acushla
07-28-2005, 10:14 AM
I’ve just finished downloading and reading ‘Technology Overview: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Beta 1 for Windows Vista and Windows SP SP2.'
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=718E9B3A-64FE-4A4C-9DDF-57AF0472EAD2&displayLang=en
Anybody who has been a forum member for anything more than a day and a half will know that I am definitely not the ‘go to guy’ when it comes to any technical oriented discussion concerning computers or browsers.
Having said that I thought it would be interesting for me to give my impressions after having read the article.
The first subject that is discussed (at some length) are the security improvements that are now incorporated in IE 7 Beta. Spyware protection, Adware protection and Protection against Data Theft from Fraudulent Web Sites are all highly touted.
As with most of my findings throughout the article, the majority of the ‘new’ features have already been incorporated in one form or the other in other browsers…OPERA, FIREFOX, MAXTHON, to name the three I am most familiar with. As for Spyware and Malware…well those are available as separate programs which by their nature integrate with whatever browser you are using.
The Data Theft of course is referring to 'phishing’, and I know FIREFOX have an add on to warn you of ‘phishing’ sites…and I am fairly certain OPERA has this feature as well.
The authors describe how the tool bar has now been simplified and made smaller…the stop and refresh button are now one and the same (!) and Internet Explorer 7 includes a new Toolbar Search Box…something all three of the browsers I mentioned earlier already have. The developers seem particularly proud of the fact that Internet Explorer 7 beta 1 provides a Delete Browsing History option that provides users with one-click cleanup. I know OPERA has this…and MAXTHON as well…which leads me to conclude that FIREFOX would have it as well.
The first feature I came across which I was not familiar with and so do not know if any other browser has is Shrink-to-Fit Printing As part of Microsoft’s efforts to simplify the common tasks that users perform every day, beta 1 will include enhanced functionality that makes it easier to print out a Web page. Today, apparently, a large number of Web pages do not print out correctly — for instance, the content at the left or right margin is cut off.
By default, the browser will shrink a Web page’s text just enough to ensure that the entire page prints properly, so users will no longer need to cut and paste to a text-editing program. (Yea!)
This seems like a good idea to me…although I cannot recall if I have ever printed out a web page…even if I have saved a number of them either as a document or a bookmark. Still, it is good to know that if I ever did want to print out a page it would do it right.
There is discussion of the new Auto Web Feed Detection for Easy Discovery and Selection of New Feeds …known to you and I as RSS (among others). I know OPERA has this because everytime I go to this website there is a blue RSS notification in the right edge of the address bar.
Finally, there is talk about Platform Enhancements aimed at Web Developers and Application Developers.
CSS improvements, Transparent PNG support and Administration improvements seem to be the three categories discussed…none of which I know anything about…so it will be up to Toe or Sheepeh to comment on this.
So…my conclusion?
My conclusion is if you really want to know what's going on you should read the article for yourself...do not take my word for it.
I will say this: If you are turned on by the fact that the Stop and Refresh button are now one and the same (a true breakthrough in browser design)...then IE 7 Beta was made just for you.
However, for those of us who are not insane, then all I can say is...
Nothing to see here, folks.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=718E9B3A-64FE-4A4C-9DDF-57AF0472EAD2&displayLang=en
Anybody who has been a forum member for anything more than a day and a half will know that I am definitely not the ‘go to guy’ when it comes to any technical oriented discussion concerning computers or browsers.
Having said that I thought it would be interesting for me to give my impressions after having read the article.
The first subject that is discussed (at some length) are the security improvements that are now incorporated in IE 7 Beta. Spyware protection, Adware protection and Protection against Data Theft from Fraudulent Web Sites are all highly touted.
As with most of my findings throughout the article, the majority of the ‘new’ features have already been incorporated in one form or the other in other browsers…OPERA, FIREFOX, MAXTHON, to name the three I am most familiar with. As for Spyware and Malware…well those are available as separate programs which by their nature integrate with whatever browser you are using.
The Data Theft of course is referring to 'phishing’, and I know FIREFOX have an add on to warn you of ‘phishing’ sites…and I am fairly certain OPERA has this feature as well.
The authors describe how the tool bar has now been simplified and made smaller…the stop and refresh button are now one and the same (!) and Internet Explorer 7 includes a new Toolbar Search Box…something all three of the browsers I mentioned earlier already have. The developers seem particularly proud of the fact that Internet Explorer 7 beta 1 provides a Delete Browsing History option that provides users with one-click cleanup. I know OPERA has this…and MAXTHON as well…which leads me to conclude that FIREFOX would have it as well.
The first feature I came across which I was not familiar with and so do not know if any other browser has is Shrink-to-Fit Printing As part of Microsoft’s efforts to simplify the common tasks that users perform every day, beta 1 will include enhanced functionality that makes it easier to print out a Web page. Today, apparently, a large number of Web pages do not print out correctly — for instance, the content at the left or right margin is cut off.
By default, the browser will shrink a Web page’s text just enough to ensure that the entire page prints properly, so users will no longer need to cut and paste to a text-editing program. (Yea!)
This seems like a good idea to me…although I cannot recall if I have ever printed out a web page…even if I have saved a number of them either as a document or a bookmark. Still, it is good to know that if I ever did want to print out a page it would do it right.
There is discussion of the new Auto Web Feed Detection for Easy Discovery and Selection of New Feeds …known to you and I as RSS (among others). I know OPERA has this because everytime I go to this website there is a blue RSS notification in the right edge of the address bar.
Finally, there is talk about Platform Enhancements aimed at Web Developers and Application Developers.
CSS improvements, Transparent PNG support and Administration improvements seem to be the three categories discussed…none of which I know anything about…so it will be up to Toe or Sheepeh to comment on this.
So…my conclusion?
My conclusion is if you really want to know what's going on you should read the article for yourself...do not take my word for it.
I will say this: If you are turned on by the fact that the Stop and Refresh button are now one and the same (a true breakthrough in browser design)...then IE 7 Beta was made just for you.
However, for those of us who are not insane, then all I can say is...
Nothing to see here, folks.