AdventuresInVista
Hints, Tips & Tricks for Microsoft Windows Vista

The Browser Wars Are Back! (IE8 Beta 2 Released)
9 October 2008 in Browser Wars & Internet Explorer 8 | Comments (2)

The latest Beta of Microsoft’s new super-standards-friendly browser, Internet Explorer 8, has been released.

This latest version offers many enhancements and new features, including…

• Completely CSS 2.1 compliant
• New features including Accelerators and Web Slices
• Compatiblility mode (basically IE7 mode)
• InPrivate browsing - a new way to browse without leaving any traces. Your history, cookies, etc are not stored
• New Safety features including SmartScreen filter
• And much, much more

Of course, this is still only Beta 2. The final version is due to be released before Christmas, but this release seems very stable - in fact, this post is being written on IE8!

I can’t help feel though that we’re in for a new round of browser wars. Safari is getting better, we have Google Chrome (built on Safari), a new version of IE on the horizon, and of course Firefox. Let’s hope this time web developers aren’t caught in the middle!

Find out more and download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/

UPDATE Click here for my regularly updated IE8 Beta 2 Buglist

Google Chrome - Should you bother?
11 September 2008 in Browser Wars | Comments (1)

Google recently released the first beta version of Chrome, their open-source web browser project. Currently, it’s available for Windows XP and Vista only, with MacOS / Linux versions in the works.

Naturally I’ve installed it on a couple of my boxes to see what all the fuss is about. Here’s a screenshot…

So, what’s the verdict?

Well, first I have to say its REALLY fast. Like, ridiculously so. When you compare it to IE or even Firefox, the difference in speed is incredible.

Apart from that though, it’s not all that great. Nice interface, nice idea, but honestly Google, did you really think it was ready to be used by the world at large?!

Many sites I’ve tried aren’t working properly - even the ones which Google has designed Chrome for (the new web applications - web 2.0 if you like).

What’s more interesting though is the talk of why Google has decided to branch out into software, and particularly web browsers. Do they think they can compete against IE? Firefox can’t, so why should Google be any different? Or are they, like many commentators are indicating, worried that their whole revenue stream relies on advertising, which Microsoft could block in IE if it wished?

Personally, I think the latter is unlikely… can you imagine the anti-trust problems that would create?! Microsoft certainly don’t want to go there again.

So, why have they done it!? Why not share your thoughts (and your opinions on Chrome itself) in the comments?

You can find out more and download Google Chrome from www.google.com/chrome.

Download FF3 and help set a Guiness World Record!
17 June 2008 in Browser Wars & General | Comments (0)

If you prefer the Firefox browser to IE (I don’t, but there you go), you might be interested to know that the Mozilla Foundation has today released the final build of Firefox 3 for Windows, MacOS X and Linux.

Apparently, they are trying to break the Guiness World Record for the number of downloads in a 24hr period, so you may want to go download it and contribute to the record attempt.

There’s also an official FF3 launch party in New York, which you may wish to attend. More details courtesy of A VC.

What are you waiting for? Download Firefox 3 now! Better still, why not Download Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1?

Introducing Internet Explorer 8
9 March 2008 in Browser Wars & Internet Explorer 8 | Comments (2)

And yes… it’s standards compliant.

Microsoft used the recent MIX08 event to unleash Beta 1 of Internet Explorer 8. Aimed squarely at developers (although, as far as I can tell, anyone can download it), IE8 is ushering in a new era of compatibility and standards compliance for Microsoft. Here it is in action…

As you can see, it looks pretty similar to any other version of IE, although there are some important differences…