Microsoft release IE8 beta 2
By Steven Parker, 28 August 2008 - 08:29 57 comments
Microsoft have released English, German, Japanese and Simplified Chinese beta 2 versions of Internet Explorer 8. The installer weighs in at 23.1 MB and users will be required to remove beta 1 before it can be installed.
Windows Vista users will have to dig deep to find the uninstaller for beta 1, it is located under: Control Panel, Programs & Features and in the left menu: "Installed Updates" under the listing Windows Internet Explorer 8. You will then be required to restart your system before beta 2 can be installed.
Neowin obviously needs some work, as some pages can only be viewed correctly in compatibility mode which can be activated in the address bar like so. IE7 mode is there, but has been changed to this handy new/updated feature which allows only certain sites to display in compatibility mode, while retaining native mode for other websites and/or tabs.
Screenshots: Click here for a gallery of the install process
Download: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 | 12 MB (x86) 23.1 MB (x64)
Link to: Neowin Forum Discussion + Feedback on IE8 beta 2
Comments (57)
oddBall - 28 August 2008 - 08:48
Vista 32 bit installer is only 12Mb (with some change).
Recommend that you go to the official MS site to download, there are a whole pile of download links, not just one.
Neobond - 28 August 2008 - 09:35
Thanks, I updated the post with that information
Kushan - 28 August 2008 - 09:39
Out of curiosity, how does it do in the Acid3 test?
Neobond - 28 August 2008 - 09:46
I read on one of the comments here: http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...ost&p=589708892
IE8 12/100
FF3 71/100
Not good eh? Passes Acid2 though!
JamesWeb - 28 August 2008 - 10:06
IE8 12/100
FF3 71/100
Not good eh? Passes Acid2 though!
It goes up to 21/100 if you wait around a few seconds longer, even so in terms of usability this is so much better than Beta 1, the new search box and awes- sorry, "smart address bar" are a vast improvement, I'd implore everyone to give this beta a go.
Kushan - 28 August 2008 - 10:30
IE8 12/100
FF3 71/100
Not good eh? Passes Acid2 though!
Cheers for the info (and before anyone bitches, I know Acid3 compatibility isn't an objective for this version of IE, I'm just curious).
+Beastage - 28 August 2008 - 09:58
No way, it is so fast! and compatiblity view works good and in an instant and it seems it autodetects sites that require it.
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+stevember - 28 August 2008 - 10:33
From a developer, wow its good great improvent.
Spell checkor on-fly would been nice.
Yes, Yes I know Firefox has similar via plug-ins, but IE8 is slight improvement on these.
Love InPorn mode.
sreteP - 28 August 2008 - 11:51
Spell checkor on-fly would been nice.
Yes, Yes I know Firefox has similar via plug-ins, but IE8 is slight improvement on these.
Love InPorn mode.
No longer will our partners know of our porn habbits!
Marshalus - 28 August 2008 - 14:02
No longer will our partners know of our porn habbits!
Until they read Neowin.
Burst404 - 28 August 2008 - 15:33
lawl +1
thealexweb - 28 August 2008 - 10:44
Microsoft you'll have to do better than this to beat Opera, Mozilla and Apple. 21/100? The others nearly pass it completely.
+stevember - 28 August 2008 - 10:53
Serious?
Acid3 don't mean anythng in real world at present and near future, innovation, security, performance to name just 3 things are far more important.
Yes, I'm firefox user not MS fanboy, but do respect and support MS as I do Moz...
bob_c_b - 28 August 2008 - 11:23
Now if only anyone used 2 out of those 3 browsers it would matter. Safari... lol...
Faisal Islam - 28 August 2008 - 17:07
Opera is the poorest browser. Lol at Safari. FF is okky. IE is KING!
+Ely - 28 August 2008 - 11:37
It is working great so far for me, I'm trying it under XP with SP3 and even though it seems slightly slower for me than IE7 the features make it worth, the only thing I don't quite like is the fact that selecting InSafe Mode opens up a new window instead of a new tab, but so far that's about it.
+warwagon - 28 August 2008 - 13:39
Firefox has a porn mode too.
Its called firefox.exe /p
Use the guest account or any other different account to browse the porn. Then just log it back to the default account when your done.
Ricmacas - 28 August 2008 - 13:49
Microsoft is really starting to fell the pressure for better products.
Competition is starting to run faster Microsoft!
For me its a Crashing Chamomile tea...
http://img264.imageshack.us/my.php?image=macadsvo5.jpg
solardog - 28 August 2008 - 15:59
Swing and a miss.
C_Guy - 28 August 2008 - 17:45
I wonder how one goes about felling the pressure? Stupid gravity.