Internet Explorer 9: A first look at the beta
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Available for download
Available for download
The beta version of Internet Explorer 9 is now available for download. In this Photo Gallery, TechRepublic takes a first look at Microsoft’s latest Web browser.
Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.
A beautiful Web
A beautiful Web
Microsoft is couching this version of IE as a way to a more beautiful Web. My surfing habits tend toward more efficient browsing rather than more graphic intensive browsing, so I am a little ambivalent about these claims.
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Restart the PC
Restart the PC
When the installation is complete, restart to complete the process.
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Remember IE8
Remember IE8
Just for comparison purposes, here is what my workstation install of Internet Explorer 8 looks like. Note the toolbars.
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First loaded page
First loaded page
My Yahoo looks to be about the same except for the missing ad. I don’t know why this ad is missing, but, as you’ll see later, it does not appear to be Internet Explorer’s fault.
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Favorites button
Favorites button
While the button for favorites has moved, what it does is very similar to IE8.
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Minimalistic design
Minimalistic design
IE 9, at least until I load them, has no toolbar anymore.
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Tools button - Print
Tools button - Print
The tools button on the right side contains the usual controls. In this case, you have your basic print options.
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Tools - file
Tools - file
The file section of the tools button has some the primary file controls on it. Notice the Add to Start Menu item. Microsoft has given IE 9 capabilities that treat Web sites like an application from the perspective of the start menu and taskbar.
Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.
Tools - zoom
Tools - zoom
You can zoom in and out as needed.
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Tools - safety
Tools - safety
There are more privacy options in IE 9 – an area that we will explore more closely in the future.
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View downloads
View downloads
Internet Explorer 9 will not track your downloads for you.
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Manage Add-ons
Manage Add-ons
And IE 9 will manage your add-ons too. Looking at the list, I guess I did have a few add-ons after all.
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Development tools
Development tools
IE 9 has added some developer tools.
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GPU acceleration
GPU acceleration
However, there is one difference that Microsoft is emphasizing – GPU acceleration. Unfortunately, my test machine is a netbook with an integrated graphics chip that does not meet the requirements.
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Send an issue report
Send an issue report
Being a beta version, Microsoft would like you to provide them with feedback. But you’ll need a Windows Live ID.
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Menu - file
Menu - file
The file section off the menu is more extensive than the file section we saw off of the tools button. I changed my Internet connection so now I get the lovely ad I was missing.
Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.
Menu - tools
Menu - tools
The tools selection off of the menu is also extensive. IE 9 can revert to a compatibility mode if need be.
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Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American has one of the Web sites Microsoft is citing as an example of what you can do with Internet Explorer 9.
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Famous brains
Famous brains
Click the Famous Brains section and you can choose a famous brain and drag and drop it into the section below.
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Fancy interface
Fancy interface
When you run the mashup you get this swirling display. Now, this is where my efficiency sensibilities come into play. While the display is pretty to look at, I am not convinced this is a better experience. For example, if I want to click a specific image, I have to chase it around the screen as it swirls – why?
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IMDb Panorama
IMDb Panorama
The IMDb example is a little more practical – I like the higher resolution images and the flow of the images across the screen.
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Play a movie trailer
Play a movie trailer
The movie trailer looks good.
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Pin to taskbar
Pin to taskbar
You can drag and drop Web pages from your browser window onto the taskbar to pin them there. I do like that idea – instead of opening a browser then navigating to a particular Web site, you can pin a site to the taskbar and get there in one click.
Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.
