Ninth time's the charm

Microsoft’s latest version of Internet Explorer looks to keep things cleaner, simpler and secure

The newest Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 (beta) is now out for download. To cut the chase short, the browser is by far the most appealing attempt from the Redmond-based technology giant.

There’s no denying that Microsoft still controls the web browser market, but thanks to heightened competition, first from Mozilla’s Firefox and then from Google’s Chrome, it has lost usage share. Not only did these browsers make Microsoft’s offerings look puny, these also quickly seized mind share and embraced open web standards in a way the Internet Explorer (IE) never could because of legacy compatibility needs. With IE9, Microsoft seems to have dived back into its labs and come up with an overhauled interface that makes this version look much simpler.

However, the browser available for free download doesn’t work with Windows XP, the 9-year-old and the most widely-used operating system. The IE9 is compatible only with the more recent Vista and Windows 7 operating systems.

What’s really new?
With the IE9 beta, the company is finally showing off the browser’s new interface, and pushing the message that browsers should be site-centric, ensuring the focus on the site is not lost. So, the browser now contains a range of design changes and new features to make working with websites a streamlined, efficient process (the window shows a wider view of the website than the browser). This is in line with what Google’s Chrome did with its tabs-on-top look and how Mozilla adopted it for Firefox 4. Among other new features, better integration with the Windows operating system and a beefed-up security system look impressive. The IE9 also lets you ‘pin’ websites to Windows 7 taskbar and allows bookmarking favorite websites as ‘applications’. These website short-cuts look and work just as local applications and (can) provide a custom icon, a custom jump list, and even a thumbnail preview.

The new Performance Advisor identifies the add-ons that have been slowing the Internet Explorer down (this feature needs to be adopted by Mozilla Firefox, too). By knowing which add-ons slow down your browser’s performance, you can disable these and find alternatives. And, if IE9 needs to ask you something, it does so in a nice low-key box at the bottom of the browser. Non-invasive notifications seem like a perfect piece of the broader desire to put the focus on websites rather than the browser itself.

What’s not-so-new?
If you have been using browsers like Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, the IE9’s merged address bar and search box won’t really cut ice with you. Nor would new features like Tear-Off tabs, Download Manager with Pause and Restart functions, or a new Tab page showing the most visited tabs. Of course, these features will be new to you if you were currently on IE8 or an older version of the browser.