Surfing the Net with Windows Vista browser
Microsoft has finally released the next generation
operating system, Windows Vista to its world wide customers.
The operating system has introduced many new features.
One of them is the new looking Internet Explorer 7.0.
It is the most significant update since almost 5 years.
Before, we look into its new features let me talk little
about Internet Explorer and its different versions.
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)
Internet Explorer is a web browsing tool which is developed
by the Microsoft since early 1990's. Normally, Web browsing
tools are used to view web pages which are developed
using special language. Like C, C++, a language called
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is used in the web
pages. The browser translates the commands written using
HTML and renders text, elements, accordingly.
Internet explorer Version 3.0 & 4.0
Internet Explorer was not used popularly till version
3.0. The browser 3.0 had the ability to support Cascading
Style Sheets (CSS). This minimized development time
for the web pages. This version also introduced support
for ActiveX controls, Java Applets, etc.
The next version i.e. 4.0 became the first browser
to be integrated to Windows Explorer, a core component
that displays files and folders in the system. The integration
enabled one to view files and folders along with the
web pages on the same window, rather than, opening the
web page in one window, and files and folders in another
window. This integration however led to lot of criticism.
This version of Internet Explorer was included with
Windows 98 operating system, and became the default
browser of Windows Operating System.
Windows 98 Second Edition with IE 5.0
The next version was version 5.0 which was launched
during 1999. This browser was included as a part of
Windows 98 Second Edition. It introduced support for
bi-directional text, ruby characters, XML and XSL. Microsoft
introduced version 5.5 which was included in Windows
ME.
This version came with improved print-preview capabilities,
improved ability to develop high CSS and HTML support
based applications. The next version 6.0 was released
in 2001, just few weeks before Windows XP, and introduced
many new features, which made internet explorer, a popular
web browser.
It included DHTML enhancements, content restricted
inline frames, and partial support of CSS level 1, DOM
level 1 and SMIL 2.0 and also included a new version
of the IEAK, Media bar, Windows Messenger integration,
automatic image resizing, P3P, and a new look-and-feel
which was in parallel with the "Luna" visual
style of Windows XP.
Vista Internet Browser - IE 7.0
Microsoft released version 7.0 in October 2006. This
was the major release after a long gap of 5 years. Microsoft
made it clear that, version 7.0 will be only available
from Windows XP onwards. This means, those who still
having the operating systems older than Windows XP will
not be able to install Internet Explorer 7.0.
This browser mainly intended to defend people from
phishing and prevent them from running malicious software.
The version also included many major bug fixes from
previous versions and enhancements to support the web
standards, improvements in HTML 4.01/CSS 2, Tabbed browsing,
Tab preview and management, multiple engine search box,
and supports web feeds reader.
Windows Vista browsers- Will Firefox eat IE’s market share
Yesteryears, we saw browser war between Netscape Navigator
and Internet Explorer. Today we may see a new war between
Mozilla’s Firefox and Microsoft’s Internet
Explorer. But, Firefox has already surged ahead quietly
in Browser market. In 2002, Internet Explorer (IE) had
a huge share of about 96%, which has fallen to 85% in
2006 in browser market. Mozilla’s Firefox may
further eat more of IE’s shares, if it finds new
technologies and adapt them in its browser.
IE’ main problem is Security
Microsoft today, faced problems especially in the area
of security for the web browser. Keeping this in mind,
Microsoft has renovated, repaired the IE significantly
in the current version. This version of IE has also
undergone significant repairs and renovations in the
area of security and is more standards compliant. Along
with enhancements to security, as said above, IE has
introduced new features like anti-phishing technology,
RSS support, and also a new approach to the favorites,
bookmarks folder.
Vista with built In IE 7.0
One need to install manually IE 7.0, if one has got
Windows XP. The latest browser will get installed in
the system, by default, if one installs Windows Vista.
Microsoft has said in its website that, IE 7.0 is meant
only for those who have Genuine Windows XP. Microsoft
first checks for genuineness of your copy of Windows
XP before getting the installation files downloaded.
If your Windows XP product is genuine, then you will
be able to download and install the product.
The setup program also checks the genuineness of Windows
XP and then proceeds to check whether you have got Service
Pack 2 installed. One should have both terms satisfied,
to continue installing IE 7.0. Otherwise, the setup
will not continue. Next, the setup will ask the user
if one is willing to check for malware through Windows
Defender beta 2. If one is confident that, he has no
malware in his computer, then he can skip the process
of checking by clicking “No”.
The next step will be of copying Internet Explorer
7.0 and its components into the system. The setup prompts
with a message to reboot the system. The reboot is in
connection with newly added RSS feed engine that allows
IE to render the existing RSS feeds as readable web
pages. After the reboot, one can start Internet Explorer
and make use of it as usual way.
IE 7 with anti-phishing filter
When one runs IE 7.0 for the first time, user will
be greeted by a options screen which allows one to turn
ON the anti-phishing filter, setup various options such
as selecting the default language etc. Once a user sets
these options, you will see IE 7.0 window opened. One
will notice that the window has been redesigned.
One may have mixed feelings about the redesigned design
interface, while looking at first, if has seen the earlier
design. One notable change in the interface is the back
and forward is kept at the top-corner on the left hand
side, with no caption on the back button. This gives
a feeling that the buttons are merged with each other.
The menu bar which contains items “File”,
“Edit” etc. is made hidden by default this
time. They will be visible only when user uses shortcuts
like ALT+F or the mouse. The address bar is moved up
to the same row near back-forward button. One of the
criticisms is that, the refresh button has been moved
next to address bar and is not clearly noticeable.
On the right hand corner of the window of IE 7, there
is a search box, which is called as Internet Search
box. It is designed to search the internet websites
for the information one provide. One can also search
using popular search engines such as Google, AltaVista
or any other popular search engines. By default, the
search box uses Windows Live search as search engine.
From favorites to favorites center
The “favorites” sidebar has been renamed
to “favorites center” and can be accessible
via the standard star icon provided in the tab status
bar. You can now easily add the favorite websites for
further references, by using “add favorites”
icon provided. Along with links to favorite websites,
the favorite’s center also maintains RSS Feeds
and surf history. This makes it even easier to access
RSS feeds whenever needed.
Tabbed browsing
As said above, the browser finally added a new feature
to its list of features in the form of tabbed browsing.
This feature was introduced in Firefox and also in Opera
web browsers, most probably a decade ago. Only one window
is used for viewing multiple websites in tabbed browsing.
The tabs can be re-ordered. Tabbed browsing is most
useful, when one needs to open multiple pages from a
particular web site for viewing.
Adding to this, Microsoft has also introduced Quick
tab view preview. It displays the thumbnails of all
tabs instantly, there by enabling one to find a webpage
quicker than ever before. This feature is similar to
an Apple’s feature known as Expose which allows
one to preview all open windows in the small window
like object and switch to any of them by just clicking
on it.
RSS feed reader client
In IE 7.0, Microsoft has introduced RSS feed reader
client. Microsoft has designed this feature with much
care and from the scratch. This feature treats RSS links
as a fully formatted, AJAX-ish blog site. When the RSS
button is clicked, the browser software checks for any
RSS feed. If it finds one, it opens the feed as a web
page with all the headlines and updates.
Sub-pixel Anti-Aliasing technology
The new version of IE gets its own Sub-pixel Anti-Aliasing
technology. Previously, though the use of ClearType
was common, it was of system dependent. The improved
ClearType technology has resulted in good quality text
display, smooth, sharp and clean look for the text.
This has improved viewing experience. This will benefit
users those who use LCD display devices. One can also
switch off this feature by selecting Tools > Internet
Options > Advanced > Multimedia.
Enhanced printing support
Microsoft is introducing a new feature named enhanced
printing support in IE 7.0. One can resize the page
automatically while printing. If the document is overflowing
in its boundaries, then the browser will make it shrink
and fit into paper. This feature will be liked by people
mostly due to time saving in alignment work, but, at
the same time, could be a problem, if one expects, whatever
remaining area to be printed, on the next page without
shrinking.
More Security in IE 7
As said above, IE 7.0 will be more secured than ever
before. To provide more security Microsoft has gone
back to Windows 3.1 ages, and made IE 7.0 independent
from Windows Explorer. It looks like breaking the integration
of IE with Windows Explorer. In earlier one was able
to convert IE window into Explorer window just by typing
the drive letter followed by path in the address bar
of IE.
Similarly, when one types http followed by web address
in Explorer address bar, the Explorer window gets automatically
converted to IE. This feature will not available in
IE 7.0. Instead of it, an instance window of Explorer
gets opened, when one types in, the drive letter and
the path, instead of converting the IE window into Explorer
window automatically.
Under Vista IE 7 will Run in Protected Mode
In Windows Vista, IE 7.0 will get a new feature to
run in the “Protected Mode”. In this mode,
a program gets its own restricted memory space. In this
mode, the web browser will run with minimal permissions,
which could provide more protection to the system resources
from Trojans, Viruses, and hackers.
Anti-phishing tool shows a big red tab, if one visits
phishing sites. Phishing sites are fake sites, look
and behave like true legitimate site, collect some vital
information such as credit card numbers, passwords and
user ids etc. and provide them to the hacker.
Snake N ladder between the two Vista browsers
IE 7.0 has got many features which are discussed here.
For the time being, it looks like IE 7.0 is trying to
attract back its customers who have been so far using
the Firefox. We need to wait and see who will emerge
as a potential winner in the game of snake N ladder
between the two web browsers. |
