IE 7 Beta 2 With RSS, Search and Firefox & Opera Like Functionality
Microsoft have surprisingly launched a public preview of their upcoming Internet Explorer update. Unlike the previous beta, this is available for anyone who is running the latest and legal version of their operating systems.
It looks like the aim is to please the current users of Internet Explorers who are being lured away by alternative offerings like Mozilla Firefox and Opera Browser. This also brings the first change in this vintage browser version is almost 5 years.
The latest beta adds on a search box, enhanced the browser’s security. In addition, it also bring tabbed browser to the Internet Explorer, which has become a popular feature amongst Firefox & Opera users – making it easier for them to manage all the open web pages.
Microsoft is looking for public feedback on the bugs and issues in this version, which would be included in the upcoming Vista operating system release. Microsoft is also due to launch the Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP users.
Internet Explorer 7 beta 2 also brings in RSS support to the browser, which is another of the big things on the web right now. The user interface has been changed to make it look more sleek and user friendly. Overall a product worth trying out.
-
Sushubh Mittal, Tech Columnist and Resident Opera User – Sushubh Mittal, the Editor of TechWhack is a self described tech freak who loves to test out software and criticize the flaws in them.
I downloaded IE 7 Beta 2 this morning, just because I was curious to see what Microsoft was up to in the browser arena. After a long wait and fighting with Spybot S&D, which was trying to block the download, finally installed IE 7 Beta 2.
Definitely the look changed, but not for the better. On top are the Back and Forward button, followed by the Address Box, a Refresh and Stop Button and a Search Box. That was the first toolbar, omitting the classical menu (File, Edit, View, Favorite, Tools and Help).
The second toolbar included the aforementioned classical menu, which should have been located in the first toolbar if the software is looking for ease of use and user friendliness.
The third toolbar included the tabs and to the right; the rest of the navigation buttons, which again created more confusion and difficulty to click buttons spread out in two different toolbars not next to each other. It’s confusing and cumbersome to use. I did not like the new look. I think IE 6 had a much user friendly layout.
Features are the same included in Opera and Firefox. Microsoft is claiming to be more secure than IE 6; let’s wait and see what hackers have to say about that.
In a nutshell, IE 7 Beta more talking than walking. I still prefer Firefox 1.5. I don’t think Firefox users will stampede to IE 7 Beta.
In five years, Microsoft should have come out with WOW features. There were none.
I will continue using IE to download Windows Updates as usual. I wish I could do it from Firefox; but Microsoft will not allow it. I wonder why?
Just my two cents worth on IE 7 Beta 2.
Regards,
Omar.-
Still only a beta so I imagine a lot fo the bugs will be fixed. I have been running this for a week now with two installs and both of them are rendering sites that are built without tables using DIVS in a very odd manner by stretching them accross the entire site. That’s easily fixable (probbaly) but the chief worry here is that they dont fix it and once AGAIN we now have to build any new sites to fit the technology of this new browser… that opens a can of worms. I really hope its a bug and thats all.
Nothing compares to Opera