Page last updated at 12:33 GMT, Thursday, 19 March 2009

Microsoft launches latest browser

IE8 Web Slice
Microsoft's new web browser has been in public testing for over a year



Although IE is still the most popular browser, it faces stiff competition from Google, Firefox, Opera and others.




Speaking to the BBC, Chris Green - the former editor of IT Pro - said that despite the "marketing puff" the new version of Internet Explorer was a significant improvement on previous editions.

"I've been using Internet Explorer 8 for more than six months and is vastly better than IE7, which was big on features but poor on performance.
The relationship between IE and Windows is called anti-competitive by some and essential by others
Darren Waters
Technology editor

"The safety features in IE8 are very good. It can spot dubious websites and alert you if you're about to fall foul of, let's say, a phishing website, because it has a constantly updating list of dodgy sites."

Simple searching

Microsoft has also introduced a feature that it is calling "accelerators" which, say the company, make it easier to perform web-related tasks directly from the page by simply right-clicking a word or phrase.

Computer Active's deputy editor, Tom Royal, told the BBC that it was refreshing to see Microsoft pioneer features in a web browser rather than playing catch-up.

"The accelerated menu is something no other browser has.

"The contextual popup menus are a real step forward - for example, highlighting and right-clicking on a postcode automatically brings up Google maps.

"This has real potential and will make surfing the web much easier. I'm sure others will follow up with something similar," he added.



IE8 accelerator



"A browser is still a very personal choice," said Mr Royal.

"Some people like theirs simple and fast, while others want stuff with loads of features. IE has always been all things to all people but the perception is that it's the browser that's just there rather than the one you would choose to use.

"For now, I would avoid using the new version not because it isn't any good, it's that there are usually lots of undiscovered bugs and security flaws on any piece of new software," he added.

Print Sponsor

Serious security flaw found in IE
16 Dec 08 |  Technology
Internet Explorer gets makeover
28 Aug 08 |  Technology
Q&A: Stay safe online
17 Nov 08 |  Technology
Web browser to get 'privacy mode'
21 Aug 08 |  Technology
Microsoft puts net at its heart
07 Mar 08 |  Technology
Firefox download record official
03 Jul 08 |  Technology

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Has China's housing bubble burst?
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit

BBC navigation



Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific