Microsoft Releases Second IE9 Platform Preview
The current stable version of Internet Explorer (IE), the Microsoft-developed web browser is Internet Explorer 8 (IE8). Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is looking to the future and to the next iteration of IE, mainly IE9.
In this regard Microsoft rolled out the first IE9 Platform Preview back in March. Microsoft has now taken yet another step in the development process of IE9 and rolled out the second IE9 Platform Preview.
The IE9 Platform Preview 2 was rolled out last week and is now avaialble for download. But not everybody should get it though.
“These Platform Previews for Internet Explorer 9 are designed specifically for web designers in mind and focused primarily around same markup and what that means for developers. These Platform Previews for Internet Explorer 9 are not betas. There is intentionally no UI – not even a back button or an address bar – and they’re designed to be able to run side by side with your regular browser,” explained Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications Manager on the Windows Client Communications Team.
If you would like to get the IE9 Platform Preview 2, you can do so straight from Microsoft’s IE9 Test Drive site here. As Brandon LeBlanc explained, you should get this preview only if you are a web designer.
Please note that if you do decide to download the IE9 Platform Preview 2, you will not get to see a lot of things with the naked eye. You will not get to see the user interface of IE9 because the second Platform Preview doesn’t have one. You will not get to see a Back or Forward button because, well, there is no UI. You will probably not see the under the hood improvements with the naked eye either – improvements like enhanced speed, better Acid3 Test score, better JavaScript engine performance, better web standards support.
“We’re eager for developer feedback, and hope you have as much fun test driving IE9 as we continue to have in building it. We’ll continue the rhythm of IE9 Platform Preview updates approximately every eight weeks, as well as our work at the standards bodies with other browser vendors and the community,” commented Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager for Internet Explorer.
In this regard Microsoft rolled out the first IE9 Platform Preview back in March. Microsoft has now taken yet another step in the development process of IE9 and rolled out the second IE9 Platform Preview.
The IE9 Platform Preview 2 was rolled out last week and is now avaialble for download. But not everybody should get it though.
“These Platform Previews for Internet Explorer 9 are designed specifically for web designers in mind and focused primarily around same markup and what that means for developers. These Platform Previews for Internet Explorer 9 are not betas. There is intentionally no UI – not even a back button or an address bar – and they’re designed to be able to run side by side with your regular browser,” explained Brandon LeBlanc, Windows Communications Manager on the Windows Client Communications Team.
If you would like to get the IE9 Platform Preview 2, you can do so straight from Microsoft’s IE9 Test Drive site here. As Brandon LeBlanc explained, you should get this preview only if you are a web designer.
Please note that if you do decide to download the IE9 Platform Preview 2, you will not get to see a lot of things with the naked eye. You will not get to see the user interface of IE9 because the second Platform Preview doesn’t have one. You will not get to see a Back or Forward button because, well, there is no UI. You will probably not see the under the hood improvements with the naked eye either – improvements like enhanced speed, better Acid3 Test score, better JavaScript engine performance, better web standards support.
“We’re eager for developer feedback, and hope you have as much fun test driving IE9 as we continue to have in building it. We’ll continue the rhythm of IE9 Platform Preview updates approximately every eight weeks, as well as our work at the standards bodies with other browser vendors and the community,” commented Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager for Internet Explorer.
