Internet Explorer 8: BETA INFORMATION

[Daniel]

Microsoft has released the second "beta" or test version of its latest browser Internet Explorer 8 (IE.

It remains unclear when a final version of the program will be shipped, with the test version currently available for download.

IE8IE8 offers a few surprises compared to the initial beta version released in March.

New features will include improved privacy and search functions, and ways to keep track of portions of web pages.

The release debuts two functions that were not available in the March release. However, many in the blogosphere have noted that several of the improvements in IE8 have been available on other browsers for some time.

Searching made easier

One feature new to the release is the "smart address bar". Microsoft senior product manager James Pratt pointed out at that 80% of the time, internet users were visiting sites they had been to before.

To address that, the new release archives visited sites based on their titles as well as their addresses. That means a search in the address bar for words and phrases will find previously visited sites, as well as bookmarks.

Another new set of features makes web searching easier; search terms entered in the search bar at the top of the browser now instantly display potential results in real time as the search term is typed. Results are shown from user-defined search engines and websites, with rich visual content.

For websites with changing content, such as items on eBay or status pages on Facebook, IE8's Web Slices allows users to keep up with the content without going to the webpage directly, accessible through the Favourites bar.

Tabs by colours

The new release also showcases Groups, which makes tabbed browsing easier. Tabs opened from the same page are colour-coded, making it easier to keep track of different tab groups.

Web Slice in IE8
Web Slices keep track of changing content

Tabs can also be moved around to different groups, with the tab taking on a new group's colour. Right-clicking tabs allows actions on the entire group, such as closing. Users will also be relieved to find that if they inadvertently close a tab, IE8 offers an option to reopen it.

As with the earlier Beta release, the new version sports inPrivate Browsing mode, which leaves no trace of sites visited on the computer.

Behind the scenes, developers have made the browser more compliant with software standards, so that pages in IE8 will look the same as in any other browser.

While IE8's tab Groups and the way it sorts results in the smart address bar are novel, many have argued that the release is simply catching up to other, existing browsers.

IE8's inPrivate mode performs the same job as the Private Browsing mode available in Apple's Safari Browser, and the Web Slices function echoes Safari's Web Clips.

The "smart address bar" works much like the so-called "Awesome bar" in Mozilla's latest release of its Firefox browser, and Firefox has long had the ability to reopen closed tabs.

However, Microsoft UK's Ian Moulster counters that IE8 was designed by studying what people need and want. Though some functions appear similar, he says, they have been implemented in more user-friendly ways.

"If you look at the way the features work, like visual search and Web Slices, nobody else does them in the same way, and many don't do them at all," he says. "I think if you add up the whole product across the board, it absolutely stands by itself in making the web easier and safer to use."

[flesso]

Does anyone know whether or not I will loose IE7 if I install the IE8 beta?

[Ben Stones]

Nope. You can uninstall it from the Uninstall & Remove section, select View Installed Updates and uninstall IE8 from there. IE7 will then become the default browser.

This is for Windows Vista, btw

[Daniel]

Hopefully I have Search Engine Optimization'd it up enough so Google will find it with EASEEE

Edit: rofl when you type S E O without the spaces it changes to SEO

[esnail]

Does anyone know whether or not I will loose IE7 if I install the IE8 beta?

IE8beta2 has a 'compatibility mode' This allows you to effectively switch between IE8 and IE7.

[Ben Stones]

IE8beta2 has a 'compatibility mode' This allows you to effectively switch between IE8 and IE7.

Yes, that's for the rendering of Web pages .

[Daniel]

It looks all so cool, Microsoft would never out-do Firefox imo.

[sb123]

Hopefully I have Search Engine Optimization'd it up enough so Google will find it with EASEEE

Edit: rofl when you type S E O without the spaces it changes to Search Engine Optimization

Hopefully I have Search Engine Optimization'd it up enough so Google will find it with EASEEE

Edit: rofl when you type S E O without the spaces it changes to Search Engine Optimization

Great thread! But I am away from internet explorer (including Internet Explorer 8) for good. To me it will be Firefox now, and in the near future

Talking of search engine optimization for the page, well your major keyword/key-phrase density of just 0.65%. Get it up to around 4%. Change all the "IE 8" to "Internet Explorer 8" and make it bold. Also, put a couple of those in the last paragraph.

At present, the same key-phrase is not in the top 100.

Also, add more posts here and build up the keyphrase (Internet Explorer 8), but take care to add good relevant content. I am adding those for you here! ... LOL
Try these tips and get there fast. Cheers!

P.S.: I just checked keyword density after this post: the Keyphrase has jumped from 0.66% to 0.95%

[Daniel]

Cheers for the tips. I will be sure to add more information relevant to the BETA Information of Internet Explorer 8.

Edit: Already in google - Internet Explorer 8 BETA Information - Google Search

[sb123]

Cheers for the tips. I will be sure to add more information relevant to the BETA Information of Internet Explorer 8.

Edit: Already in google - Internet Explorer 8 BETA Information - Google Search

#1 ... True!
But, 1 of only 4
CORRECTION: And, the "Internet Explorer 8 BETA Information" (without quotes) has more than 8.4 million SERPs. Your keyword is on the 2nd page! #11.
Great!!!

Get some more good key-phrases optimized that has about 25k+ searches and top the G-Rank! Honestly trying to help you

Have fun!

[Ben Stones]

Talking of IE7, it's pretty fast in Windows Vista (to create new tabs, especially). I've no need to download Firefox just yet, but soon will have to for development purposes of my Web sites. Although majority of the time you have to make adjustments for IE, I've had to make both adjustments for Firefox 3, too.

Development in both browsers aren't such a difficult task, but a few adjustments will need to be made for IE every now and then.

I'm looking forward to the release of IE8 but the first beta release was utterly disappointing. I don't prepare to download the beta 2 release just yet, but I like the new features they're describing.

[Daniel]

Yeah, looks more interesting. I just don't like the compatibility issue that IE offers with websites that use specific codes and tweaks.

[sb123]

Dear daniel, Check my CORRECTION above!

[Daniel]

Ah thats excellent!

I never look at how many results there are.. cheers

Edit: Page 1 for me #7 - first non-microsoft website

[sb123]

Ah thats excellent!

I never look at how many results there are.. cheers

Edit: Page 1 for me #7 - first non-microsoft website

Great! Great!!

#7 in Google.co.uk
#11 in Google.com

Almost the same SERPs! 8.5million --- Gone up from 8.4+ million... in the last 2-3 hours! I am watching this thread

Let's see what Google trend has to say about "Internet Explorer 8 BETA"...
Google Trends: Internet Explorer 8 BETA

It is picking up solidly! VERTICAL after some months! eUKHost should monetize this site for the phrase! Only 3 competitors for the original keyphrase!

[Daniel]

Wow... looks promising

[phyza1]

Read about it on other forums too as well and i did'nt had any idea about it really :O

[Daniel]

It should be a large scale update, I really do hope they take a leaf out of Mozilla's book and support more on their browser.

Will Microsoft do anything reasonable for once?

[Daniel]

Internet Explorer 8's built-in Compatibility View button enables you to display websites that were designed for older browsers. Simply press the Compatibility View button if you see display problems on a website like misaligned text, images, or text boxes. It's located next to the Refresh button on the Address Bar.