I/e 7

I see that there is a version 7 in the beta form. Has anyone d/l it yet and if so how is it running?

I might use it but not until it is out of the beta test,

Thanks

 

Event though I'm a Minefield (Firefox) fanboy, I have still downloaded and installed IE7 B2. [Note: I also have opera.] Pretty good update, just beware, that this is BETA. As in, it doesn't work perfectly.

As in the running functionality, it runs pretty well. Haven't had any issues, as of yet. WMP 11 is also a very well done media player.

I'm actually a beta tester freak. I see a beta I grab it.

 

Also, check out: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=88023

 

>> I see that there is a version 7 in the beta form. Has anyone d/l it yet and if so how is it running? I might use it but not until it is out of the beta test, Thanks << Java

I haven't really had enough time to 'test the limits' of this new IE7 Beta 2 version yet; as it was originally released only a little more than three weeks ago. However it appears to work fine thus far; that is, if you actually like using IE. All in all it is fairly sufficient, for a beta application and far less 'buggy' than either of the two previous releases; IE7 Beta 2 Preview and MIX 06 interim build; which incidentally must be 'uninstalled' first prior to installing the newest Beta 2 version [Note: The IE7 Beta 2 installs atop Internet Explorer 6; so no changes or 'uninstall' are necessary in IE6 - you just turn off IE6, install Beta 2 and restart your computer]

According to Microsoft: It is 'supposedly' a simple "four-step task" to Revert Back to IE6 [see Release Notes] if you try it out and consequently do not like it. However a cursory search using Google will reveal the fact that the actual reality is: numerous users are having trouble remove the test release and revert back to IE6. Even the staff at Major Geeks had difficulty actually removing it and restoring to IE6 when they tested the Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 browser!

For the John Q. Public end user [who rarely installs ANY beta programs], you should also be aware of the fact that Microsoft admits that not all Web sites will function properly using IE 7 for XP SP2 beta 2; since many websites are specifically designed to be compatible with IE6.

Additionally, users should keep in mind that there may be compatibility issues and other problems relating to so-called "IE-dependant" browsers such as the Avent and Maxthon Browsers and other 3rd party add-on utilities. Most of the developers of these types of IE related [or dependant] programs and utilities readily acknowledge in their forums that they are really not making any changes in their programs until the final IE7 version is released.

Here are a few of the 'primary' new features available in IE7 Beta 2…
==IE 7 fully supports tabbed browsing and this is enabled by default.
==Middle-clicking a link opens it in a new tab, similar to Crazy Browser.
==IE 7 proactively tries to protect the user from phishing. The user is asked to turn it on the first time he or she clicks on a link. “Yes” is the default option.
==Security features such as ActiveX controls are disabled by default
==You can not customize the 'navigation buttons' and 'address bar.'
==There are limited options for 'customizing the toolbar'. The address bar now appears on the top and is not movable (relocating the bar is a common ploy among spyware and Adware vendors).
==AMSN Search is the default search setting within IE 7, but Microsoft does link out to Google and other sites, so you can pretty easily change that default setting.

Even with all of that; I seriously doubt that this browser will find many 'converts' from within the open source community as almost all of these so-called 'new-and-improved' Beta 2 features are already available in abundance [and have been around for a long time] in the capabilities of other competing NON-MS freeware browsers..

Very Important Note: You must be running Windows XP SP2 in order to install the IE7 beta. You cannot run any IE7 while using any Windows OS Windows released prior to Win XP SP2. All older versions of Windows [pre-XP2 SP2] are now limited to Internet Explorer 6. Also the new version requires "Validation" by sending data from the computer over the internet [to MS, of course].

Additionally, Microsoft advises those who chose to "test" the Internet Explorer 7 beta version; that this is still actually a "technical' beta version, meaning that it was released principally for Web site developers to see how the modifications in the new IE will affect their sites. Additionally it will likely be very useful for 3rd party software developers who develop IE related utilities or programs [such as IE tweak tools, add-ons and IE dependant browsers, for example] to be able to test how the IE7 Beta affects the functionality and performance of their applications.

Side Note: Microsoft recently created a new site which list several 'add-ons' available to go along with Beta 2, which is located at ieaddons.com. For a 'visual' look inside the new features of the latest beta 2 release; check out an "independent" reviewer's C-net 'slide show' overview: Inside Internet Explorer 7 for XP SP2 beta

Good Luck!

 

Thanks to all, I learned some time ago to leave "BETA' alone.