Microsoft made an announcement earlier today that the final version of Internet Explorer 8 will be released today at noon EDT. The web browser can be downloaded from that time on from the official Internet Explorer 8 website in 25 language editions. Currently only the download of Internet Explorer 8 RC1 is offered on that homepage which might confuse a few early birds.
Internet Explorer 8 is Microsoft’s attempt at winning back market shares from popular web browsers and especially Mozilla Firefox. Microsoft has added several new and improved security features to Internet Explorer 8 like the private browsing mode, automatic crash recovery, domain highlighting or Cross Site Scripting (XSS) and SmartScreen filters. There are also additional usability features like Accelerators or Web Slices which have been implemented into Internet Explorer 8. Most of these features have already been ported by Firefox users to the Firefox web browser.
Companies with strict security guidelines (that do not allow the installation of Firefox or Firefox add-ons) will increase the security and stability of their computer systems with the new browser. Most performance tests on the other hand see Internet Explorer 8 on the end of the list. Internet Explorer 8 does however provide major performance improvements over previous versions of the web browser like Internet Explorer 7 or 6.
There are no information available at this point if Microsoft will add Internet Explorer 8 to Windows or Microsoft Update and provide the web browser as an automatic update to Windows users.
Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook or Twitter.Related Articles:
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Comparison ChartInternet Explorer 7 Beta 3
Internet Explorer Update How To
Internet Explorer 7 final released
Study: Internet Explorer 8 Protects Best Against Socially Engineered Malware
I use IE for MS updates, period. I had switched from IE6 to IE7 for enhanced security as to what I had read and been told. Who could tell me if IE8, besides its gadgets, is an improvement in terms of security (IE engine, not privacy gadgets)? Thanks in advance.
“Companies with strict security guidelines (that do not allow the installation of Firefox or Firefox add-ons)…”
Huh?
“Internet Explorer 8 is Microsoft’s attempt at winning back market shares from popular web browsers and especially Mozilla Firefox.”
Winning back a market when still being the poorest css and dom implementation of all major browsers? And of course no implementation of some wanted html5 features like canvas.
Allow me to doubt a lot about their success. People are now aware again of the existence of alternatives, and this time Microsoft won’t be able to kill them like he killed Netscape.
Brian, it happens often, any additional installation including Firefox. And not always because anybody thinks Firefox is bad, just installations in general.
btw Martin, your article says ‘…over previous versions of the web browser like Internet Explorer 7 or 8′
RG is right with his explanation. Corrected the mistake. IE8 is already available for download.
Oh, I’m well aware of “managed desktop” policies. Ugh. I just think that a security policy that requires you to use MSIE exclusively cannot be considered safe (albeit, “strict”).
Regardless, I look forward to giving this 8.0 version a workout (at home, of course).
Actually, IE8 slipped by on Windows Update earlier today although it wasn’t “supposed to happen right away” according to Lee Matthews over on DS:
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/03/19/internet-explorer-8-slips-early-via-windows-update/
I’ve dl’ed and updated to IE8. Went straight to one particular blog that was mauled beyond recognition during the beta. All’s well, even with compatibility disabled. Still, there are nagging web standards issues (it doesn’t render the headings on that site the way Firefox does…IE8 makes the headings HUGE, but so did IE7). Other than that, it’s a nice improvement.
Now, if they could ever figure out that users want SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED. Internet Explorer 8 is still sluggish compared to the Flaming Canine.
why I am unable to download IE8? I don’t know, and I do want to know