Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 news

Yeah, I'm a Firefox groupie, but I have to use Internet Explorer "officially" at work.

Our machines are still sitting on version 6 but hopefully by the end of the year we might finally get them all rolled out to version 7.

Just in time to see version 8 released.

(Sigh)

But I still have to keep a close eye on version 8 developments.

Lots has been said on the latest IE 8 beta 2 release, so I really don't find anything useful (in this realm) to contribute.  So instead, here is a roundup of useful and informative posts about the latest browser from Redmond.

Features

• Windows Internet Explorer 8: Home page

• Microsoft makes Internet Explorer 8 unboxing parody - istartedsomething - Funny.

• IEBlog : Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 Now Available

• IEBlog : Upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 - Good advice to read before putting it on any of your production systems.  In most cases it is fairly painless (but the installer is a bit involved). XP Service Pack 3 users do have some "gotcha's" they should be aware of first. 

• IEBlog : IE8 Performance - Much better, but not quite as fast as Firefox 3 or Opera 9.5x.  In depth look at all the tweaks and changes they are making to make it better.

• IEBlog : IE8 and Privacy - Welcome to "InPrivate Browsing"

• IEBlog : Introducing Compatibility View - So you can still "revert" to IE 7 rendering mode for web-pages that don't behave with IE 8 changes.  That's nice.  Especially since it is now a built-in feature to the browser.

• IEBlog : Part II: Better Everyday Browsing - Shows off some "Slices" features to enable quicker right-click access to web-related operations.  Cool but nothing to go crazy about.

Try it Painlessly - Virtual-Style

• IEBlog : Updated VPC Images Now Available - If you (like me) shudder at putting this beta-version release on your production system, Microsoft has kindly provided a brand-new Virtual PC virtual hard-drive file that bundles IE8 beta 2.  IE8B2-XPSP3_VPC.exe contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE8 Beta 2 VHD file pre-loaded.  So you are now good to go.  I've already put it into action on my work machine's virtual system collection.

First Impressions from the Pros

• The Windows Experience Blog : A Comprehensive Look at Internet Explorer Beta 2 - Brandon LeBlanc provides some more detailed glimpses on why this latest IE version becomes more user-centric.

• The Windows Experience Blog : Customize IE8 Beta 2 to fit your needs - Brandon LeBlanc next shows you some of the "tweaking" features now enabled in IE 8 beta 2 that finally allow you a bit more fun in rearranging toolbars and browser elements.

• Internet Explorer 8 gets a massive makeover | Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report | ZDNet.com- Ed Bott comes away impressed with the latest offering.

• TechBlog: Updated - Now available for the brave: Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 and TechBlog: Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 - Better, but not yet the best - Dwight Silverman likes it, but still isn't ready to abandon Firefox (nor am I) for it.

Ooops!  Did IE8b2 do that?

• Bits from Bill: Automatic Update of IE8 Beta 2 - Bill Pytlovany of WinPatrol product fame was offered an "upgrade" to this version by Windows Update and it ended up tanking his system.  Stands as a cautionary tale about using beta versions on production systems as well as the benefit of reading installation tips first.

Teaser

• BetaNews | IE8 will feature privacy envelope, Microsoft confirms - BetaNews goes into a few more details about the final version of IE8.  BN notes that enterprise shops will be able to block the "InPrivate" mode using Active Directory.

Guess what Claus smelt in that? 

Coming up: A fun search and good news for Enterprise (and Parents) coming in my very next post....

--Claus