Should you get excited over the impending release of Internet Explorer 8?

Microsoft says that you should. For one thing, it claims that IE 8 outpaces and outshines the other browsers in terms of security. Redmond also boasts that it’s definitely faster than its predecessor, IE 7.

Of course, we all know that Microsoft will say anything to catapult their new browser to the top of the chain. Bill Gates’ guys will be harking hallelujah today until next week over the birth of their new creation. However, it’s very likely that they’ll tone down by the end of the month when bugs begin to surface. By April, tech bloggers might start to encourage people to go back to IE 7.

I’m not saying that IE 8’s edge over IE 7 is only skin-deep. Indeed, the guys working for Bill didn’t spend years mulling over 0s and 1s just to come up with new cosmetics for Internet Explorer. There is definitely an improvement in security and speed.

While many of you may have apprehensions on upgrading to IE 8, a greater number of Web surfers are eager and curious to give the new browser a try. I’m one of them. We might end up complaining to Microsoft about crashes and slow browsing speeds, but in the end, giving IE 8’s maker a daily piece of our mind will eventually benefit us in the long run as patches will surely be released to appease us.

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The news that Microsoft will not release Internet Explorer 8 to the public is not something that is surprising. Microsoft’s latest browser IE8 will remain in beta until 2009.

The announcement was made on Microsoft’s official blog. Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager of Internet Explorer project noted that they will release another beta next year. “We will release one more public update of IE8 in the first quarter of 2009, and then follow that up with the final release,” he said. The browser is currently in Beta 2.

Tech enthusiasts on the other hand agree that the decision is very just. A review on ArsTechnica noted that they are perfectly fine with more testing and bug fixing being done. Internet Exlorer 8 Beta 2 is noted with numerous bugs and crash errors, something that is not present in its grand rival Firefox 3.

As of this writing, Microsoft encourages users and beta testers to submit bug reports to help improve the once leading browser.

Source: PopuTech and ArsTechnica

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Google Chrome is fast becoming like Firefox and Greasemonkey with its future support for Add-ons and Plug-ins.

According to Aaron Boodman, Greasemonkey founder and a member of the Google Chrome team said that Chrome will use both add-ons that extend browser features and use scripts.

Google Chrome is the latest browser to hit the web, and within a few weeks from its release it already reached almost 2 million downloads. Many users believe that Chrome will soon be a serious competitor of Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer as it offers different features such as browser tab isolation.

Suggestions and ideas as to how Google Chrome add-ons should include are already pouring in. Experts of other browser groups are interested in the development of the open source browser made by the big G. Among most notable feature of Chrome are its tabs.

Brendan Eich, Mozilla CTO is studying the Chrome’s stability using tabs and he is very positive on the developments on the latest browser. “There are good process-isolation tricks that Chrome does that we’re looking into, so we’re simply going to look at better isolation techniques for security and integrity,” he said.

Source: InformationWeek

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Have you noticed that it’s been quite a while since Microsoft has released a new browser? Whenever I see IE 7’s icon on my desktop, I sometimes feel that it has been installed there for almost a decade already.

Everybody wants to see something new on their computer. Why do you think people mobbed the stores when Vista was first released? The fact that the first program that we always see on our computer is the operating system makes us all the more eager to try new ones in order to break the monotony. Many indeed decided to change despite the fact that many analysts stressed at that time that XP is more secured than its successor.

The second most used program in your PC would most likely be the browser. Naturally, you would want a new one to spice up things when you teleport yourself into cyberspace. Seeing the same old interface day after day would, after all, cause undue fatigue to your eyes.

I think the guys at Redmond have already noticed that they’ve been using the same old browser for Bill knows when. Hence, the release of Internet Explorer 8.

But don’t jump to Microsoft’s download site just yet. The fact that it’s free doesn’t mean that it’s ok to try it out without giving other things a thought. Take note that while the browser is your primary portal to the Internet, it is also the door most commonly used by hackers to take control of your PC.

IE 8 is still in its beta stages. Although Microsoft has already released a copy of it, it’s still far from being the finished product. The fact that it’s a beta version should clip your eagerness in trying the application. You could be sure that there are a variety of issues that are hounding the new browser, foremost of which is security.

If you’re bent on introducing the new Microsoft browser in your system, make sure that all your security apps are up and running. Be sure to have RegCure installed so that your Windows registry will not be compromised. Of course, an antivirus is also indispensable. Although it might be ok to try IE 8 beta, you shouldn’t use it as your primary browser. Doing so would be like putting up a door with a broken lock.

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No matter how fast your processor is, chances are is that your surfing speed would soon drag down due to unwanted data build up, plug-in issues, or failure to update your browser. You don’t need an antivirus or anti-spyware program for these problems. Putting grease into your laggard browser is as easy as clicking a few buttons.

If you’re using Internet Explorer, just click on Tools • Internet Options then click on Delete Browsing History. If you’re using a third-party utility suite, such as Norton Systemworks, then you have to open up its control center and choose the appropriate option to delete unwanted browser clutter.

For plug-in problems, all you have to do is disable it. In Firefox, just choose Tools • Add-ons, then Disable. In Internet Explorer, click on Start • All Programs • Accessories • Internet Explorer (No Add-ons).

As for the updates, you don’t have to worry about Internet Explorer if you’re using Windows and Windows Update is set to automatically receive patches. For Firefox, just click on Help • Check for Updates.

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