What’s New with Web Browsers
The web browser is one of the most frequently used computer applications but most people take it for granted. So much of what we do with a computer is online and requires a web browser so with that in mind, here's a round-up of the latest in browser news.
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 (IE9), which offers speed and security improvements as well as better support for web standards was released earlier this week. Early reviews of IE9 have been positive and it was reported that downloads of the new software have exceeded 2 million in the first 24 hours of its release. The only catch is the browser is only compatible with Windows Vista and Windows 7 so anyone running Windows XP (or older – gasp!) is out of luck.
Not long before IE9’s release, Microsoft launched a site aimed at encouraging people to stop using the now ten year old IE6. It’s not often a company will persuade users not to use one of their own products so if you’re an IE user and have never updated your web browser, check out Internet Explorer 6 Countdown to see why you should upgrade to a newer version.
Of course, Internet Explorer is not the only option out there for browsing the web. Mozilla Firefox was the first competitor to make a significant dent in Microsoft’s ownership of the browser market and the program continues to be a strong presence. The latest version of Firefox (ver.4) is anticipated to be available on March 22 so be sure to check for an update at the Firefox website next Tuesday.
Want more browser choice? There’s also Google’s Chrome, Opera, and Apple’s Safari if you’re not content with IE or Firefox. Performance is speedy and features such as tabbed browsing, plugins, privacy options, etc. are pretty similar.
Browser choice often comes down to personal preference; mine is Chrome (for its speed, Google search integration, and minimalist user interface) followed by Firefox and Safari. These browsers are free and there's no rule saying you need to limit yourself to one! Why not give them all a try before deciding which is right for you?
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