place.

Filtering

The updated browser enables ActiveX filtering.

Tracking Protection

IE9 RC enables users to add a tracking protection list.

Aero Snap

In this slide, Aero Snap is shown while tearing off tabs.

Blocking

The Download Manager blocking an unsafe site.

Canvas

Here is a demo of Canvas Zoom.

Continuous Video

With IE9 RC, video is continuous while dragging a tab.

CSS3

IE9 RC supports CSS3 Media Queries.

Reputation

The browser's Download Manager shows a reputation warning.

Pinning

Users can drag the tab icon near the taskbar to pin.

Somethings FishIE

In this slide, FishIE Tank is showing hardware acceleration.

Focus on Website

Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate puts the focus on your Website, not the browser.

One Box

One Box can perform searches as you type.

Vertical

With IE9 RC, you can pin a Website to the vertical taskbar.

Multiples

Users also can pin multiple homepages.

SmartScreen

This slide shows the IE9 RC SmartScreen warning page.

Search

IE9 RC offers various ways to search the Internet.

Another Way

This slide depicts another way to search.

Tabs

Tabs below the address bar are shown here.

Tear Off

Tear-off tabs—Avatar Marketplace.

Icon Overlay

The Hotmail icon shows the icon overlay, indicating new messages.

Site Icon

With Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate, the site icon becomes pinnable.

Tracking Protection

Users can configure tracking protection lists.

Web Fonts

IE9 RC supports Web fonts.

hi5 and HTML5

In this slide, hi5 is utilizing IE9 and HTML5.

Interactive Features

Archetype designed an updated site for Red Bull, which has IE9-based interactive features.

Logo

Pictured is the IE9 RC logo.

IE9 RC Event

Rob Mauceri (left), principal group program manager for Internet Explorer, and Ryan Gavin, senior director of Internet Explorer, present the keynote speech at the Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate event in San Francisco Feb. 10.

Pirates Love Daisies

Developer Grant Skinner gives a demonstration of PiratesLoveDaisies.com, an impressive tower-defense game built entirely in HTML5, at the Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate event.