Leaked Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) Beta Screenshots Are Fake

[Shayla]

Having already released no less than three developer preview Builds of Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft is obviously heading toward the Beta milestone. However, the Redmond company has so far been mute on the upcoming development milestones of IE9, saying that the next release is planned within 8 weeks since the availability of Platform Preview 3. Still, one source claims to have received the IE9 Beta bits and published a number of screenshots, offering the first taste of the upcoming release.

As a general rule, all leaks of this manner need to be taken with a grain of salt, but in this particular case, there?s no need, simply because its highly likely that the screenshots allegedly depicting the Beta Build of Internet Explorer 9 that have been shared by CnBeta, are in fact fake.

More @ Softpedia

[tomwarren Veteran]

Since when was softpedia the authority on Microsoft?!

[LightShadow]

They are likely fake though, Microsoft has not mentioned nothing about the new features-similar to Chrome. And I thought Beta 1 would be including the new UI anyway.

[Jan Veteran]

I say and hope it's fake. MS probably would have changed the UI completely, it says 1 Visits <-- ? and the Preparing IE9 window would have a close button - but it would be disabled though.

[JustAnotherTechie]

Well that Acid3 score is less than the third preview build and the chrome is identical to IE8, which is kind of weird. I assumed they'd ship preview builds in a limited frame because they were improving the UI rather than purely to dissuade normal users.

I say fake.

[seta-san]

i call bull****the current IE9 preview build gets acid 3 at 83%

[hdood]

I say and hope it's fake. MS probably would have changed the UI completely

Why would they? It's pretty much a given that the UI will look pretty much the same as IE 7 and IE 8.

[Jan Veteran]

Why would they? It's pretty much a given that the UI will look pretty much the same as IE 7 and IE 8.

Due to the fact the first 3 Previews haven't included a UI? Also other browsers are coming up with new UIs, Microsoft needs to catch up.

[lecter]

Since when was softpedia the authority on Microsoft?!

So by saying that Softpedia is not an authority on Microsoft you are kinda sorta saying that the screenshots are real? :)

[LightShadow]

So by saying that Softpedia is not an authority on Microsoft you are kinda sorta saying that the screenshots are real? :)

I'm thinking Tom has this build sitting on his computer :rofl:

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

The screenshots could very well be real. There's no reason for Microsoft to change the existing IE UI, save for additions like the new tab page or the download manager.

We'll know soon enough whether or not they are in fact the real deal.

[DrunkenBeard]

I think they're legit. If my memory serves me right cnBeta have a good a record of leaked screenshots that turn out to be the real deal.

[Jan Veteran]

Icon.

[Inklin]

I personasly call fake on these also.

[hdood]

Due to the fact the first 3 Previews haven't included a UI? Also other browsers are coming up with new UIs, Microsoft needs to catch up.

That's because they were not previews of the IE 9 browser. They wanted to showcase just the engine. It was intentionally made that way. They have it hosted in an actual browser internally at Microsoft.

They aren't going to change the main interface to something different that will create confusion and cost businesses money in retraining. If IE 10 looks different on Windows 8, then that look might be backported to Windows 7 in the same way as IE 7 was to XP, but not otherwise. If you think they will, then you're in for a disappointment.

[ViperAFK]

goddamn fake screenshots :(

[Krome]

So by saying that Softpedia is not an authority on Microsoft you are kinda sorta saying that the screenshots are real? :)

From what I read, Tom was doubting the genuine and credibility of screenshots and Softpedia. If I am correct, it does not mean he thinks those snapshot is real. You seem to skew his statement on purpose?

[Denis W. Veteran]

It's a pretty good looking fake, if it is fake.

The Acid3 test could be a bit suspect but we don't know when this build originated from. It could have been between the two Platform Previews.

I say and hope it's fake. MS probably would have changed the UI completely, it says 1 Visits <-- ? and the Preparing IE9 window would have a close button - but it would be disabled though.

Perhaps they didn't bother with an extra if-condition for '1' to call that text label 'Visit'. Also windows can have no caption buttons at all; try creating a system restore point and watch the dialog that pops up.

[.Neo]

I just hate how the Internet Explorer tab bar is this mishmash of tabs, toolbar buttons and menu bar. Not too fond of the color either. It's pretty hilarious Internet Explorer 8 still doesn't have a download manager and uses that antiquated and pixelated download animation as well. Hopefully they'll do something about that with the upcoming version.

[Quillz]

I think IE9 is going to add a real download manager. Firefox and Safari could stand to have better ones, as well. I still think Opera has the best download manager, and I wish the other major browsers would take some cues from it.

[Explore]

If this is real. Microsoft needs a new UI for IE.

[Bengal34]

If this is real. Microsoft needs a new UI for IE.

They're focusing on the rendering and JS engines, getting the thing standards complient. Any UI overhauls will most likely happen at the end of development.

[Tech Star]

Hopefully we get a new UI. Want to see something nice coming from Microsoft. :p

[lecter]

From what I read, Tom was doubting the genuine and credibility of screenshots and Softpedia. If I am correct, it does not mean he thinks those snapshot is real. You seem to skew his statement on purpose?

Well, the screenshots come from cnbeta, not Softpedia, so I assumed he was challenging Softpedia's statement that they are very likely fake, thus confirming that they are real :D

[hdood]

They're focusing on the rendering and JS engines, getting the thing standards complient. Any UI overhauls will most likely happen at the end of development.

It's not the same people though. The UI designers and programmers do not work on the JavaScript engine.