Microsoft revises IE 7.0 Public Beta

And promises IE 8.0 will be quicker

By Scot Finnie, IDG N ews Service
Published: 01:00 GMT, 03 July 06

Microsoft has posted a mildly revised and more secure Beta 3.0 version of Internet Explorer 7.0 free for public download.

Additional features and functionality in the Beta 3.0 release include:

  • All security updates for IE 7.0 released throughout June.
  • The ability to drag-and-drop reorder browser tabs in the tabbed-browsing bar.
  • The reappearance of the optional read email button for the customisable 'Command' bar, or main toolbar.
  • The web page zoom-in scaling feature adds a horizontal scrollbar automatically.
  • A global RSS feed settings dialog.
  • A global RSS 'refresh now' function (which wasn't evident in the preview build).
  • A global RSS 'refresh now' function (which wasn't evident in the preview build).

Missing from the what's new list, and perhaps the most significant change since the Beta 2.0 release, is Microsoft's publicly stated commitment - made by Bill Gates on 24 May at Microsoft's WinHEC conference - that IE is being placed back on a fast, 18-month development cycle after IE 7.0 ships.

"If it takes longer than 18 months to ship the next version of Internet Explorer, then we're not doing our jobs right," said Gary Schare, Microsoft's general manager of Internet Explorer.

The goal of IE 7.0 wasn't to win back market share from Mozilla, but merely to update IE to currently expected levels of browser functionality, said Schare, in response to a question about why IE 7.0 isn't expanding features and functionality more aggressively. The shorter development track could mean that browser users will see a far more advanced IE some time in 2008.

We obtained a late 'preview' version of IE 7.0 Beta 3.0, which did not have all the bug fixes and refinements Microsoft projected would be evident in the version now available for public download. The added usability tweaks are welcome, but the preview code did exhibit some minor performance and reliability issues.

The preview of Beta 3.0 takes up 12.8 Mbyte of hard drive space. IE 7.0 requires Windows XP SP2. It's important to uninstall any previous version of IE 7.0 before installing this one. Installation of beta software is not recommended in production environments.

IE 7.0 does install some operating system components; it may be uninstalled from Add or Remove Programs.

For more information on IE 7.0 Beta 3.0, see Microsoft's IE 7.0 Beta 3.0 checklists, release notes and add-ons page.

What are your views on this subject? Use the form below to post a comment on this article up to 500 characters.

Characters remaining: 500

Related Applications news

Microsoft Office 2010 beta available for download

Developers can get hands on software preview

19 November 2009

Microsoft reveals Silverlight update plans

Version 4 to beef up out of browser application support

Microsoft beta to shake up directory services

Developers to bake access control into applications

Salesforce launches own social networking app

Chatter could be 'Facebook for the enterprise'.

Related Applications reviews

Microsoft Office 2010 beta

Akvis ArtSuite 5.0 review

PeerBlock review

Email this article to a friend or colleague:

PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story, and in case of transmission error. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.

Techworld White Papers

Database security: Preventing enterprise data leaks at the source

IDC discusses the growing internal threats to business information, the impact of government regulations on the protection of data, and how enterprises must adopt database security best practices...

Download Whitepaper

Service-oriented security

SOA has become an integral part of enterprise software by providing a framework to efficiently develop software as services that is easily sharable, reusable, and integrated. No where is the need more apparent than in the Identity Management space. Welcome to the age of Service-Oriented Security (SOS).

Download Whitepaper

Data protection prospective vendor checklist

Organisations need a way to map business needs against all these challenges in procuring a technical solution. To help, SANS has developed the following Prospective Vendor Checklist.

Download Whitepaper

Unlock the power of the mainframe

This whitepaper presents the notion of CICS as an integration hub based on a component-based, service-oriented architecture supporting Web services. Highlights will review the challenges and contrasted support for Web services natively in CICS.

Download Whitepaper

Techworld UK - Technology - Business

COLT White Paper

Are all VoIP services the same?

Questions to ask your service provider to ensure you get the VoIP service you need
With careful choice of partner, your business can have all the advantages of VoIP access - reduced costs, flexibility and simplicity - without the drawbacks.
This white paper is your guide to ensure you get right the VoIP service and details the pitfalls which businesses would do well to avoid.

Download white paper
BMC

Ride the express lane in the journey to speed ITIL adoption

Explore the challenges in making the journey to ITIL and the criteria for selecting consulting services
By following ITIL practices, your IT organisation will become more closely integrated with the business. We recommend making the journey to ITIL in a sequence of six incremental steps, the phases of which are driven through execution of a strategic transformational roadmap.

Download white paper

Webcast: IT Financial Management: Cost Optimisation for Efficiency and Agility.
On Demand Webcast
Join this webcast to learn about the techniques and technologies that can help you prove the value of IT to the business by understanding the true cost of today's IT services and those that will be necessary to deliver future success.

Register Today

Site Map

IDG Network

* *