Microsoft confirms IE 8 will ship this year

[BajiRav]

Microsoft confirms IE 8 will ship this year

Quick update from Microsoft's Financial Analyst Meeting (FAM): Microsoft Senior Vice President of Online Services and Windows, Bill Veghte, just told attendees that Microsoft will release the final version of Internet Explorer (IE) 8 to the Web "later this year." Microsoft has tried its best not to provide a ship target for IE 8 ? like most of its Windows client family of products. Company officials did acknowledge last month that a second public beta of IE 8 is due out in August.

Microsoft has been warning Web developers to prep for IE 8, which will be more standards-compliant, to prepare now for IE 8 by adding a new tag to their sites to keep them from breaking when viewed with IE 8.

Source: All About Microsoft

[dmd3x]

I'm not surprised, the beta seems to be working decently...

[evoman91]

I'm not surprised, the beta seems to be working decently...

+1 Not really had any problems yet

[tsupersonic]

Good, let's hope it's decent :pray:

[Elliot B.]

More info. on Internet Explorer 8: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_8

[zerologic]

+1 Not really had any problems yet

No I didn't have any major problems with Beta 1. Only problem is that feature / end user wise there is nothing persuasive.

[CentralDogma]

No I didn't have any major problems with Beta 1. Only problem is that feature / end user wise there is nothing persuasive.

iirc IE8 retains a memory of all the current tabs open so that if it crashes it can reload them. That is huge for end users.

[zerologic]

Ok that's clever but not compelling.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

I'm glad IE8 is coming along, but every so often the developers go and do something which just makes me wonder what drug they're on.

[Boktai1000]

Only thing I hope for is a better score on the Acid 3 test :]

[primexx]

wonder when they'll release IE9

[+Fahim S. MVC]

I'm glad IE8 is coming along, but every so often the developers go and do something which just makes me wonder what drug they're on.

Like what?

I've not used the IE8 preview and am interested to know about any quirks it may have.

[Matrix XII]

I sure hope it's better than IE7. That is the most cluttered browser I've used.

I haven't tried the beta for IE8, but I hope they slim down the navigation bar.

[dmd3x]

Like what?

I've not used the IE8 preview and am interested to know about any quirks it may have.

Maybe he's talking about the acid test... that IS kind of suspicious sounding, afterall :whistle:

http://www.webstandards.org/action/acid2/ ;)

[BlueFiberOptics]

Bravo for Microsoft developing a more standards compliant web browser. I'm not afraid to give credit to Microsoft when they do great things.

However, one thing bugs me. Why did Microsoft change the UI for IE 7? It was completely unnecessary.

Will IE 8 use the same layout?

Does anyone think Microsoft changed the browser UI in order to scare non-tech people from using a web browser that has a standard UI? (Just a thought, not accusing)

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Like what?

I've not used the IE8 preview and am interested to know about any quirks it may have.

Well, it's areas of the CSS spec they don't want to implement for some reason, @font-face is one (IE has supported @font-face for 10 years or so, but only one format and only theirs, the CSS spec lists other, more open formats they don't want to implement)

Maybe he's talking about the acid test... that IS kind of suspicious sounding, afterall :whistle:

http://www.webstandards.org/action/acid2/ ;)

That's the old URL (and it's broken), use http://acid2.acidtests.org/

[alphaomegainfinity]

Nowadays it has almost become a habit for software makers to release a new major version when the changes involved are actually quite minimal.

[primexx]

Nowadays it has almost become a habit for software makers to release a new major version when the changes involved are actually quite minimal.

uhm....the change from IE7 to IE8 is HUGE.

[Scirwode]

I hope IE8 is more standards compliant. I had a hell of a time ensuring a website I'm developing looks just the same in Firefox and IE. One thing I do like about IE is that it's intelligent enough to know where a space is so I don't have to put a break in some places, but that also brings up some other problems, especially with tables when you put the end row in a new space.

I do quite like the interface though, as it was clean and simple, though the refresh button being put at the end does bother me, but not that much.

Scirwode

[alphaomegainfinity]

uhm....the change from IE7 to IE8 is HUGE.

Care to elaborate how huge? IE 7 is enough for the mainstream users.

[thealexweb]

The reason they have to have it out this year is because they are pushing close to the end of mainstream support for XP, to release IE8 after April 2009 they would either have to cancel the XP releases or make an exception to the rules or extend mainstream support for XP.

[primexx]

Care to elaborate how huge? IE 7 is enough for the mainstream users.

is an entirely new core large enough?

[thealexweb]

is an entirely new core large enough?

Better rendering, more secure, a few more features, etc.

[morphen]

Care to elaborate how huge? IE 7 is enough for the mainstream users.

So, just because IE7 is "enough for the mainstream users", there is NO room for improvements?

[thealexweb]

So, just because IE7 is "enough for the mainstream users", there is NO room for improvements?

There is lots of room for improvement, lol!