Internet Explorer has been a longtime core component of the Windows OS. With Windows 7 comes the improved Internet Explorer 8. Microsoft proclaims IE8 to be a quicker and more stable browser than IE7. With the addition of extras such as: Accelerators, InPrivate Browsing, Web Slices, Recovery and SmartScreen Filtering, Microsoft has taken their web browser and made it even better. We will take a look at these new features and explain how they work and how to use them.
With very little changes in appearance, IE8 should make the “learning-curve” a very short one. Speed and reliability seems to have improved since the beta version of IE8 & IE7. I would often experience freezing and slow response times when multiple web pages were open in the earlier stages of the new browser. It appears that these issues have been resolved.
Accelerators
A new feature in IE8, Accelerators allows a user to select a word, phrase or address and bring up a program or website that will give the user more options related to that specific task. For example, let’s say I am browsing a web page and see the words Philadelphia, PA, and I would like to know where it’s located. I could highlight the city and state and a blue Accelerator icon will appear. After clicking on the icon, you will be given Accelerator options and clicking on the Map with Live Searchoption will take you directly to the map application and will locate the city and state using Live Search. Another useful application for an Accelerator would be when you run across a word that you don’t recognize. You could highlight the word and use an Accelerator to look up the word in a dictionary. Other examples of uses for Accelerators include: blogging, email, search and translators as well as additional Accelerators that can be downloaded.
Accelerator Icon
InPrivate Browsing
One of the nicest features that can now be found in IE8 is InPrivate Browsing. InPrivate browsing gives the user a web browsing window that clears its history and cannot be tracked. This can be turned on by clicking on Safety then InPrivate Browsing or Ctrl+Shift+P. A new InPrivate window will open and the previous browsing window will continue running in the background.
InPrivate Browsing
Tip: Keep in mind that InPrivate browsing will not keep web history from being seen by network administrators.
Web Slices
Web Slices is another useful tool integrated into IE8. This extra will allow a user to select a “Slice” of a web page and subscribe to that portion and it will be updated automatically. One example of this would be to use a Web Slice to keep updated on the headline section of a website. Web Slices will usually be signified by a green icon. Clicking on this icon and choosing Add to Favorites Bar will subscribe the user to that Web Slice.
Web Slices
How Do I know if there is a Web Slice available on a website I frequent?
When a Web Slice is available on a web page that you are currently on, you will see the Web Slice button (located on the IE8 Command Bar) highlighted in green. You will also notice the Web Slice button next to the object that can be subscribed to.
SmartScreen Filter
The SmartScreen Filteris the improved Phishing Filter that was in IE7. It can be turned on and left constantly running to check every website that is visited or can be turned off, but accessed to check specific websites by clicking Safety->SmartScreen Filter->Check this Website.
SmartScreen Filter
Crash Recovery
Crash recovery can be a big help, especially so in the early days of IE8, when crashing was a normal occurrence. If IE8 stops responding and crashes, you will be given the option to pick up where the last browsing session had left off.
Overall, IE8 seems to be getting where it needs to be to continue to compete with the likes of Firefox, Opera, Chrome and Safari in terms of add-ons and speed. When it comes to security, IE8 still leads the pack as the most secure browser available. Will you be making the switch to IE8 if you are currently using another browser?
