internet-explorer posts

Filed under: Fun, Internet, Microsoft, Browsers, Humor

Microsoft offers a cough totally unbiased comparison of the Big 3 browsers

by Lee Mathews Jun 18th 2009

Oh Microsoft, you and your wacky propoganda!

Yes, we know that Internet Explorer 8 isn't the same steaming pile of dung that past versions have been. Yes, we know it has some neat features like accelerators and InPrivate filtering. But we really had no idea that you had such a great sense of humor!

If you haven't seen the now infamous chart (and you likely have, thanks to Reddit), it's well worth a look. Don't go looking for any real world data to back things up though. There are no screenshots, nothing on the chart is linked to anything else, and the "mythbusting" page points only to two malware studies and the IE8 add-ons gallery.

There are, of course, some valid points - other browsers lacking enterprise tools, for example. The rest of it, well, you tell me. What do you think of the points they make?

My personal favorite: the Firefox add-ons I'd want to download are already built in to IE8. You know, like my three must haves - LastPass, Weave, and Greasemonkey. Oh wait, no...No, none of that functionality is built in.

I do like the little green checkmarks, Microsoft. They suuuuure are purty!

Tags: browsers, humor, internet-explorer, propoganda

Filed under: OS Updates, Microsoft

EU get its wish: Microsoft to ship Internet Explorer-free Windows 7

by Lee Mathews Jun 11th 2009

Holy about faces, Batman!

Credit yet another Microsoft-related leak with some truly interesting Windows 7 news. The EU is going to get their wish, and Microsoft will make special OEM and retail versions of Windows 7 available that are totally Internet Explorer free.

Here's the meaty part of the memo:

"Microsoft will offer IE8 separately and free of charge and will make it easy and convenient for PC manufacturers to preinstall IE 8 on Windows 7 machines in Europe if they so choose. PC manufacturers may choose to install an alternative browser instead of IE 8, and has always been the case, they may install multiple browsers if they wish."

Which means we probably haven't heard the last of the shouting just yet. It'll just be about unfairly leaning on manufacturers who decide to include Internet Explorer - even though they might choose to do so of their own free will. After all, a big portion of the general computer-purchasing public still doesn't know what the heck a Firefox is.

[via CNet]

Tags: eu, internet-explorer, windows-7

Filed under: Internet, Microsoft, Browsers

IE8's new session feature allows multiple logins to web apps

by Lee Mathews May 8th 2009

Internet Explorer has certainly come a long way since version 6. While I'm not running it as my primary browser, IE8 is a big improvement and sport a number of very useful features.

One that was touted yesterday on the IEBlog was the ability to access more than one webmail account (or any other account that utilizes sessions). Head to the file menu and click New Session and IE8 will spawn a new window that doesn't share session information with the original window.

To launch a new window from a shortcut, just add the -nomerge parameter to the end of the target on its properties page. Double click it, and the new window will open free of any baggage from previously launched instances of IE.

Tags: ie8, internet-explorer

Filed under: Internet, OS Updates, Microsoft

Dogpile on Microsoft! Adobe, IBM, Oracle join EU anti-trust case

by Lee Mathews Apr 16th 2009

Are you kidding me? Did a whole group of major companies just jump in to the Microsoft-EU brawl?

Yep. Adobe, Oracle, Sun, Corel, and RealNetworks - who are members of the European Committee for Interoperable Systems - have joined up with Mozilla, Opera, Google, and the Free Software Foundation Europe in the fight to prove that consumers are too stupid to make their own choices.

Thomas Vinje, spokesman for the ECIS, said "This is an important case to ensure that browsers can compete on the merits and that consumers have a true choice in the software they use to access the World Wide Web." That's odd. I'm pretty sure that I just finished installing Windows on my wife's laptop and used IE to download the Firefox installer so I could exercise my "true choice."

And what about other software, Thomas? Wordpad in Windows 7 is pretty sweet. Is Corel going to cry foul over that one, too? Windows 7 can even burn ISO images, so perhaps Ahead Software should sue?

And what about other companies, Thomas? No one is lining up to harangue Apple about Safari on OSX. No one wants to take on Dell or Acer for bundling McAfee's antivirus software on all the PCs they ship. Heck, maybe Google should have to suggest Opera, Firefox, Maxthon, and Safari in addition to Chrome!

Pointing fingers at big, bad Microsoft is much easier to justify - and a lot more profitable. Though I'm sure everyone involved is really much more concerned about consumers being able to make informed choices than lining their pocketbooks. Mmm hmm.

(and yes, that is a scrum - not an actual dogpile.)

[via PC World]

Tags: antitrust, EU, internet-explorer

Filed under: Windows, Microsoft, Browsers

Microsoft to push Internet Explorer 8 through automatic update

by Brad Linder Apr 10th 2009

It's a week or so since Microsoft started sending out Internet Explorer 8 through Windows Automatic Updates for customers who installed early beta versions of the browser. But now the company is preparing to start pushing the update to users who still have older browsers including Internet Explorer 7 or 6 installed.

The update should start showing up the third week of April for Windows users running Windows XP, Vista, or Windows Server 2003 or 2008. Microsoft is planning a phased rollout, so you might not get the update right away. Of course, you can always just download and install the browser yourself if you don't feel like waiting.

But what if you don't want the new browser? First, IE8 will automatically be downloaded through Windows Update, but it won't automatically install itself on your system. You'll see a prompt asking if you want to install the browser.

You can also install a blocker tool that will prevent Windows from automatically downloading Internet Explorer 8 if you want to hold off on installing the browser indefinitely.

[via ZDNet]

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

Filed under: Developer, Microsoft, Browsers

Someone out there wants to save IE6

by Jay Hathaway Apr 2nd 2009

Jason recently wrote on Download Squad about a Facebook group aimed at eliminating Internet Explorer 6 from the web, and Lee even found a script that reminds IE6 users to upgrade when they visit your site. Not everyone is ready to let IE6 go, though. Just ask the folks behind Save IE6, a site dedicated to the preservation of this "powerful and versatile" browser.

Save IE6 features a petition (signed by around 450 people when I checked), quotes from satisfied users, and links to download the browser. Funnily enough, some of the people in favor of keeping IE6 around are web developers, the very group that has been most vocal about being inconvenienced by Microsoft's older model. I'm not sure I buy the "how can IE6 be violating standards when it has essentially BEEN the standard for years?" argument. After all, standards change, and standards have seemingly passed IE6 by.

Updated: Ha! They totally got me. I knew this idea was crazy, but I didn't catch that it was also a really good April Fools' Joke, apparently by Pingdom.

What do you think, Download Squad readers? Should IE6 be saved, or is it time to let go?

Tags: browsers, IE6, internet-explorer, Microsoft, petition, poll

Filed under: Windows, Microsoft, Mozilla, Freeware, Open Source

Bring Down IE6

by Jason Clarke Mar 22nd 2009

I'm not really one for joining causes online (Facebook has rid me of any desire for that), but as far as geeky technical causes go, Bring Down IE6 by the folks at .NET Magazine is a good one. Internet Explorer 6 is the bane of pretty much every web designer or developer's existence. Things that work beautifully in all of the standards-compliant browsers (and even for the most part in modern versions of IE) require time-consuming and painful work-arounds just to get them sort of working.

The frustrating thing is that if Microsoft wanted to do something about the situation to ease the pain of the countless numbers of people building websites, they have it in their power to do so. The problem for web developers is that IE6 is still used by a frighteningly large percentage of people online. How can this be? Well, many unfortunate corporate workers are stuck using Windows 2000, and do not have permission to install or even use a portable version of a standards-compliant alternative browser like Firefox. These people are using IE6 because it is the only option available to them.

As much as Microsoft would like to force everyone to upgrade to XP / Vista / Windows 7, the truth is that for many companies, the Windows 2000 licenses that they already own work just fine for their needs.

What Microsoft should do is acknowledge that Windows 2000 is still being actively used, and make later versions of Internet Explorer available as an update for Windows 2000. Yes, I realize that Windows 2000 is no longer an officially supported platform by Microsoft, but that just points to the disconnect between what Microsoft wishes people would do, and what they are actually doing.

Also, if you're in IT at a company that is still clinging to Windows 2000, for the love of all that is good, please add a modern browser to your standard install image. They're free, and they're a hell of a lot more secure than IE6 is. Pick one; Firefox, Opera, Safari, or even Google's ~~currently-in-beta~~ Chrome browser. Any of these is a better choice than IE6.

And if you're a web developer, consider using a simple script to provide a gentle reminder to IE6 users that they need to upgrade.

Let's all let IE6 die the death it so richly deserves.

Tags: firefox, ie6, internet-explorer, microsoft, modern-browser, opera, safari, windows-2000

Filed under: Internet, Security, Browsers

Safari hacked in a flash at Pwn2Own 2009, Firefox and IE8 follow

by Lee Mathews Mar 19th 2009

Security pro Charlie Miller came in to Pwn2Own 2009 with a plan, and things unfolded exactly the way he wanted them to. Within seconds of the competition's start, he had already gained control over the fully-patched MacBook running Apple's Safari web browser.

"It took a couple of seconds. They clicked on the link and I took control of the machine," said Miller. It's safe to say that when Apple proclaimed Safari "the fastest browser on the planet," that they weren't referring to how soon it would fail at the competition.

None of the three browsers on display made it out unscathed: a competitor known only as Nils was the next to overcome Safari, and he later took down Firefox and Internet Explorer 8. It's an important reminder to all of us that - regardless of what browser we're using - someone out there is hard at working looking for an exploit that could put us at risk, too.
[via ZDnet]

Tags: exploit, firefox, hacking, internet-explorer, safari, security, web-browsers

Filed under: Windows, Microsoft, Browsers

Internet Explorer 8 coming today

by Brad Linder Mar 19th 2009

More than a year after releasing the first public beta of Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft plans to give the browser a good and proper launching today at noon EDT. You'll be able to download the browser from the IE8 page at that time. Right now clicking the download link will get you Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate 1.

Here are a few of the new features that Internet Explorer 8 offers:

Accelerators that make web-based services available through a right-click context menu. For instance, you can click on a word or phrase and map it or email it.
Web slices provide information from web sites like Wikipedia or Digg available in little pop up windows that you can check out without navigating away from the page you're on.
Improved search box features including visual previews and "quick pick" search engine selection.

You can find some of our favorite tips and tricks for making Internet Explorer 8 even more useful in our Pimp Internet Explorer series.

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

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Beta

Windows 7 will let you turn most apps on or off

by Brad Linder Mar 6th 2009

The other day we saw a leaked screenshot of a build of Windows 7 that lets you turn off Internet Explorer. Now Microsoft is not only confirming that Windows 7 will be the first version of Windows in years to let you disable the built in web browser -- but you'll be able to turn most major components on or off. That list includes, but is not limited to:

Windows Media Player
Windows Media Center
Windows DVD Maker
Internet Explorer 8
Windows Search
Handwriting Recognition
Windows Gadgets

In other words, if you'd rather use VLC, Firefox, and Media Portal as your primary media, web browser, and media center apps, you'll be able to do that without dedicating any system resources for the Windows versions of those apps.

Tags: internet-explorer, windows-7, windows-media-player

Filed under: OS Updates, Microsoft, Beta, Browsers

Hey, EU! Internet Explorer now uninstallable in Windows 7

by Lee Mathews Mar 4th 2009

While it's not likely to placate those who are out for browser blood, Microsoft has taken steps toward pacifying the European Union in the latest RC builds of Windows 7.

As you can see in the updated Windows Features screen captured by AeroXperience, Internet Explorer 8 can now be removed just like Tablet PC support or Chess Titans. Unlike older versions of Windows where stripping IE with a tool like NLite usually caused some kind of headache down the road, Windows 7 appears to plug along just fine after removing the executable.

What the ultimate solution will look like remains to be seen. Some outlets still like to suggest that Microsoft would actually have to ship Windows with other browsers pre-installed, though a more likely solution would be to offer alternatives for download - for example, through links on the welcome screen.

It's also good news for Google, who have been sweet talking OEMs since late last year in attempts to bundle their browser on new laptop and desktop PCs.

Thanks, Bryant!

Tags: european union, EuropeanUnion, internet-explorer, windows-7

Filed under: Windows, Browsers

Xenocode lets you run Safari, Chrome, Internet Explorer from a flash drive

by Brad Linder Mar 3rd 2009

There have been portable versions of web browsers including Firefox, Google Chrome, and Opera that you can run from a USB flash drive for a while. Basically these apps let you store your data to the flash drive allowing you to run these apps on Windows without installing anything or writing any data to the Windows registry.

Xenocode takes a different approach. And it works with other applications including Safari, Internet Explorer, and other desktop and web-based apps like Google Talk, Gimp, and Adobe Reader. That's because Xenocode employs virtualization techniques that detache an app from the operating system it normally runs on. Xenocode apps can be run from a web browser if they're deployed online. Or you can download a single executable file for some apps and run them from your hard drive or a USB flash drive.

Some of the web browsers are a bit on the old side. The version of Google Chrome available for download is out of date, and Xencode offers an executable version of Safari 3.2.1, not the newer and much cooler Safari 4 beta. But if you're looking for a way to try out a browser or another app without installing it first, Xenocode is worth checking out.

[via Digital Inspiration]

Tags: google-chrome, internet-explorer, portable-applications, portable-apps, safari, web-browsers, xenocode

Filed under: Browsers

Foxmarks brings bookmark synchronization to Safari and IE

by Brad Linder Feb 5th 2009

Foxmarks provides a simple way to keep your Firefox bookmarks synchronized across multiple computers or Firefox profiles. Just install the plugin and any time you add or remove a bookmark from one computer the changes will be reflected on Firefox on any other computer you use. This comes in handy if you want to sync the bookmarks on your home and work computers, or if you have a portable version of Firefox that you keep on a USB flash drive for use while you're traveling, but which you want to keep up to date.

This week the Foxmarks team released tools that let you synchronize your Internet Explorer and Safari bookmarks as well. That means you can sync your IE7 bookmarks at home and work. But it also means you can keep your bookmarks on all three browsers synchronized.

The new tools don't support password synchronization, a feature that Foxmarks added for the Firefox plugin a while back. But it's still a pretty awesome development, especially for anyone who uses Internet Explorer at Work and Firefox at home.

[via Lifehacker]

Tags: bookmarks, foxmarks, internet-explorer, safari, synchronization

Filed under: Internet, Microsoft, Browsers

Internet Explorer market share falling like a ton of bricks

by Brad Linder Feb 2nd 2009

OK, I guess technically a ton of bricks falls at the same speed as a single brick (thanks gravity!), but Internet Explorer is still losing market share is still falling like nobody's business.

Last month, research firm NetApplications reported that Microsoft's share of the web browser market had dropped to 69.77%. Today the number is down to 67.55%. Google Chrome use has apparently picked up a bit, although the browser still has just over 1% of the market. And Firefox continues to pick up new users every month. The browser now represents over 21% of the market. But one of the most interesting factors is the rise of Apple's Safari web browser, which is now used by more than 8% of computer users.

In other words, part of the reason Microsoft is losing its share of the browser market is because there's another company doing exactly the same thing Microsoft does: bundling a web browser with a popular operating system. When I wrote last month that the EU was considering forcing Microsoft to unbundle Internet Explorer from Windows as an antitrus measure, many commenters asked why Apple didn't have to do the same thing with Safari. Perhaps as the market share of OS X and Safari continues to grow, we could see regulators taking a closer look at Apple as well.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

Tags: google-chrome, internet-explorer, safari

Filed under: Features, Microsoft, Browsers, Lists

Pimp Internet Explorer 8 Part 1: plug ins and toolbars

by Lee Mathews Jan 31st 2009

Ok, so Internet Explorer might not be the fastest or most efficient browser around, but there are still massive numbers of people using it - and they want to pimp out their browser, too!

If you're an IE user and have gotten the impression that the only mods you're going to find are horrible smiley toolbars, think again. There are plenty of great extras you can install to personalize your browser - you just have to know where to find them.

Still using IE7? Most of these will work just fine for you, too, with the obvious exceptions of accelerators, slices, and Visual Search.

Plug-Ins and Toolbars

LastPass
Sure, IE can already remember passwords and it's been able to do that for a long time. It's not the most secure setup, however, and if someone gets their hands on your computer all they need is a program like IE PassView from Nirsoft.

LastPass encrypts your password vault and stores it on a remote server. All communications with the server are SSL protected and your data isn't readable by the guys at the other end. Once you've set it up, you only have to remember the password to your LastPass account - the addon automatically handles the rest for you.

On top of that, LastPass can also create strong passwords for you and automatically fill forms. It's a must have.

Tags: addons, internet-explorer

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

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