Microsoft has just released a new beta of its Internet Explorer 8 browser. This new version of IE is said to be faster and more user-friendly than its predecessor, IE7. IE8 is packed with new features, including a redesigned interface that makes it easier to navigate. The new tab page lets you quickly access your favorite websites, and the search bar provides quick access to your favorite search engines. IE8 also includes several security enhancements, such as a password manager that stores your passwords in encrypted form. And if you’re worried about online privacy, IE8 offers a variety of tools to help protect your data from prying eyes. If you’re interested in trying out the new Internet Explorer 8 beta, you can download it from Microsoft’s website. ..

Installation:

Keep in mind this is my experience on my work machine running XP Pro SP2, depending on your configuration and OS results may vary

I thought installation would be pretty straight forward. The UI for installation looks exactly like IE 7 which should be familiar. Of course Microsoft makes you update various updates just to install IE 8 even though you may not want to install them. I tried to uncheck the Install updates box and Microsoft insists on protecting myself from myself. Well … I can always remove what I don’t like so … I will continue on.

Uh Oh! If you have Firefox set as your default browser (which I encourage most users to do) IE 8 doesn’t like it! Ok … perhaps installation is not as straight forward as I anticipated.

So, I launched IE 7 and made it my default browser. Which is easy enough but unnecessary in my opinion. Tools Internet Options Programs Make Default.

Well, I had to start the install process all over again just so Microsoft could point me to the wonderful Validation Required page! This update indicates an issue where the language bar crashes on multi-core machines. The machine I am on now is a single core CPU and I already disabled the language bar … but thanks for having my back MS!!!

After all of the validation and downloading the update I get to do another restart! Whooohooo!

Ok, after the restart I get to start the installation process all over AGAIN. Seems to be working … I hope.

Success! Oh … but wait … Another Reboot! Microsoft sure knows how to show me their WOW!

After the Restart it looks like I am finally ready to configure IE 8. I never let Microsoft choose my settings so I am selecting to choose them myself.

On the next screen I am asked about a search provider. Well, Google is currently set up as my current provider, but since this is a review I want to check out what IE 8 is going to offer so I chose a list of other providers.

Next … again as I am curious as to what IE 8 will offer I am selecting to choose a list of activity providers versus the standards.

It appears the initial set up is complete … I will leave the safety monitor on which is enabled by default. If it blocks any legitimate sites you can always add it to Trusted Sites.

Ok … since I wanted to see additional search sites IE 8 popped up the options page which include the usual Web Search engines and a list of various Topic Search sites. There is also still a field to create your own as well.

And here is the list of Activity Providers to add to IE 8.

Here is a look at the IE 8 Beta 1 default user interface. The appearance is quite similar to IE 7 … from my understanding the major changes are not in the looks but the code and security under the hood. I will be covering more of IE 8 Beta 1 in the next coming days.

If you are so inclined to start playing with the new browser it is available for download now.