Chicago (IL ) - Today is a red letter day for browsers. Microsoft has unleashed the final version of Internet Explorer 8 (IE8). Designed to counter its declining web usage share with the entire IE brand, IE8 doesn't bring any new features (since it was in beta), but it does put on some speed. The underlying code base which glues everything together has been optimized and tweaked for performance. This speed boost is also coupled to some innovation for end-users. Can this one-two punch make IE8 your new browser of choice?


On several occasions, we have expressed doubts over Microsoft's ability to battle Mozilla, Apple and Opera in terms of features. And today's release of the much anticipated IE8 came as a pleasant surprise. Not only did the software maker reaffirm IE's lead in privacy and security features, but IE8 has also zoomed past rivals in features previously claimed by other browsers.

For example, IE8 includes probably the best tabbed browsing implementation available at this moment. Its souped up address and search bars are now on par with Firefox's and Chrome's, both of whose intelligent address bars double as a search box. Unfortunately, in terms of overall speed, IE8 still loads complex web apps noticeably slower than Chrome, Firefox or Safari -- especially on slower systems.

Address bar:  Clever enough to make Firefox look dumb

IE8's address bar now doubles as a search box -- like in Firefox and Chrome -- but it's way more intelligent. For instance, when you search in Firefox's address bar, you have to precede each query with a custom-defined search engine keyword -- like "g tgdaily" to search for "tgdaily" on Google). If you were to just type "apple safari download" in the address bar, Firefox would greet you with the Page not found error. Why Firefox wouldn't fall back to the default search engine when challenged with invalid URLs is beyond me (Google Toolbar extension fixes this behavior). IE8 is not that dumb - on the contrary! [The refusal of Firefox and others to fall back to a default search engine query may relate to the fact that "page not found errors" are valid, and reporting them is also valid browser behavior. -Editor]

When you type a query in IE8's address field and hit Enter, the browser launches a search using your default search engine. As you start typing in the address field, IE8 auto-populates a drop-down list with top five matches found in your browsing history and favorites -- which are visually separated. Matches include any part of a URL and page titles saved in your browsing history. You can even tell IE8 to check subscribed RSS feeds for matching terms (turn this on in the AutoComplete settings under the Content tab of Internet Options) or have it use Windows Search technology for deeper mining of your history, favorites and RSS feeds.

You can also expand the history and favorites sections in the drop-down list to reveal more than five matches, or even delete individual matches to remove them from your history completely.

I don't know about you, but once I got used to Chrome's all-in-one address and search bar, I just can't live without it -- some resent browsers still have separate address and search fields (Safari, Opera). For those who prefer it old school, IE8 still sports a separate search with quick access to all installed search engines and conveniently integrated Find on This Page feature activated by clicking the Find button in the search field.

There are other cool improvements to IE8's search bar, too. When you type a search term, you can click icons of search providers line up horizontally at the bottom of the results list to quickly check top matches on different search engines without having to visit them. In addition, IE8 will display search suggestions and related terms even if you use other providers besides Google. Finally, IE8's address bar accompany search results with small thumbnails or even headlines, if a search provider relays them to IE8. With these nice touches Microsoft raised the ladder of how search boxes are implemented.

[Editor's note:  In Opera, clicking on a new tab automatically focuses the input box to the address bar. Typing the TAB key once puts focus in the search box. This is one keystroke faster than "g " for a Google search.]

Web Slices and Accelerators:  Two cool-but-doomed proprietary features

Designed to set IE8 apart from its rivals, Web Slices and Accelerators are like web widgets in that they automatically grab snippets of information from pages. On the downside, both use Microsoft proprietary technologies -- meaning they work only with IE8-optimized sites.

With Web Slices, pieces of web content live right in your favorites bar, like book charts on Amazon, stock quotes, or movie listings from the New York Times site. Simply click Web Slice to reveal up to date, visually formatted information from an originating site. If the Web Slices icon in the favorites bar turns green, it means a site you're currently viewing supports the technology. Alternatively, you can browse through Microsoft's gallery of Web Slices here. Sadly, Web Slices you subscribe to line up next to each other instead being organized in a group, meaning they soon fill your favorites bar. [Nice place for a drop-down ribbon? -Editor]

Accelerators leverage third-party online services to deliver mashed content. It's pretty straightforward: Simply select a piece of text on a page, then right click to reveal all installed Accelerator web services that can act upon it. For instance, you can have maps services from Google or Yahoo show you a map of a copied address in an overlay window. Or, you can define a copied term using an online dictionary, grab Wikipedia content, check for an item on eBay, Amazon, etc. IE8 comes preloaded with a base set of Accelerators paired with Windows Live services, but you can choose your own from a growing list from third-parties.

If you feel like playing with Accelerators and Web Slices, they may not work if you have the Google Gears extension installed (a fix is underway). While both Web Slices and Accelerators are one-of-a-kind features giving IE8 a competitive edge, it is now evident that their reliance on proprietary technologies hamper acceptance among web developers who don't want to spend thousands of dollars tailoring to Microsoft. While dozens of third-party Web Slices and Accelerators have been available for months, many popular sites still don't support these technologies and some openly resent them.

There's little hope things will change down the road -- meaning Accelerators and Web Slices probably won't take off in a big way. In today's online world where compliance to web standards is paramount, Web Slices and Accelerators could easily end up as cool features destined to fall into oblivion. [Unless they're adopted into the standard. -Editor]

Read on the next page:  IE8's tabbed browsing out-innovates other browsers, New options for admins (designed to phase out IE6)...