Microsoft launches private beta of Internet Explorer 8

by Brad Linder Feb 24th 2008

Microsoft has sent out a letter to a select group of beta testers offering a chance to participate in a technical preview of Internet Explorer 8 beta 1.

There's not a whole heck of a lot of information about what IE8 will look like, what features it has, or anything else. A few months back we did get word that IE8 passes the Acid2 test, so that's something.

The letter also says that Microsoft is "nearing the launch" of IE8 and will be making it available to the general public. But it doesn't seem likely that you'll be able to install Microsoft's next generation browser before March without an invitation code. The company plans to show it off at MIX '08 in a few weeks, which would imply that they'll be showing off something the general public hasn't seen yet. Probably.

Tags: ie8, internet-explorer, internet-explorer-8

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

CUBSWILLWIN said 1:06PM on 2-24-2008

I'm gonna try it out and see if IE has failed me again. I use trusy opera currently.

CUBSWILLWIN said 1:06PM on 2-24-2008

If you are confused, I am one of the beta testers.

Mondo Apero said 2:43PM on 2-24-2008

"... IE8 passes the Acid2 test"

Not really.

MS has decided to cripple IE8 by making it render like IE7 by default. The website must include a special MS meta tag to make IE8 render in standards-compliant mode.

Microsoft are trying their usual 'divide and conquer' tactic. By setting up a new 'IE7 Standard', which they claim they will support for a long time, they provide no reason for large corporations and users to adopt standards-compliant browsers like Firefox and Opera.

Further reading: http://www.google.com/search?q=ie8+version+targeting

michael said 7:35AM on 2-25-2008

This IS a beta you know. Until it's completely finalized, I don't think it's fair to call IE8 bad before it actually comes out. Anything can change from now to then. Judging an incomplete browser isn't reliable. If site owners really cared about not having to bend over to make their browsers IE-compliant, then they can simply just paste that tag in. It's not like every version of all former IE's are going to go away. Why the hate?

And you're google link shows nothing.

Todd said 5:43PM on 2-24-2008

The move yto make? This a perfect opportunity for Microsoft to put its money where its mouth is and release IE8 under GPL 3.0 to back up their announcement from last week.

If they don't it will prove its all BS

Anyone even remember "Port 25" from like 2005? Not one bte of code has ever come out of there.

Shelleyp said 5:43PM on 2-24-2008

Cubswillwin, if you're a IE8 beta user, can you open the page at http://realtech.burningbird.net? In any of the modes?

kingkool68 said 10:31PM on 2-24-2008

I wish i was an IE8 Beta user. We have a huge site at work that we would really love to check how it renders in the next version with the said meta tag.

michael said 1:08AM on 2-25-2008

I hope people trying out the IE8 beta don't go blabbing about every little issue they meet, and making IE8 look like a stinky browser even before it's out. Sadly, some people take these little things as to how the real IE8 will be like. Though a lot can change from beta to finish.

I'm quite sure IE8 has improved a ton, since MS is known to not really give up that easy.

kh2427165 said 5:31PM on 2-28-2008

thank you

minh said 3:30AM on 3-03-2008

Pls send me the link to download IE8

a.parsi said 7:45AM on 3-03-2008

Hi
I can't enter to microsoft web site.
please give me a direct link to download IE8.

So thanks.

Alex said 12:42PM on 3-04-2008

Very well, I'm french but I love reading your news.
I am impatient to see IE8, I hope that it will be better than IE7 wich is very slow...

Sweetie said 9:04AM on 3-05-2008

sorry ! but how do we download it plz ? ?

Brad Linder said 9:05AM on 3-05-2008

As stated in the article, IE8 is currently in "private" beta, which means there is no public download link yet. But rest assured, as soon as there is one we'll let you know.

turbolader said 6:51PM on 3-05-2008

I wonder if MS will F@#k up IE8 the way they did with Vista. MS never fails to disapoint me, the finally made some good products (2000 & XP, IE6) everything since has been over ambishous but poorly exicuted. You can't make of for crapy software with good intintions and crapy resource hogging GUIs.

a7med_ said 7:59AM on 3-06-2008

Download
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Windows Vista

http://rapidshare.com/files/97429555/IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Window XP

http://rapidshare.com/files/97434956/IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe

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