Microsoft Ready With Near-Final IE 8

Newest Web Browser To Include Features To Increase User Privacy

(CNET)  Microsoft on Monday released a near-final "release candidate" version of Internet Explorer 8, the next version of its Web browser.

The software maker plans to say more on its Web site around noon, but, as noted by enthusiast site Neowin, the code is already available from Microsoft's download center.

Among the new features in IE 8 is a browsing mode known as InPrivate, designed not to leave fingerprints on a PC.

With IE 8, Microsoft is hoping to regain some lost ground by adding features such as private browsing, improved security and a new type of add-ons, called accelerators.

On the security front, Microsoft is adding a cross-site scripting filter as well as protections against a type of attack known as clickjacking.

In an interview, IE general manager Dean Hachamovitch said that there will be little change between the release candidate and the final version, although he declined to say when the final version will be released.

"The ecosystem should expect the final candidate to behave like the release candidate," Hachamovitch said.

Internet Explorer 8 will work with Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or later) and Windows Vista. A version of IE 8 is also being built into Windows 7.

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During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina at [e-mail].

[habu99-2009]

Don''''t blame liberals, blame Mac people...they''''re friggin'''' nutbags."

Posted by tucson23

I don''t think the widespread bad will towards the arrogant software monopoly is a liberal/conservative issue nor a Mac/PC issue. You have a corporation that has very deep pockets who loudly beat their chests about how "great" their software is and how "innovative" they are, but the end products are not even close to the hype in areas of ease of use, speed, stability, and security. Anytime anybody has a problem with Microsoft software, that same corporation places any responsibility on the end user...it must be their fault because high and mighty Microsoft''s poo doesn''t stink in their eyes, they can do no wrong. It''s this very obvious disconnect and arrogance that angers people. IF the company were to publicly develop even a small sense of humility, admitting they had made mistakes and were going to improve from that point forward, it would probably go a long way in the market towards cutting them some slack. But continued arrogance isn''t going to make any friends any time soon.

[tucson23]

"All these friggin people that are biitching and whining (just like the little liberals that they are)"

Hey! I''m so liberal that I''m practically a Marxist, and I don''t really have a problem with Microsoft stuff. I noticed long ago that when Office or IE fails, it''s usually because it ran into an operating condition that confused it (like temporary loss of internet connection, an interruption of network drive service, or trying to run a function that is invalid due to user error). Even so, it''s pretty rare that it runs into something it can''t recover from. All in all, even Windows Vista is pretty stable day-to-day. Don''t blame liberals, blame Mac people...they''re friggin'' nutbags.

[dan_shields-2009]

Firefox all the way!

[habu99-2009]

So many haters. Wow. When you start your day tomorrow, make a mental note every time you use a Microsoft program starting with your operating system, to Word, to Excel, to Outlook, to the software that drives the servers you surf, to the media player, etc. Why do people hate Microsoft so much?

Posted by Insurgeon1

Why do people hate Microsoft so much? Because in most work environments we are forced to use their products which are bloated, buggy, and unsecure. Due to their monopoly status (at least in the business market), they continue to develop c-r-a-p and then arrogantly shrug when people have problems with it. Bugs? No, those are "undocumented features", we meant to include them, but now we don''t know how to get rid of them since so many have complained. Microsoft is the classic Emperor''s New Clothes...by any objective light their products don''t stand up, but because their is little choice, IT departments continue to insist on their use, which of course keep IT departments gainfully employed since there''s always something broken somewhere that has to be fixed.

[elpaulito]

Quote:

"So many haters. Wow. When you start your day tomorrow, make a mental note every time you use a Microsoft program starting with your operating system, to Word, to Excel, to Outlook, to the software that drives the servers you surf, to the media player, etc. Why do people hate Microsoft so much?"

Way to drink the kool-aid. I do think everyday when I start my PC enviro, that I will open a 9 yo OS that has bugs, outlook which has taken back CSS rendering to 1995, a browser that doesnt support many features and is not open-source, or even close to standards, that I will continually need to restart programs, and get a headache from looking at the crappy fonts. However, I am happy that Vista is not installed on it due to it weightiness and sluggishness.

MS has done nothing innovative in years. They wait for the rest of the world to innovate, and then copy it (or absorb the company....see Yahoo merger), and copy it cheaply. Zune? Gadgets? The OS in general.

Amazing how MS fanatics seem to love that XP is still the OS Standard. It is 8 yo people! You now how much the world has changed since then? The folks in Redmond don''t like competition.

[pirmin3]

Glad I use Linux.

[ballpen1]

"Near final"? From Microsoft? Ruuunnn!!!!

[debinok1]

IE7 wasn''t bad enough? How about fixing it before you make a new one.

[doctorreaper]

When you start your day tomorrow, make a mental note every time you use a Microsoft program....
Posted by Insurgeon1 at 10:57 PM : Jan 26, 2009
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I won''t have anything to note, we sacked that feeble piece of carp Windows a couple of years ago.

Thanks for the demonstration of what is meant by the term Stockholm Syndrome.

[bushie3]

oh bill yes your left had to the right a bit more.
haaaaa thats it scatch a bit more then you can have you way with us????