Internet Explorer 8, to be released in a month or two, will be the next major release of the widely used web browser from Microsoft. After gathering dust for a few years Microsoft updated their ageing browser from version 6 to version 7, because of the stiff competition from the popular open-source rival - Mozilla Firefox.
Although IE7 added some much needed features to Internet Explorer, such as tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, and better security, IE7 was but a hasty release. Internet Explorer 8 would be the first concrete update to Internet Explorer since the advent of Web 2.0. With expectations high and with impending competition from Firefox 3 and Opera 10, Internet Explorer 8 needs to break Microsoft track-record of providing under-whelming product releases.
Here are some of the features that is expected to show up in IE8.
1. Better security: As with most other Microsoft products, security is the number one priority in IE8 . IE8 will not only have an improved popup blocker, but it'll also feature a usuable sandbox mode in which the browser will not have access to any system file. It is also expected to take full advantage of all security features that will included in Vista SP1.
2. Support for standards: Although this may not mean much to consumers, developers will appreciate Microsoft's improved support for standards, and although IE8 will not pass the ACID2 test, it does include an entirely new layout engine and will be the most standard compliant version of IE yet.
3. Support for semantics: One of the most anticipated features of IE8 is its ability to read through webpages and extract structured information. In presence of microformats IE8 will be able to recognize names, adresses, phone numbers, dates, calendar events and a whole lot more. Even without any structured coding, IE8 will be able to extract data from webpages with its new linguitics and semantic analysis. So far Microsoft has revealed that it will use this feature to display relevant information. For example if you are reading a movie review, IE8 might display links in its sidebar to the appropriate Amazon, eBay, and Netflix page, and maybe show you its rating on IMDB and RottenTomatoes. Although this will likely be influenced by Microsoft's partnership deals, if executed properly this could be the feature that will set IE apart from its rivals.
4. Customizability: From early on Internet Explorer hasn't been very customizable. While its rivals gave their users the ability to change the look and feel of their browsers, Microsoft has forced its users to use the default and boring UI for IE. With IE8 this may very well change. Although Microsoft hasn't specifically mentioned skin support, it has mentioned that the browser will be completely customizable and this could only mean support for skins.
Microsoft has so far been rather tight-lipped about IE8, letting only a few details out, however the IE Team has recently posted on its blog that their silence doesn't imply inaction. Great things could be in store for IE8 and hopefully this time around we will get a rock-solid version of Internet Explorer because otherwise, with Firefox and Opera making great improvements to their products, Microsoft will not get a second chance.
