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Microsoft Releases Internet Explorer 9 RC

Posted by samzenpus on from the try-it-out dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has released Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate. The new RC build includes a Tracking Protection feature, which gives users the option to control what third-party site content can track them when they're online, as well as a new ActiveX filtering option, which allows users to turn on/off ActiveX plug-ins. Best of all, Microsoft has addressed what was arguably the biggest complaint with the new version: if you want your tabs on a separate line from the address box, there's now an option to turn that on from the right click menu at the top of the browser. At the same time, IE9 RC is significantly faster than the beta version. Furthermore, many site rendering issues have been fixed, although we can't say that it's working perfectly. Last but not least, the new build includes hundreds of bug fixes."

10 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. What's MS up to? by qmaqdk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There are two strategies MS can play:

    • Old school IE: Make own standards to try to vendor lock-in people with the MS platform
    • Standards compliant IE: Try to closely adhere to standards and basically render like all the other browsers

    I don't think the first strategy will work anymore. People learned what IE6 really costs in the long run. That leaves strategy two. But why bother? It a huge investment development wise, and I don't see them gaining anything from it without the vendor lock-in. So is this just "we want a browser too", or what?

    --
    My UID is prime. Hah!
    1. Re:What's MS up to? by Locke2005 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You're forgetting option 3: Leverage Windows 7 sales by providing a free browser that only works with Windows 7, then telling everybody about all the gaping security holes that exist in all previous versions. Standard MS marketing tactic. Hopefully MS is moving away from the "embrace and extend" philosophy it has used in the past.

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    2. Re:What's MS up to? by dave562 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You almost got it right. It's more like, "Provide a free browser that fully supports .Net so that the thousands of developers who develop against the Microsoft stack (SQL Server, Sharepoint, etc) will have a stable target to aim for."

      I get the sense that as a company, Microsoft could give two shits about which browser home users are using. They do care about their developers though. They do care about the enterprise. They need a known platform for their developers to target. That is why they need IE.

    3. Re:What's MS up to? by spells · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The client workstations all need .Net and IIS for the application to work.

      Find a new company. Quick.

    4. Re:What's MS up to? by dave562 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Right. Let me go ahead and leave a multi-million dollar firm that does business with the SEC, DoJ and just about every major law firm out there because the best document review and eDiscovery tools are built around a Microsoft stack. I don't care who makes the tools I use. I care that the tools get the job done. FYI - I have a bunch of LAMP and WAMP servers up too.

  2. Does it track my Google habits? by mackil · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From the article: "The new RC build includes a Tracking Protection feature"

    Does this preclude my Google search habits?

  3. Re:And it still doesn't support XP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Support has to end at some point. It might be time to move forward grandpa.

    Why?

    My machine works fine on XP. I have all the software I need and Mozilla is still supporting XP versions. And even if they stop, my version of Firefox and Thunderbird work quite fine.

    All this needless upgrading of hardware does nothing but increase the hole in my pocketbook and fill in landfill holes in poor Asian countries - and adding to the World's pollution.

    There's got to be a time when we have to slow our consumption down; especially with the highly toxic electronics.

    --Yours,
    Pops

    P.S. I kinda like to leave some semblance of an environment to you kids.

  4. Re:And it still doesn't support XP by Reapman · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Weak analogy.. does that mean that we should be patching hardware and software written in '68? or '65?

    No.. because technology of computers moves a LOT faster then technology of cars. Should Microsoft still be releasing patches for Windows 95? Bob? DOS 6.22?!?

    If you want to drive a Model T, I imagine it's still legal on most roads, but don't expect Ford to be responsible to install the seat belts and airbags and all the other safety features that have happened in the last 80 years or so. Same with Windows XP.. want to run it? Go ahead, but it's not Microsoft's (or Apple's or whoever's) problem that it doesn't support hardware X or software Y.

  5. Re:Does it support... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Odd based on that, I'd be serving .WAV, not ogg or mp3. However, we will most likely be serving .mp3 and let the firefox guys cry themselves a river (or get a plug in).

  6. Re:And it still doesn't support XP by DaFallus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Whenever you want to upgrade is up to you. If you want to use a 10 year old machine with XP, then more power to you. But why should Microsoft care? Maybe IE9 runs like shit on XP and they don't want to keep their staff busy dealing with all the issues and backwards compatibility for an OS that is definitely in the saturation/decline stage of the product life cycle.

    Do you go to Best Buy and complain that they don't sell Beta tapes?

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    Houston TX, USA