Internet Explorer 8 Beta to begin later this year

  One of the members of thehotfix.net forums confirmed that he received a mail from Microsoft saying that the Beta version Internet explorer 8 would be released later this year along with Windows Vista SP1.There is no information on when the exact date would be. However, since mainstream support for XP doesn't end until April 2009 Microsoft will support IE 8 to Windows XP users.

But in the same way that IE 7 was released, there will be 2 versions: one that is built on the security settings of Vista, and the other one on the settings of XP SP2 or SP3.So it will be a good news for all the Windows XP users who can also use Internet Explorer 8.More information will be provided when available!!!

Windows Internet Explorer 7 MUI Pack

Internet Explorer 7 MultiLanguage User Interface (MUI) has been designed to make everyday tasks easier, provide dynamic security protection and improve the development platform and manageability. End user improvements include a streamlined interface, tabbed browsing, printing advances, improved search functionality, instant feeds (RSS), dynamic security protection, and more. When installed on the English version of Windows, MUI allows the user interface language of the browser to be changed according to the preferences of individual users to one of the following supported languages: Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish.

Download for: XP SP2 | Windows 64 bit Client/Server | Windows Server 2003 IA64 | Windows Server 2003 SP1
News source: Microsoft

Microsoft Feeds Plus

Microsoft Feeds Plus is an Internet Explorer 7 add-on for Windows XP/2003/Vista that makes your feed reading experience easy and efficient. You can read your feeds in a combined view (aggregate feeds) and get pop-up notifications when there are new items to read.

This add on was developed by members of the IE RSS team at Microsoft. Note that Feeds Plus is not an official product and hence is not supported by Microsoft.

Combine feed view

Desktop Alerts

Install Feeds Plus

Microsoft sends out IE8 Feature Survey E-mail

Microsoft sends out IE8 Feature Survey E-mail
IE8 Feature Survey is Now Available to all Tech Beta participants

Microsoft has sent out an e-mail entitled “IE8 Feature Survey is Now Available!” to all Tech Beta participants. The company has emphasized that the e-mail has been sent out to many but that a smaller group will be doing the hands-on testing of the new release. The e-mail states that Microsoft is in the “planning phase” which could mean anything from being at the drawing board or at the point where the software giant is simply interested in adding on features. Microsoft asks for “which customizations and performance scenarios need to be improved upon in IE8.” The 59-question survey hosted at Microsoft's Connect website is curious in everyone’s favorites and RSS usage, going as far as requesting for exported versions. A screenshot of the user’s customized primary browser, not necessarily Internet Explorer, is also welcome.


59-question survey hosted at Microsoft's Connect

Windows Vista, Longhorn Server and IE 7 Beta Test Reboot

Testers who responded to the Microsoft call up to be re-included into the Windows Longhorn Server beta test have been notified that the test has been "restarted" under the old name "Windows Vista, Longhorn Server and IE 7 Beta"

The latest build, Windows Longhorn Server 6001-16406-061208-1900 for X86 and X64 is available for download and testing. As of yet there is still no final designation for the server version but we'd still like to speculate that it will end up as Windows Server 2007 seeing as Microsoft already made it clear when Windows Server 2003 was released that it intended to stay with the "Windows Server" branding.

Windows Longhorn Server didn't receive much attention at the Consumer Electronic Show, it was shadowed by Windows Vista and the Windows Home Server announcement, hopefully this will change when WinHEC hits later this year in LA.

Link: Connect

Internet Explorer 8.0

You may get to have a look at the future of the Internet Explorer browser sooner than you might think. Although Microsoft is currently lagging behind Mozilla that has introduced Firefox 3.0 Gran Paradiso since early December 2006, third party sources confirm that the next version of Internet Explorer is already cooking in the Redmond labs.

Internet Explorer 8.0 will be introduced at MIX 07, at the Venitian Hotel in Las Vegas between April 30 and May 2. One of the sessions at MIX 07 is addressed to designers and developers and is entitled: “First Look at the Future of IE.”

And if there is any doubt that the future of Internet Explorer is synonymous with IE 8.0, then here is the description of the session: “Hear what Microsoft's browser investments mean to you, and make sure you get a voice in shaping the next version of Internet Explorer. Hear about what features and layout issues are being worked on, and let us know what causes you the most problems.”

At the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft has confirmed that the development of Internet Explorer 8.0 has already debuted. Coincidentally, at MIX 06, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates promised that releases of Internet Explorer will be separated by 9 to 12 months maximum. In this context, Internet Explorer 8.0 should be launched towards the final quarter of 2008.

However, the Microsoft representative at CES 2007 pointed out to a period of 18 to 24 months until Internet Explorer 8.0 hits the market. Additionally, speculations reveal that Microsoft will not release an interim Internet Explorer version 7.x, but will rather concentrate its efforts on the development of IE8.

Another interesting supposition regarding IE 8 states that an alpha edition of Internet Explorer 8 has already been deployed in-house at Microsoft.