IE 8 and Windows 7 RC-Beta Mashups
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News Analysis. Microsoft gives and gives more. On Jan. 23, the company extended the download availability of Windows 7 Beta 1. Today, Jan. 26, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate 1. But the two shall never meet. |
Since I'll spend less time writing about Windows 7, it's first news. Originally, Microsoft planned to allow only 2.5 million downloads of Windows 7 Beta 1. But almost immediately, Microsoft removed the cap and extended downloads of Windows 7 Beta 1 until Jan. 24, which was also the 25th anniversary of the Apple Macintosh. There's a new download cutoff: Feb. 10.
In a late Jan. 23 post on the Windows 7 Team blog, Brandon LeBlanc explained that:
- Starting tomorrow, Jan. 27, the Windows 7 download page will warn about the ending downloads.
- New downloads will end Feb. 10.
- Partial downloads can be completed through Feb. 12.
- Product activation keys will be available even after Feb 12, so if you've got the ISO you can install the software on more machines.
The extension demonstrates Microsoft's confidence in the beta, or at least after people responded favorably to the software. If I worked for Microsoft, I would have extended the deadline for no other reason than one: Walt Mossberg. The prominent Wall Street Journal technology writer reported a favorable early reaction to Windows 7 Beta 1 in a Jan. 21 column. Walt's column reaches thousands of business decision makers, some of whom surely were asking their IT departments about Windows 7 by the following afternoon. His column was reason enough for Microsoft to extend the download a couple more weeks.
For those testing Windows 7, Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate 1 will be troublesome. The RC is available for Windows XP and Vista, but not for the external Windows 7 beta. Microsoft announced the release candidate around 3 p.m. EST today. On Jan. 23 I spoke with Microsoft's James Pratt about the browser. He described the version in Windows 7 Beta 1 as a "pre-release candidate." Microsoft has already incorporated the RC into internal Windows 7 builds. The public is out of luck, which is an oversight Microsoft should remedy through Windows Update, I say.
Microsoft will distribute the IE 8 release candidate via Windows Update to anyone already running Beta 1 or Beta 2. Everyone else can download the software, which Microsoft is releasing in 25 languages.
In a blog posted this afternoon, IE program manager Jane Maliouta offers helpful hints for installing IE 8 RC1. Among the tips: special instructions about where Beta 1 was installed after Windows XP Service Pack 3 and regarding security hotfixes.
Quick links to some IE 8 RC1 downloads:
- Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista 64-Bit Editions
- Windows XP
- Windows Server 2003 SP2
- Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP 64-Bit Editions
Reminder: Microsoft had previously released a blocker that allows businesses to prevent automatic downloads of IE 8. Now would be a good time to start putting the blocker in place if your business isn't ready for the browser.
Why? The release of IE 8 is coming, and almost certainly within a few months. Today's RC release marks a resumption of schedule. In November 2008, Microsoft delayed the expected IE 8 RC1 until this year. Dean Hachamovitch, Internet Explorer general manager, blogged: "We will release one more public update of IE 8 in the first quarter of 2009, and then follow that up with the final release."
I would call a release candidate something more than just another public beta. Internet Explorer and Windows development tend to closely follow each other, not in lockstep but close enough. I take it as yet another sign that Windows 7 development is proceeding faster than Microsoft is publicly letting on. Like Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Vista, I expect that IE 8 will be released to manufacturing ahead of Windows 7.
The reason for the delay is now apparent. Microsoft has done quite a bit of additional tinkering with IE 8. For example:
- In-Private Filtering replaces In-Private Blocking from IE 8 Beta 2. James demoed this one for me on Friday. I'm impressed, and so sorry that Windows 7 Beta 1 is running on all my computers. Microsoft now gives users granular control over third-party tracking mechanisms—not just tracking cookies. Can you say Java Script and Web beacons? In-Private Filtering works in any browser session, meaning users don't have to go into In-Private Browsing mode. Web beacon blocking would be hugely useful if applied to Web mail or e-mail clients using IE 8 to render HTML.
- Compatibility View List reflects Microsoft's continuing struggle to get out a standards-compatible browser that also is compatible with Web sites coded for older IE versions. The list is a catalog of sites best viewed in IE 8 "compatibility" mode. Instead of users switching to compatibility mode, the browser does that for any site on the View List. Yes, but is there an off feature?
- Search is simply better. Finally, IE has good page search. But what took so damn long?
IE 8 is the most significant upgrade to the browser family in more than a decade—not since IE 4, I say. This is the version you want to download, try and adopt. I faulted Microsoft for IE 7, which improved on Version 6 but also introduced unnecessary complexity and failed to be rightly compatible.
I've long said that Microsoft does its best work when competition is fiercest. Browser competition is fiercer now than during the 1990s browser wars. Why? There's real money to be made from Web search.
Related Posts:
- Did You Get Windows 7?, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 11, 2009
- IE: Inevitable Extinction?, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 2, 2009
- Who Leaked Windows 7?, Microsoft Watch, Dec. 30, 2008
- IE 8 Next Year—and You're Surprised?, Microsoft Watch, Nov. 20, 2008
- Internet Explorer: 8 Times Is a Charm, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 16, 2008
- IE 8 and Chrome Bloatware Wars, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 5, 2008
- IE 8: The Rough Cut, Microsoft Watch, Aug. 27, 2008
Comments (12)
"IE 8 is the most significant upgrade to the browser family in more than a decade"
Joe, what has changed within Microsoft that is now allowing them to make such advancements that they couldn't make before July 25th of 2008?
Come on Joe, you can say it, can't you?
Posted by dannyb | January 26, 2009 3:14 PM
"Search is simply better. Finally, IE has good page search. But what took so damn long?"
I guess that settlement with you know who on July 25,2008 really paid off for Microsoft with their search, unless someone else can tell me where Microsoft suddenly found the technology to be chosen over #1 Google and #2 Yahoo as Verizon's mobile search provider.
http://www.dmnews.com/Verizon-chooses-Microsoft-for-default-search-service/article/123655/
Still not obviuos boys and girls?
Posted by dannyb | January 26, 2009 3:25 PM
"Microsoft still struggles to get out a standards compatible browser that also is compatible with Websites coded for older, less-compatible IE versions."
This is an age old problem only coming to bite Microsoft now. They convinced site owners to code their sites for IE 6 and that is exactly what they have got.
Think about other browsers like Firefox and Opera, they do not have the luxury of being able to fall back to old IE 6 mode. That mode is not documented and full of bugs and gotchas. That is why Opera complained to the EU, IE was forcing all browsers to implement IE 6 mode before they could render sites properly. This is holding back the progress of the web because of IE being a very low common denominator.
The most requested standard features are SVG, Canvas and proper event support. Instead of implementing the features, Microsoft is more interested in implementing DRM'd font rendering than anything developers need to write better websites. IE is still a massive bottleneck to producing a whole new class of websites and web applications.
In other news, IE 8 is not slow, we are just measuring it wrong.
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/01/23/common-issues-in-assessing-browser-performance.aspx
Posted by billybob | January 26, 2009 3:52 PM
@Joe Update blocker?
Pft.... if You own a business and you're not managing your Windows computers through Windows Server Update Services... WSUS
A forced update to I.E 8 is the LEAST of your worries.
And most likely I.E. 8 won't auto update anyways. It's not a critical security update or a service pack.
Posted by Nknow | January 26, 2009 3:53 PM
I remember vividly during the Windows Vista beta, the IE 7 beta for XP was never compatible with Vista, although both were being developed in tandem. IE 7 for XP was RTW before Vista and IE 7 in Vista included advanced features such as Protected Mode.
Posted by Andre Da Costa | January 26, 2009 4:45 PM
@dannyb/I-man/portuno:
what changed at MSFT? IE getting it's lunch handed to it by Firefox & other browsers. The EU slapping MSFT around.
certainly nothing that involves an insolvent company in Texas & their spurious patents.
Posted by Al | January 26, 2009 5:00 PM
Hi Andre!
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You had us worried. Im pleased to see you back, and with a surprisingly tame post. I enjoy reading your blog, I hope you update soon.
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Right, before we go any further would you mind clearing up the matter that was mentioned here before your impromptu departure?
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The question is this:
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On your blog, you claim not to be attending the PDC 2008(I have a screen dump of that page if you need help finding it) Now on this site:
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http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/152854.asp
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It implies you were there, and you received a review laptop. Since you've always said you are not a Microsoft Shill, Im sure you are keen to clear this matter up.
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I look forward to your response.
Posted by Goblin | January 26, 2009 5:10 PM
Al yes IE was getting it's lunch handed to it by Firefox & other browsers. But you are failing to answer the question on WHERE Microsoft found the technology to advance beyond where they were at. Why don't you get back to the Yahoo board where you can get away with cursing and abusing other posters who are posting about THEIR investments.
IE8 Beta 2 was released IMMEDIATELY after the VCSY settlement. So it was obvious that:
Beta 1 + VCSY's patents = IE8 Beta 2
People like Al "invest" many hours arguing and fighting so that he can continue buying shares of VCSY for pennies as he cons shareholders into selling. That's why our financial markets are in the shape they are, it's the crooks like Al who bleed every penny that they can from honest investors.
Posted by dannyb | January 26, 2009 5:51 PM
@Al
Anti trust had nothing to do with it.
Chrome and Firefox have everything to do with it.
( Mostly Firefox. Firefox IMHO is the best browser on the planet.)
If Anti trust were an Issue MS would untie I.E. from it's OS Code.
Didn't happen. Probably won't happen.
Posted by NKnow | January 26, 2009 5:52 PM
@dannyb:
Yes, but also don't forget. I happened to defecate soon after the VCSY settlement. So it is very obvious that:
VCSY's Patents + My dump = VCSY stock price of $0.02.
Posted by Philosopher | January 26, 2009 10:07 PM
Where did MSFT get the technology? Well, there are actually two rendering engines now in IE. The MSHTML code base that made up IE4-IE7 and now the new rendering engine - it is based on the rendering engine inside of Word. They took the Word engine and did a bunch of work on it. It will give them the ability in IE9, 10, 11 to actually do things like . The problem was that the move to the new rendering engine took all of the developers days. So, think of this as a core release with cool stuff in 9 and 10.
Posted by J | January 26, 2009 11:51 PM
I'm just really bummed because of how unstable IE 8 beta seems. I can't wait to see if they have fixed things in the RC.
Posted by Anonymous Submitter | January 27, 2009 1:37 PM