Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 Is Out For Download

[Saint_Michael 3]

Download Here

It passed the Acid 2 Test, and although it did better then IE6 or IE7 in the acide 3 test 17/100 is still pretty bad. Strangely enough though, Internet explorer has destroy several sites, such as trap when trying to post a new top, and alignment issues in yahoo and even in part's of Microsoft's website. But to give you an actual taste I break the browser in several key points to see what Internet Explorer 8 team need to fix before final release.

Look

Nothing has change really, added some things like the rendering mode which at this point is only rendered for IE7 look. However, the problem with that in order to switch from IE8 to IE7 is to close out windows and then restart it which really sucks, and hopefully they change in later beta's and the final version. As that is quite annoying to have to go through that and it would be more efficient to refresh the rendering modes then to do that lame method. The did change the look for the IE add-on's section, and basically not to keen on the fact that you can't install from there with a mini web page to the add-on's for internet Explorer instead of installing them first then organize it from the add-on tool's section.

Features

They got some new stuff added to Internet Explorer such as webslices and activities, please refer to their white sheet's on more info about them by clicking their links.

Another feature I found interesting is that they have a built in content advisor which basically locks children out to those suggestive websites, you options for porn, beer, drugs, fear, weapons, language and all that good stuff. Slight correct the content advisor been there since IE6 just a new and improved look, but of course you can't modify them and so your you stuck with adding even more website to block list. However, it does cut out a lot of stuff as I gave it a test run and with everything set to limited I get prompted abotu the rating system that is has, and of course in order to see the content you need the password. So it would seem that the school's and businesses will have better control on how to block websites on their computer systems. So that means regardless if you use a proxy server to get pass the school blocks Internet explorer will finish that blocking off, and so that means no more myspace at school .

The next new feature is the developer tools, and this where it got interesting as this is where you can refresh the compatibility mode from Quirks/IE 5, IE 7, and IE 8, and so that solves the previous situation I mentioned above, but I rather have it up front then have to do all that clicking. So you can see what your website will look like in three different IE versions, but when it comes to rendering they have some problems.


Rendering

Although they pass the acid test they have much to clean up, I went to sight were javascipts didn't work, CSS hover property didn't work, alignment issues, ajax issues. Now granted they are using "CSS2" stuff but still I have to go into quirks mode just ot see yahoo map's properly and that tells you a lot right there. So yeah they have a lot of work in the rendering area and I will be disappointed because of the topic I made about they are fixing that, but I give it a few beta's before these issues are fix.

Misc.

first thing I check was how much Memory IE 8 uses, and sadly to say it is huge, in just 4 tabs I was well over 20MB of memory used up, and so put 2 and 2 together and you will see how vista users will really need to beef up their machines. Let see they also copied Opera's speed dial set up, big shocker there. All in all they have plenty of work to do and if they plan to put out a final version this year, it will be some bad day's for Microsoft, and besides who knows the security holes that IE 8 with lal that rendering modes in them what not. Of course I think what would help Internet Explorer out would be the ability to skin it like firefox to make it less bland and stuff.

[jlhaslip 4]

For the record, IE8 has problems here on the Xisto.

I downloaded it and installed it just fine.

Then, when I navigate to the Xisto, I sign-in and need to sign-in on every page. What's with that???

 

and as for being Standards Copliant, I don't think so...

 

 

That is no where near compliant with the standards. This is supposed to look like a smilie face?

 

I'll be un-installing and going back to IE7 until they sort this mess out.

 

As usual, Microsoft is jumping the gun... When Mozilla, Opera and Safari release new versions, they work out of the box...

[Plenoptic 0]

Beta testing of Internet Explorer to me is not a good idea since there always seems to be problems. I will just wait until it all is fixed and ready to be downloaded or maybe I will not download it at all. I only have IE 7 now on this computer because it came with it as I still have IE 6 on my desktop computer. Looks like Microsoft has a bit of work to do.

[Inhuman 0]

Ugh, and I thought IE7 was horrible. I downloaded it on my desktop and it got messed up so bad that you had to close it with the task manager. Avant is a good shell program for IE, but even then it's still pretty...um...lame. The folks that do Firefox know what the hell they're doing. At least I know it's gonna work, where as Microsoft tends to leave me disappointed. (Case and point: Vista. Not user friendly) Normally beta testing would seem fun (or even reporting board update glitches) but IE8 seems like a hassle. I think I'll stick with FF and use IE7 as back up when necessary.

[truefusion 3]

Although they pass the acid test...

Mind posting a screenshot of that? I mean, jlhaslip has proof that it doesn't. Even if the software is in beta, the official IE blog said that it passed it, so there should have been no reason for IE8 to not pass the acid test. Did they not check before they released the beta? That's what it appears to be. Either that or

...I have to go into quirks mode just ot see yahoo map's properly

Perhaps there's something that needs to be enabled that the IE developers aren't telling us?

[Saint_Michael 3]

Sorry to say haslip I think you got your Internet Explorer's confused, unless you switch the rendering engine because that is IE 7 look, and to prove that the ACID test is passed here is an image I took.

 

 

That is Internet Explorer 8 shockingly enough.

Edited March 6, 2008 by Saint_Michael (see edit history)

[demank 0]

I just using IE7.In the past time, I always use firefox.IE7 with IEPro, look great..IE8 is coming out? I still do not want to try it.,

[sonesay 7]

Its ashame they do not allow IE to run on other operating systems, I really find the time needed to load up IE7 or 8 on my PC so annoying. I have a legit windows so upgrading isn't an issue its just having two machines on is. If IE8 does turn out to be very good in CSS compliant then that will make life a lot easier for us trying to code for both IE and Firefox.

[jlhaslip 4]

SM, after you posted that image, I had another look and confirm that I was, in fact, using IE8 and not IE7. If you want, I can post an image showing the Acid Test and the IE About Information for my fres install. Definately was IE8 that showed that Acid Test.Only thing is I am running XP. Are you on Vista?

[FLaKes 0]

I have begun to hate html now that I have to support IE6, IE7 and standards compliant browser. It has begun to be a serious pain in the butt to make different styles, well actually workarounds in order for a site to look the same in different browsers. I am going to have to go back to flash, and maybe even try silverlight, as those will always look the same in any os that uses flash and will actually look nicer. The new phones that are coming out can even run flash apps, so there is no big deal o that either. Most internet connections are broadband now.... so I really dont see any advantages in using xhtml anymore, I really feel like quitting on it.

[delivi 0]

I downloaded the VirtualPC image of IE8 from Microsoft and tested it, this is what I got when I ran the ACID2 test.

 

 

I think that jlhaslip ran the ACID2 test in IE7 Emulation mode.

 

IE8 beta has a lot more bugs and doesn't display the Sites as Firefox or Opera does, the pages get screwed up , but its not that bad. we'll have to wait for the final stable release of IE8 to comment further on it.

 

We can help IE8 to get better by reporting any errors or bugs we see to MS.

[jlhaslip 4]

And was everyone aware that there is a new Acid Test out?

The new test is here: http://acid3.acidtests.org/

XP sp2

IE8 scored 17/100, IE7 mode in IE8 scored 13/100,
saf 3.0.4 (win) scored 39/100,
Opera 9.26 46/100,
FF2 scored 52/100,
FF3scored 61/100.

And here is a link to a page listing the results people are getting on different browsers. Looks like no-one is passing, but the WebKit Browser seems to be doing the best.

http://www.web-graphics.com/

[goldtupac 0]

I have internet explorer but i use Firefox and to me it seems a way better web browser. In Firefox you get new tabs and options to get a better experience without having problems. But internet explorer is on version number 8 now and they still dont have as much options as Firefox.

[A200 0]

And was everyone aware that there is a new Acid Test out?
The new test is here: http://acid3.acidtests.org/

XP sp2


And here is a link to a page listing the results people are getting on different browsers. Looks like no-one is passing, but the WebKit Browser seems to be doing the best.

http://www.web-graphics.com/

My firefox failed that test as well

[demank 0]

IE8 is ready download for web developer test.I hope each test is finalizing soon by microsoft team.I really wait for this IE8.For this time., i like microsoft software and all about microsoft. Its great.,