Microsoft delivers second preview test build of IE 9

On May 5, Microsoft made available to developers and other interested testers Platform Preview 2 of its Internet Explorer (IE) 9 browser.

The updated preview is available from the same Test Drive site as the preview Microsoft released in March.

Microsoft committed in March to delivering regular previews of IE 9 on an every-eight-week schedule. The first IE 9 preview went live in mid-March.

The new preview includes new performance tests, like Flickr Explorer, Browser Flip; a few new HTML5 tests, and several new graphics demos, like SVG Tweet Cloud and Real World Diagrams.

According to newly published ACID3 test results, Preview 2 of IE 9 is now at 68 of 100. Preview 1 was 55.

Microsoft officials have not said when to expect an actual beta of IE 9 or when the final release is due.

Microsoft is releasing the new preview the same week as Net Applications reported that IE's overall market share hit an all-time low of 59.95 percent. (And yes, I know Microsoft's market share grew more than that of its browser competitors, but the new numbers are nothing to write home about -- unless you are trying to prove to antitrust officials you don't have a browser monopoly....)