Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate (RC) due on January 28

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate (RC) due on January 28

Microsoft is planning to reveal its near-final version of Internet Explorer 9 on January 28.

Microsoft officials have been hard at work on the company?s next generation browser since its release in September 2010. LiveSide suggests that the software giant is planning to unveil the Release Candidate (RC) build to the public on January 28. The information fits with tips that WinRumors has received that the software maker is aiming to distribute the RC build in late January.

Microsoft announced on Saturday that the beta version of Internet Explorer 9 has surpassed 20 million downloads, making it the most downloaded beta release of Internet Explorer ever. The download rate of Internet Explorer 9 beta has grown by 5 million each month since its release on September 15, 2010. Internet Explorer 9 RC is expected to include UI tweaks and minor changes to some functions in Internet Explorer. Microsoft will also introduce a new Tracking protection feature in Internet Explorer 9 RC that will allow consumers to address their concerns about being tracked on the web.

Recently, a new Internet Explorer 9 beta build leaked to the web, originally reserved for close partners and TAP testers. The build, version 9.0.8027.6000, began showing up on popular file sharing websites in late November. The leaked version includes bug fixes, stability improvements and the latest rendering engine seen in the recent developer Platform Preview. It appears, from the digital signature, that the build was compiled as recently as November 19. Microsoft?s previous Platform Preview 7 build was labeled 9.0.8023.6000. WinRumors posted exclusive screenshots of the new leaked Internet Explorer 9 beta build.

Microsoft recently released an updated platform preview build of Internet Explorer 9. Version 7 now includes 354% better JavaScript performance according to WebKit SunSpider benchmarks. In keeping with previous platform preview builds, this latest version, Platform Preview 7, does not contain the Internet Explorer 9 UI elements.

Internet Explorer 9 beta made its debut on September 15 to a fanfare of Gorillaz appearances and anticipation of Microsoft?s new look browser. The next generation browser has received a warm welcome from tech enthusiasts, developers and the media. The browser has been so popular that it grabbed 0.25% of browser market share in just two weeks.

Microsoft has targeted developers in a heavy way with Internet Explorer 9. IE 9 takes advantage of the power of the GPU for all page rendering and developers can exploit this using CSS, DHTML and javascript. A new JS engine (codenamed Chakra) is also built into Internet Explorer 9 with greater interoperability and standards support all round. Features such as rounded corner CSS support are now built in.

Microsoft has also introduced broader support for HTML5 in IE9 through its new script engine. Microsoft recently performed W3C Web Standards tests on IE9, including HTML5, SVG 1.1 2nd edition, CSS3 media queries, CSS3 borders & backgrounds, CSS3 selectors, DOM level 3 core, DOM level 3 events and DOM level 2 style. Microsoft?s IE9 is the first and only browser to deliver full hardware acceleration of all HTML5 content. Other competitors, including Mozilla and Google, are planning select hardware acceleration but at the moment Internet Explorer 9 wins hands down.

Source: winrumors

[kiddingguy]

Nice. So a final version can be possibly expected around March/April than hopefully...

[Lee G. Veteran]

I'm looking forward to its release. IE9 is shaping up to be a very good browser.

[leakAddict]

With a username like ie9 I had to tell Tom over at Winrumors about the RC ;)

Looking forward to it!

[Detection]

Im actually pleased to hear there is still a few months left for them to improve it, the previous builds I have tested felt very un-ready

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

based on liveside's prediction.. http://www.liveside.net/2011/01/01/ie-9-download-number-hits-20-million-and-rc-to-be-released-on-jan-28/

[leakAddict]

based on liveside's prediction.. http://www.liveside.net/2011/01/01/ie-9-download-number-hits-20-million-and-rc-to-be-released-on-jan-28/

and

tips that WinRumors has received that the software maker is aiming to distribute the RC build in late January.

[torrentthief]

Win 7 sp1 rtm build candidates are being created according to wzor so hopefully the final version of that will be out this month, probably march until ie9 final is out i would have thought. It is still lacking alot of the html5 spec currently, i'm hoping that improves alot by the time it goes final.

[SoLoR1]

Win 7 sp1 rtm build candidates are being created according to wzor so hopefully the final version of that will be out this month, probably march until ie9 final is out i would have thought. It is still lacking alot of the html5 spec currently, i'm hoping that improves alot by the time it goes final.

SP1 already went RTM. 100% confirmed (MS already released officaly 2 hotfixes for it) but not leaked yet for some wierd reason...

[Kool Box]

Confirmed ?

[SoLoR1]

Confirmed ?

2 hotfixes are already released for SP1... here is one of them:

You here see it applys for version 7600.16385 (Win7 RTM build) and 7601.17514 that cant be anything else then Win7 SP1 RTM build. So yes SP1 is RTMed, not officaly but it is...

[aftas]

SP1 already went RTM. 100% confirmed (MS already released officaly 2 hotfixes for it) but not leaked yet for some wierd reason...

Source?

2 hotfixes are already released for SP1... here is one of them:

You here see it applys for version 7600.16385 (Win7 RTM build) and 7601.17514 that cant be anything else then Win7 SP1 RTM build. So yes SP1 is RTMed, not officaly but it is...

Thats for a leaked beta. Leaks also get hotfixes.

[SoLoR1]

Thats for a leaked beta. Leaks also get hotfixes.

yes... ok! /sarcasm get your self random BETA/RC hotfix that was released and then compare it to this hotfix... maybe you will notice the difference. + 7601.17514 was NEVER LEAKED and this was last build compiled in win7sp1rtm branch.

[aftas]

yes... ok! /sarcasm get your self random BETA/RC hotfix that was released and then compare it to this hotfix... maybe you will notice the difference. + 7601.17514 was NEVER LEAKED and this was last build compiled in win7sp1rtm branch.

You still havent posted any source that says SP1 has RTM. RTM means that it is ready for retail, is the final version and will hit retail soon.

[DrCheese]

Doesn't nessacerly mean it's RTM'd, just means they've decided not to include those hotfixes within the SP1 build. It's probably been locked down for major changes for a while now and anything major will come along later.

This is what they did with Windows 7 before it RTM'd, they already knew a few of the fixes they would wait and include in SP1 rather than force them into final RTM build and reset their lockdown clock.

[SoLoR1]

You still havent posted any source that says SP1 has RTM. RTM means that it is ready for retail, is the final version and will hit retail soon.

There is no source (yet)... source are your brains if you know where/how to look and notice things like this. And gosh i know what RTM means, probably better then you :)

Doesn't nessacerly mean it's RTM'd, just means they've decided not to include those hotfixes within the SP1 build. It's probably been locked down for major changes for a while now and anything major will come along later.

This is what they did with Windows 7 before it RTM'd, they already knew a few of the fixes they would wait and include in SP1 rather than force them into final RTM build and reset their lockdown clock.

yes it does, because hotfix WONT APPLY on other builds.... that hotfix applys on _exactly_ 2 builds only Win7 PRE SP1 (7600.16385) and Win7 SP1 (7601.17514). Also there is indeed fact there was _NO_ higher build built in win7sp1 rtm branch then 7601.17514 and that was almost month a half ago... again _no_ new build for month and a half, you could assume about half of month ago that was most likely last build in RTM branch and now this hotfix is actual prove of this.

but this is RC IE9 topic... btw this news about that RC date comes from Zukona... because its incredible that every time after he posts something on his Facebook various pages start to post this dates as "they" would know someone from MS.

[Growled Member]

This is good news. I'm looking forward to trying this. :)

[Ci7]

There is no source (yet)... source are your brains if you know where/how to look and notice things like this. And gosh i know what RTM means, probably better then you :)

yes it does, because hotfix WONT APPLY on other builds.... that hotfix applys on _exactly_ 2 builds only Win7 PRE SP1 (7600.16385) and Win7 SP1 (7601.17514). Also there is indeed fact there was _NO_ higher build built in win7sp1 rtm branch then 7601.17514 and that was almost month a half ago... again _no_ new build for month and a half, you could assume about half of month ago that was most likely last build in RTM branch and now this hotfix is actual prove of this.

but this is RC IE9 topic... btw this news about that RC date comes from Zukona... because its incredible that every time after he posts something on his Facebook various pages start to post this dates as "they" would know someone from MS.

i would think intel would prefer if Microsoft harry up and release SP1 RTM

AVX support is non-exist on windows today

[qdave]

I hope it will come sooner than jan 28.

[leakAddict]

...but at least we learned a bit about SP1...

[George P Global Moderator]

Lots of talk is saying IE9 will RTM in April, probably when WIn7 SP1 will also get shipped so they're waiting to get both of them out of the door together.

[caerma]

Looking forward to it!

[Franz Passler]

Hope they fixed annoying "image break" bug.. :rolleyes:

[aftas]

There is no source (yet)...

I stopped reading there.

No source = rumor

[Knife Party]

yet to try IE9, hope it impresses me