Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2
by Ed Bott | August 27, 2008 8:55am PDT | Image 1 of 14
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IE8 Beta 2 at a glance
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By Ed Bott
It's been nearly two years since Microsoft released its last major update to Internet Explorer. With the release of a feature-complete Beta 2 of IE8, the reason for the long gestation period is obvious. This is a top-to-bottom makeover of Microsoft's flagship web browser, with dozens of new usability and security features and a newfound adherence to web standards. In this gallery, I introduce the highlights of IE8 in action.In this overview screen you can see color-coded tab groupss, links to previously closed tabs, improvements to the search box in the top right corner, and the new inline search feature. But there's much more.
For a more detailed discussion of Internet Explorer Beta 2, see Internet Explorer 8 gets a massive makeover.
By Ed Bott
It's been nearly two years since Microsoft released its last major update to Internet Explorer. With the release of a feature-complete Beta 2 of IE8, the reason for the long gestation period is obvious. This is a top-to-bottom makeover of Microsoft's flagship web browser, with dozens of new usability and security features and a newfound adherence to web standards. In this gallery, I introduce the highlights of IE8 in action.In this overview screen you can see color-coded tab groupss, links to previously closed tabs, improvements to the search box in the top right corner, and the new inline search feature. But there's much more.
For a more detailed discussion of Internet Explorer Beta 2, see Internet Explorer 8 gets a massive makeover.
Just In
FireFox has it for years. What about restoring just closed tabs?
No spell-checking in forms, as far as I can see. But yes to reopening recently closed tabs, which I actually show in the gallery. Right-click a tab to get a list, or open a new tab to see a different list, or press Ctrl+Shift+T.
You may add a spell checker and many other useful features to IE using the IEPro addon (Compatible with IE6/IE7/IE8)
http://ie7pro.com
http://ie7pro.com
I found this more trouble than it was worth - sure it would bring stuff back after a crash - however if I uninstalled it crashes were not happening
If it was more than 6 months ago, try again. There have been several updates.
Yes, I've noticed some crashes as well.
I suspect that it's caused by some other modules, So if you're only interested in the spell checker then you may go to Tools>IE7Pro Preferences and under modules, Uncheck everything except for the spell checker. It should temporary resolve the problem.
There's also another spell checker for IE http://iespell.com but it's not an "in line" spell checker...
I suspect that it's caused by some other modules, So if you're only interested in the spell checker then you may go to Tools>IE7Pro Preferences and under modules, Uncheck everything except for the spell checker. It should temporary resolve the problem.
There's also another spell checker for IE http://iespell.com but it's not an "in line" spell checker...
I don't know if it is related to the IEPro mentioned in one of the other notes, but there is a little program called ieSpell which fi I remember right is free. It can be used for everything not related to Outlook or Word and you can put its little icon on the toolbar, and it does work with IE8 Beta 2. That obviates the need for a spell check facility as part of the browser.
...I'll stick with Opera.
IE8 is becoming a very good browser PROVIDING ActiveX controls don't yet again prove to be the glaring ***** in the armour.
IE8 is becoming a very good browser PROVIDING ActiveX controls don't yet again prove to be the glaring ***** in the armour.
... IE is being lacking tons of options everybody else had for years. It is to be expected that MS would add the features others have.
The better question is what is the performance? How does it stack against other browsers??
The fact is IE is about 10 times slower than ANY of the other browsers on pretty much everything. So more options without speed improvements would make no sense.
Also, how good is it a supporting REAL standards??
The better question is what is the performance? How does it stack against other browsers??
The fact is IE is about 10 times slower than ANY of the other browsers on pretty much everything. So more options without speed improvements would make no sense.
Also, how good is it a supporting REAL standards??
There's no sense in trying to measure peformance in BETA software. That's what BETA is all about -- identifying and fixing bugs. Those bugs, when swatted, will improve stability and performance at least in theory.
And while Firefox 3 is a BIT faster loading most pages, saying that IE is "10 times slower" than any other browser is simply absurd on its face. When you make outlandish claims such as that, you marginalize the remainder of any arguments that you wish to raise.
The alleged goal is adherence to published standards. Time will tell how well that IE does that though the fact that it messes up legacy pages coded specifically for earlier version of IEs closed standards bodes well in that direction.
And while Firefox 3 is a BIT faster loading most pages, saying that IE is "10 times slower" than any other browser is simply absurd on its face. When you make outlandish claims such as that, you marginalize the remainder of any arguments that you wish to raise.
The alleged goal is adherence to published standards. Time will tell how well that IE does that though the fact that it messes up legacy pages coded specifically for earlier version of IEs closed standards bodes well in that direction.
Overall, it looks great. Still a bit cluttered, which makes me
think it follow's Microsoft legacy of "over helping" the user to
the point of nagging.
As a Mac user, I'd love to see Apple use some of these
features...like the CSS debugging.
think it follow's Microsoft legacy of "over helping" the user to
the point of nagging.
As a Mac user, I'd love to see Apple use some of these
features...like the CSS debugging.
I keep IE 6 on my main computer for testing web site compatibility, and IE 7 on my laptop for the same reason. Can IE 8 Beta Coexist with IE 6? It not, with IE 7?
according to Ed's article here, http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=525
However, the compatibility button supposedly will allow IE8 to "behave" like IE7.
I'm not sold on that, yet. We'll see. I just have a feeling most sites will see "beta" or "IE8" and whine about it. I suspect some better designed websites will be fine. (Just an opinion, based on nothing more than opinion of how things seem to have worked in the past).
However, the compatibility button supposedly will allow IE8 to "behave" like IE7.
I'm not sold on that, yet. We'll see. I just have a feeling most sites will see "beta" or "IE8" and whine about it. I suspect some better designed websites will be fine. (Just an opinion, based on nothing more than opinion of how things seem to have worked in the past).
Will it open new tabs automatically when you click on a link, type in a new url or anything else or do you still have to hold down a button?
just right click the link and choose "Open in New Tab".
Are we really expected to be able to read those screen shots?
They open full size when clicked.
Update: it appears there might be a bug in Firefox (ironically) that prevents the larger images from opening. You can right-click and choose Open in New Window (or New Tab) to see them full size.
Update: it appears there might be a bug in Firefox (ironically) that prevents the larger images from opening. You can right-click and choose Open in New Window (or New Tab) to see them full size.
I just tried it.
And it's not working. Could be server-farm-related, could be caused by another plugin, dunno.
and it does work.
Thanks for the screenshots.
Someone asked if we can install it alongside IE 6 or 7; I know 7 wrote over 6, and I suspect the same here. But hopefully compatibility mode will take care of that, if need be. If not, I have FF.
Thanks for the screenshots.
Someone asked if we can install it alongside IE 6 or 7; I know 7 wrote over 6, and I suspect the same here. But hopefully compatibility mode will take care of that, if need be. If not, I have FF.
Here's my thought, It's kinda like some of these automobile manufacturer's designers, they cannot come up with anything new of their own, so they look at other manufacturer's designs and make a few changes and expect the general public not to notice that their product looks and acts very similar to the other manufacturer's product. I'd personally be embarrassed to have my product look like a competitors product with little changes, I'd FIRE everyone. M$ cant come up with anything anyone wants so they look to others (Firefox) to try to duplicte what the public wants. Shame on you M$!
I'll stick with Roboform, an overlay that is free and excellent. I recommend you try that before you get very excited with IE8
RoboForm is on my list of 10 top Windows programs of all time. It integrates nicely with IE8. It has nothing to do with this article. So what are you talking about?
Some people make it their sole duty in life to bash everything M/S; even if it has nothing to do with the subject at hand. I've even seen topics that had nothing to do with M/S, Mac or Linux, and these people with no-life turned it into a MS/Mac/Linux argument. How annoyingly stupid.
While I cant say I'm in love with M/S, I can say I choose M/S over everything else, because despite all the flaws, it usually works on everything, with everything, and I don't have to deal with having to learn coding to get things to work, on say, linux. Or, it tends to be cheaper and more readily available than the Mac items.
I do tire of these silly M/S vs Mac Vs Linux wars, and never respond to them. Or rarely. So pointless.
While I cant say I'm in love with M/S, I can say I choose M/S over everything else, because despite all the flaws, it usually works on everything, with everything, and I don't have to deal with having to learn coding to get things to work, on say, linux. Or, it tends to be cheaper and more readily available than the Mac items.
I do tire of these silly M/S vs Mac Vs Linux wars, and never respond to them. Or rarely. So pointless.
it's just plain fun to get them riled up and watch the stupidity flow in buckets - childish - yes, but sometimes I need a break from the sane world - LOL
don't use it until it is no longer in beta phaze
i wasn't very excited about ie 8. now i am. this has a lot of features that sound intriguing and worthwhile.
nice work microsoft.
nice work microsoft.
"SlimBrowser" allows for autologin to any website that requires userid/password. Will IE8 provide this feature? It really saves time.
IE 8 beta 2 crashes when attempting to open OWE 2003, which is used by many organizations as their primary e-mail/contacts/calandar application. The crash occurs when attempting to display the inbox in compatability mode; it fails earlier at login when in standard mode. This error has now been reported by a umber of people on the Microsoft IE (beta 2 forum. Across the world, buisness people will be spitting teeth whilst) uninstalling IE8 beta 2 from there laptops, until Microsft makes it compatable with their own software. Sloppy!
By definition, beta software has bugs in it. It is not a release candidate or final shipping code. The reason beta software is released is so that issues like this can be identified and fixed. That's not "sloppy," that's a necessary part of software development.
Presumably, any intelligent business person would install this beta on a test machine and confirm that it works with his or her software before even thinking of deploying it in a real-world environment.
Presumably, any intelligent business person would install this beta on a test machine and confirm that it works with his or her software before even thinking of deploying it in a real-world environment.
yes, its beta and we all know what that means; some websites probably wont display or load properly, and this will be sorted out (we hope) before the final release. However, one has to exercise some common sense here; it makes no sense to release a beta version that doesnt work with your own - heavily used - communication software. I'm betting that somewhere in Microsoft there is an empty desk 
One fifth the browser window is already filled with garbage before you even add third party stuff. Thanks but no thanks. I browse for content - not the 'browser experience'.
my only thing is it looks liks the same old page stuffed with the same old corp. crap. What I and problemly most of the real web users want is a brower that we can turn OFF the crap we do not use or want. maybe some can tell me WHY I need a google on the top tear but I can not put the file,edit and the rest up there where they belong as in the first=olders versions of IE
surely even you have to admit that new software should received at least some internal testing prior to going into beta and that testing should have included OWA?
OWA works perfectly on two machines in my office here. I have occasionally serious performances issues with OWA on a third machine. That indicates to me that this is a bug that is specific to some configurations. I will report the issue I am encountering with the third configuration.
I can assure you that this is a very heavily tested configuration. Remember lots of Microsoft employees use OWA, and there are still plenty of private Exchange 2003 servers in use out there.
I can assure you that this is a very heavily tested configuration. Remember lots of Microsoft employees use OWA, and there are still plenty of private Exchange 2003 servers in use out there.
I take one look at that screen shot and I feel like I'm
getting seasick from the clutter and mish-mush non-
uniform arrangement of icons and features. The folks at
Microsoft need a crash corse on user interface design and aesthetics. Will these folks ever learn the less is more
concept? Who want's to use such a thing? I downloaded
Chrome today and from what I've seen so far... wow. And
the interface does not overwhelm the viewed page's
content like IE always does. Just take a look at the ZDNet
website so clean and simply laid out and then look at the
mess of IE wrapped around it and you will get my point.
Really how can such a big company be so clueless?
getting seasick from the clutter and mish-mush non-
uniform arrangement of icons and features. The folks at
Microsoft need a crash corse on user interface design and aesthetics. Will these folks ever learn the less is more
concept? Who want's to use such a thing? I downloaded
Chrome today and from what I've seen so far... wow. And
the interface does not overwhelm the viewed page's
content like IE always does. Just take a look at the ZDNet
website so clean and simply laid out and then look at the
mess of IE wrapped around it and you will get my point.
Really how can such a big company be so clueless?
The IE8 interface is super-clean. I'm looking at the ZDNet page here and there is no "browser cluttter" around it. There's an address bar at the top, with a search box to the right, a Favorites bar below that, a tab bar below that, and then the page.
It's possible that you're reacting to the New Tab page. I deliberately chose an example where I had closed many, many tabs, so that you could see the option to reopen previously opened pages. I also used Ctrl+F to open the inline search box, and I clicked the search box to display the list of icons for different search engines. Those are normally closed.
It's possible that you're reacting to the New Tab page. I deliberately chose an example where I had closed many, many tabs, so that you could see the option to reopen previously opened pages. I also used Ctrl+F to open the inline search box, and I clicked the search box to display the list of icons for different search engines. Those are normally closed.
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