Review : Internet Explorer 8

Review : Internet Explorer 8

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is the browsers like rotten apple from the apple tree. Personally I see no reason for the browser to use, because the competition has long been light years ahead on Microsoft's default browser in Windows .

I use Mozilla Firefox 3.0 as default browser. I did a while Google Chrome is used. Great browser and certainly a lot of potential, but is not yet mature. Powerful options for organizing bookmarks, a good address, favorite bar, search box and just a quick and stable browser with many plug-ins is something that Mozilla Firefox is able to offer me convinced.

Mozilla Firefox is obviously not perfect. If I find the address bar of Google Chrome work smarter and see the main browser on Windows Vista does not. There are "tabs on top" just a little finer than the normal location of the tabs and the browser just as efficient.

And yet I am after testing Internet Explorer 8 will doubt. Maybe on March 19 released browser is not so bad. Maybe it's time for Internet Explorer to take anything seriously. In order to welcome in the browser war.


Standards
Microsoft itself says that Internet Explorer 8 'standards support. " How surprising, that is not true. You've probably heard that Internet Explorer passes the Acid2 test. That is beautiful, that implies that the browser can handle PNG, CSS 2.1 and some other techniques.

There is another new test of the same makers which called Acid3 Internet Explorer wretched in scores. It takes only a score of 20 - IE7 a score of 14 - of 100, while competitors such as WebKit, Presto and Gecko already by the 100 to sit.

The meager results of the Acid3 test in Internet Explorer 8

In other words: Microsoft is once again behind the facts. Well okay, there is already a first HTML5 and CSS3 support, API for CSS selectors and improved support for AJAX web applications, but that is not to house them.

Speed
Internet Explorer 8 is a lot faster than its predecessor, and can be pretty competitive track. However, competition has not been idle and 4 Safari, Mozilla Firefox 3.5 and Opera 10 the current version of Internet Explorer 8 over again when it comes to building web pages.

To speed as accurately as possible to determine argued Tech Zines reaction moderator Johan Future Top Marks from Peace Keeper. Peace Keeper has a wide JavaScript browser benchmark by testing on real word Java Scripts eg YouTube, Gmail, Facebook and other sites. More information about exactly how that test is performed can be found on this page. All browsers on the same system tested.
Internet Browser : Points (more faster)
1. Safari 4.0 beta : 1832
2. Google Chrome 1.0.154.48 : 1458
3. Mozilla Firefox 3.1 Beta 3 : 964
4. Opera 9.64 : 717
5. Mozilla Firefox 3.0.7 : 664
6. Internet Explorer 8.0 : 454
7. Internet Explorer 7.0 : 268


In terms of something simple as opening a tab, Internet Explorer 8 feels a bit slower than Mozilla Firefox 3.0. The same applies to open a new window and use the internal memory. With two windows together in ten tabs open, Mozilla Firefox consumes 190 MB of RAM. Internet Explorer 8 with only 1 tab (google.com) open, although 100 MB RAM.


New Features

Now I have two weaknesses in the way, this is the time to explain why I seriously consider Internet Explorer 8 as the default browser in it. Let me start at the beginning, that is the first start - the installation is of little interest, except that he best long and a reboot of the PC is required.

During the first start, a pretty long setup wizard that asks you this feature on or off to continue the search providers you want to use - of course all standard Windows Live services - and if you want to update search engines - what that may mean.

Once you have answered all these questions - or you just have the option Fast settings selected - immediately reveals that the browser more swallows. Standard is now the favorite bar enabled.

The new favorite bar webslices
If your favorite bar says, say you webslices. The favorite bar is simply a bar with links to frequently visited Web sites that you can add. At least, that he was in previous browser. In Internet Explorer 8, the function, however, changed (read: improve).

The first thing you notice is the recommended Web sites that function as the name suggests, websites based on the current open site recommends.
In addition to the left you can this time also RSS feeds on the Favorites bar places. Once you subscribe to a feed, you get the option to add it to the toolbar. If the website has new content distribution, the 'button' bold so you know that something new is available.

While the bar has such beautiful features offered, you need something simple as adding a link to that bar. It is not possible to simply drag the tab to the Favorites bar. The same goes for adding a bookmark.


Webslices are components of a website which is itself the webmaster should be - and give another dimension to their favorite bar. They are at this moment is not yet widely used, but that can change.


If you can, for example through Webslices quickly check the weather, or see if your new e-mail you received. As you do not surf to a website, but you quickly in a small window - you can not scroll - the necessary information. A beautiful reincarnation of Active Desktop in Internet Explorer 4.0 in which the web now hopefully be ready for.

The new address
The address is no longer what that was. In Mozilla Firefox 3.0 could get working with the awesome bar in Google Chrome with a bar for everything, and now Internet Explorer 8 also has a new address.

The first, most notable new feature is domain highlighting. An innovative new feature allowing users to be better against phishing attacks. Standard is now the domain of the site printed in black, while the rest of the link remains gray. This ensures that a lot clearer on what your site really is.

In addition, the address is a lot smarter. Suppose you have just read an article about the credit crisis and you want to read again, then simply enter your credit crisis and appears with a little luck the article that you requested. A function that already exists in Mozilla Firefox.

Moreover, these suggestions are divided into three categories: simple domain name suggestions, sites from the history and suggestions from your favorites. Slim made. Type one word and you see that the first suggestion is the site where you want to go, you just have to press shift + enter and you visit 'm. There are more shortcuts.


The new search
The new search has also undergone extreme make-over and is now simply amazing. It is called visual search and working as a train. You can search through the website of Internet Explorer 8 add, such as search Amazon. Imagine looking at GTA you get not only results, but also directly the price, their image of the product and assessment of the product. All the website without even visiting.

And there are also search Wikipedia, Google, Live Search, eBay, and there will probably still appear Marketplace, Hyves, and more. You can quickly switch to another search engine because the bottom of the search results are displayed.

The function search page in Internet Explorer 7 antiques and worked disastrous. Microsoft has listened once and searching in a page is finally decent. It is now finally possible for example to start the highlight. Furthermore, search in page in exactly the same way as in Mozilla Firefox, by means of a toolbar below the tab bar from which keyword you should and can set some options.

The new visual search using the Amazon search engine

The new tabs
I had actually thought that all innovation in tabs had been done, but nothing seems less true, as shows Internet Explorer 8. Standard appears when you open a new tab, a page called 'What do you do? ".
On this page recently closed tabs, the possibility of an Private session to start and options for an Accelerator to use .You can also choose whether you want the page 'What to do? " appear to be. It is also a blank page or to display the home page to open a new tab is opened.

Also new is the function of group tabs. Suppose you have a tab open, click on a link in the page and choose to open in a separate tab, then the two tabs that 'belong together' the same color. You can easily distinguish between different tab groups, and it is also possible for example to a whole group to close.

It is still the overview page of all open tabs available, a feature in Internet Explorer 7 is launched. Under this, there are considerable changes made. Each tab in Internet Explorer 8 gets its own process. This change has a huge advantage: a more stable browser. If you visit a website that in one way or another to ensure that the browser crashes, is in Internet Explorer 8 only the web site below, and not the whole browser.

Accelerators
Accelerators are another big thing in this version of Internet Explorer. By selecting text, an arrow in the picture. If you click on that arrow, its accelerators. These are actions you can do with the text. Have you selected a location, for example, you can through the accelerators the location on a map search, or you can use the selected text search, text, or send it with Windows Live Hotmail or Google Mail or webmail provider addition.

All kinds of useful function and therefore the possibilities are endless, because everyone can create its own accelerator. There are accelerators of Google, Yahoo, Marketplace, Hyves, eBay and many other U.S. sites.

InPrivate
InPrivate is not very interesting for the home user. It appears that Internet Explorer data locally on the PC can store, such as temporary files, cookies, browsing history, form data and user names and passwords. The only time this is useful, for example when you are preparing a surprise for someone who may not know. But then you already can just delete private data in IE7.

The function is primarily intended for public computers. InPrivate is compared with the normal disposal of private information advantage that not everything is removed. Now is the InPrivate session removed, while version 7.0 is all the data was removed. Including useful information. Safari does the same for a long time.

It is also possible with InPrivate to prevent the surfing habits of websites the surfer in mind. This feature, called InPrivate Blocking, blocking web sites you automatically to more than 10 sites have seen.

Smart Screen Filter
Microsoft says a lot of time in the safety of Internet Explorer 8 to have been. And I believe that too. The Smart Screen filter is the successor to the phishing filter in Internet Explorer 7. In addition to phishing protection blocking Internet Explorer now websites that serve malware.

Are you a website that delivers malware, the page immediately blocked and will lead you to a special red webpage by reference. It is also a display explaining what exactly happened.

In addition, the Smart Screen Filter a heuristic technique to board cross-site scripting attacks have to face. This filter works by code on the page to scan and possibly dangerous to block. It is also possible to choose sites to scan and log on as dangerous. Microsoft is fifty percent of the sites in the Smart Screen database submitted by users.
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Comments
The Manage Add-ons window is quite improved and is now a lot clearer. On the left you can select the types of plug, such as accelerators and the like. Then on the right plug-ins based on manufacturer displayed. If you select one, appears at the bottom of comprehensive information about the plug-in, such as the version number, type and file date. Of course also get the option to add off.

A window that is beaten about innovation, is the window for a password to save. Google Chrome does so very clever: after you pay, you are asked if you want to save the password by means of an unobtrusive bar at the top of the page. This ensures that in many cases you might save a good password.

In Internet Explorer 8 works just different. Immediately after entering the username and password, a pop-up screen that asks if you want to store data. Until you have answered the question, you can do nothing else. Have you made a typing error, thus the wrong store. However, it is possible to login to write.

The Internet Options window is not changed for years - and so is not in IE8. That is unfortunate, although Internet Options have been able to work, it is clear to innovation and can be arranged a lot clearer - a la the invoegtoepassingenvenster.

And with Microsoft Update is missing. If you install updates via IE8, appears in a pop-up the entire browser is "locked." A problem also present in the previous version of IE, because Microsoft Update Microsoft never took into account tabs. I am now perhaps ants ****, but it is very annoying and seems so easy to solve.

Internet Explorer 8 has a completely new development tool. By pressing F12, the source code of the website and it is possible to debug code, as can be profiled JavaScript, CSS and HTML can live geëdit and can quickly switch between building the page with the engine and IE8 the engine of IE7. Moreover, it is possible some elements of a contour and the Web page to validate.

ActiveX
What still like the last mentioned, the new ActiveX controls in IE8. ActiveX has long been a major source of malware infections was on Internet Explorer. In Windows Vista, Microsoft took it to Internet Explorer 7 reduced rights, enabling you, so all operations with access to the PC will require a UAC message to reply.

In IE8 in Windows Vista, however, provide for ActiveX programs are stored in the profile of the user. This prevents other users become infected with malware. Moreover, the ActiveX controls only possible to communicate with the domain that issued them, unless the user gives it other domains should be allowed.

In addition to this change is now also on Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 standard data execution prevention for Internet Explorer 8 is activated. This means that buffer overflows are prevented thus leads to a safer Internet environment.


Conclusion
Now perhaps you understand better why Internet Explorer 8 has become a serious competitor for Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and all the other browsers on the market. The only reason that I doubt, however, is speed. Especially the opening pages is a bit too slowly, which again shows how important something small can be.

In terms of standard support, I am best prepared to lesser standards of the Microsoft browser for love, as the browser works just as well. Functions as webslices, RSS feeds on the new favorite bar, the super handy accelerators and the new search box. All positions that I in no other browser terrorize all.

Of course, there are minor problems with Internet Explorer 8, but each browser and that is something you just have to learn to live. Fact is fact is that Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 finally have a decent browser delivered.

If you use Internet Explorer 6 or 7, go immediately to the Microsoft website and get that update. This is one hundred percent sure without any doubt you must-have Internet Explorer update that everyone should now install. The only reason that I have to give is that IE8 better web support. The rest is on that issue.

Are you a passionate Safari, Opera or Mozilla Firefox user who uses Windows, it is much harder to say whether a positive transition outcome. This is much more to personal preference. The only thing I can say is: install it and see if you it is working fine.