Microsoft IE8 Beta 2 released: the web browser for jerk-offs?

Davey Winder
Thursday, 28 August 2008 18:16

IT Industry - Strategy

Microsoft promises that Internet Explorer 8 will make it much easier to find what you want, when you want it. To this end, a Smart Address Bar matches the stuff you type within it to the stuff that's already in your browsing history.

But isn't this just another way of saying 'fancy autocomplete' at the end of the day? Perhaps, but Microsoft also point out that it has introduced an Enhanced Search facility which "increases the odds that search results will be relevant."

The Enhanced Find on Page feature has also been updated to improve searching for text within a web page, and completes the getting what you want, quickly, functionality.

"Internet Explorer 8 helps every user spend less time searching and browsing, and takes them more directly to the information they need" says Microsoft's John Curran.

Meanwhile Cian Weeresinghe, an eBay UK spokesperson, reckons that the introduction of the Accelerator tool into IE8 is "a great advance for eBay customers" as it allows them to access eBay services without leaving the current page.

The Accelerator works by essentially associating any highlighted words on a web page with a Web service. Its fully customisable and means you do things like click on a word on any page to bring up a Google Maps page in a new tab adjacent to the original.

Finally, there is the three-pronged security focus: freedom from intrusion, protection from harms and control of data and privacy. This can be seen in such things as the ability to easily block phishing sites, the built-in anti-malware protection (courtesy of the Microsoft SmartScreen filter) and a cross-site scripting filter.

The XSS filter is an important move by Microsoft, as it is something missing from the mainstream competition. IE8 will change content on a page with a XSS request to display a warning notice instead and page access is simply blocked. Nice!

It seems that Microsoft might just have found its mojo again, masturbatory marketing messages aside...