Microsoft Releases Internet Explorer 7 beta for Developer Testing

New whiz-bang IE7 with TABBED Browsing

Published on July 30, 2005 By Sembetu In Windows Software

Microsoft has now released Internet Explorer 7 for developer beta testing. I have it installed, and it is my opinion that it is pretty impressive. It looks sleeker, and it has the most important new feature - TABBED BROWSING!!!. I am very impressed with the performance so far, but I must admit that it does remind me of a cross between Firefox and Opera. In any case, the only other problem I have is that the tools menu is below the tabs, which doesn't really make sense in the general usability/consistency model of microsoft apps in general. Anyway, check it out... it is worth a look.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Jul 30, 2005

Can it be installed on anything short of XP/2003/Vista?

If not, the review is really useless.

SATYROBE

on Jul 31, 2005

For me, this shows some future developments. Theoretically I could join MSN.. and test it. I am no developer. I am wondering though, when and if to install IE 7.0, and Vista is another current separate problem soon for me. So I was glad the link showed what they are working on and what currently is bad like toolbar in subtabs, would have to see that though.

Basically, it sounds as if Vista and IE 7.0 currently would be more of an anticlimax now considering we all by now were forced to get other solutions for, i. e. multitabbing, RSS favorites, customizing and tweaking ur OS. Shame they did not do much of this earlier. Hate to say, as most people might agree to, as long as u use a Microsoft OS in the long run app. updates by other software companies will be based on these new standards. Still a bit early to decide on things, also wonder about backwards compatibility thinking about all the nice old skins and tools we paid so much for in some way. Time will tell anyway.

Must admit I did not understand Dr. Guys comment, he is somebody vital to me, and I am sure everyone around here. Maybe he also means xp/2003 etc. users already have what IE 7beta offers in some form. What OS are u using, Dr. Guy? Excuse my naive newbie question.

Evorg

on Jul 31, 2005

I always enjoy reading about new software thats in Beta testing.
I'm glad hear that the performance has improved.
How does it remind you of a cross between Firefox and Opera? Other than the obvious tabbed browsing.
And have you had a chance to play with the RSS branding yet?

Sembetu

on Jul 31, 2005

Actually, I am running it on Windows XP, and it functions flawlessly. The layout is similar in nature to Opera, but the search function looks like Firefox. That's it for now, I guess.
No RSS studying yet, though.

Dr Guy

on Aug 01, 2005

Must admit I did not understand Dr. Guys comment, he is somebody vital to me, and I am sure everyone around here. Maybe he also means xp/2003 etc. users already have what IE 7beta offers in some form. What OS are u using, Dr. Guy? Excuse my naive newbie question.

It was sumored that IE 7 would not run on anything other the the latest OS, i.e. Xp/2003 and soon vista. If that is the case, then it really is nor worth looking at and Firefox looks that much better. Asd to my OS, everything from 98 to XP, EXCEPT ME!

Sembetu

on Aug 01, 2005

Okay, to qeull all the OS hemming and hawing. I am running Windows XP Pro, and I have my beta of IE7 running beautifully.

skinsmaster2

on Aug 01, 2005

Do i have to pay?

Sembetu

on Aug 01, 2005

There is no fee for IE7, you just need an MSDN subscription... see this link http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/ie7/default.mspx

skinsmaster2

on Aug 01, 2005

I was talking about the subscription for MSDN, does it cost?

SATYROBE

on Aug 01, 2005

my OS, everything from 98 to XP

Think I gotcha now, another point they could be doing wrong. Thanks for answering my ?, for me, currently I use free multitabbing DX browser with autoscroll adjustable to your reading speeds, translator for cyrillic, FTP etc which isnt supported by some programs, then use IE6.0 or Stardock or whatever browsers cause u hear so much about server bugs due to firefox google search queries people are not even aware about while making, glad to hear though that beta isnt full of bugs and Sembetu tested that.

Dr Guy

on Aug 02, 2005

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5813897.html?tag=nl.e589

Not conform to W3C when it is released?

I thought that what the beta testing was for! Getting the bugs out. Seems Microsoft wants to rewrite the rules again.

Sembetu

on Aug 02, 2005

Be careful what you ask for... you just might get it, as this http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/essentials/whatsnew/whatsnew_70_sdk.asp shows.

Better standards, better support, better integration. I am not a MS evangelist either, but I do know the value of consistency.

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