IE9 Beta Coming this September

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 16 Aug 2010

The latest stable version of the Microsoft-developed IE (Internet Explorer) browser is IE8. This version has been around for more than a year now (IE8 final was rolled out to the public in March, 2009), offering users multiple home pages, Accelerators, Web Slices, visual search suggestions, InPrivate Browsing, compatibility view, and much more.

But the development process of Internet Explorer did not end with IE8. We already know that Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is working on the next iteration, on IE9. So far Microsoft has rolled out several IE9 developer previews that come with some significant under the hood changes:

- Better hardware acceleration
- Better SunSpider and Acid3 results
- Better support for Web fonts
- Support for the HTML5 Canvas element

The one thing these developer previews did not have was a UI (user interface). No UI meant the regular user would not get to see things like a Back or Forward button. It is for this reason that the regular user should stay away from IE9 Platform Preview and stick with IE8. Kind of a bummer, huh?

Microsoft recently made an announcement that should chase your blues away, an announcement that should put a big smile on your face if you’re itching to see how IE9 will look like. Microsoft announced that the first Beta version of IE9 will be released less than a month from today. To be more precise, IE9 Beta 1 will be released to the public on the 15th of September.

To celebrate the launch of IE9 Beta, Microsoft is holding a “Beauty of the Web” event in San Francisco. A select group of VIP web developers, designers, bloggers and press representatives have already received their invitations for the events, event penciled in for the 15th of August, obviously.

“Developers are already working hard on some amazing new web experiences enabled by Internet Explorer 9. On September 15th we’ll be able to show you a more beautiful web that feels native on Windows,” said Senior Product Manager with IE, James Pratt.


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