Internet Explorer 8 represents the culmination of the work Microsoft has been doing to deliver a browser that is the most secure, and functional tool to get the maximum value from the internet.

The major focus of Internet Explorer 8 for organizations like yours is to deliver;

· Enhanced Security

· Increased Compatibility

· Better Productivity

Enhanced Security

While delivering security for the consumer has been a critical focus area for Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft also realize that the browser is your organizations gateway to a world of connectivity between your partners and/or customers no matter where they are in the world. While this unparalleled connectivity can deliver huge productivity benefits for you and your colleagues, it can also introduce a variety of threats. Internet Explorer 8 introduces a variety of security enhancements to protect users from introducing unwanted malware or viruses in to your businesses network. Technologies like the SmartScreen Filter, help to visually warn users of malicious websites that have been identified by security organizations and users from all over the world, while the Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Filter, detects malicious code running on websites that can steal the data of the users or your business itself. The SmartScreen filter is pictured below.

People are now able to access the internet from a number of locations these days, outside of their own home, such as internet cafes or libraries. Maintaining a private browsing experience has been difficult and in the past users had to take extra effort and care to ensure that their data such as usernames and passwords, form data or browsing history was deleted from these machines after they finished using them. Internet Explorer 8 introduces the InPrivate Browsing feature, which enables users to start a secure session of web browsing, this session will not record on the computer any of the sites you have visited or record any information you have accessed during the session. While InPrivate Filtering helps to block the functionality of third-party websites that may be collecting information about your browsing behaviors without you knowing about it. You can see this enabled in the browser in the picture below.

Finally, managing the web browser in a corporate environment can be a daunting task, each user has their own way of using the internet and may be unaware of what is happening behind their browsing experience. Since Internet Explorer 6 organizations have been able to centrally manage and control specific aspects of the browser to protect their users and IT investments. Internet Explorer 8 delivers approximately 1300 specific configuration settings for IT Administrators to protect their users while browsing the web, these settings control browser functionality concerned with security, performance and compatibility. These settings can be maintained and delivered to your users via Active Directory.

For more information about these technologies visit:

SmartScreen Filter & Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Filter: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/features/stay-safer-online.aspx?tabid=2&catid=1

InPrivate Browsing & InPrivate Filtering: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/features/browse-privately.aspx?tabid=2&catid=1

Managing Browser Settings with Group Policy Tools: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc985341.aspx

Increased Compatibility

Consistent with our efforts to promote further interoperability across the Web, Microsoft will be releasing Internet Explorer 8 to render content in its most standards-compliant way by default. Giving top priority to Web standards interoperability allows us to help web developers and designers drive toward the ideal of “write once, run anywhere”, freeing up more time to innovate rather than modify content for different browsers. This commitment also addresses several development and design pain points from previous Internet Explorer releases.

While the embracing of standards is a great step forward for interoperability, some website developers and users may experience site layouts that may not render quite right. That is why Microsoft has introduced the Compatibility View. The Compatibility View will render the website as it would be viewed in Internet Explorer 7, which will resolve many of the rendering issues experienced by users. Compatibility View is maintained on a site by site basis and can simply enabled by clicking the Compatibility View button, pictured below.

This list of sites can be maintained in the Compatibility View Settings in the Tools menu, as seen below.

If you are a web developer, or manage a web site, Microsoft has created a Internet Explorer 8 Web Developer Self Service site, that can provide guidance on what you can do to help maximize the user experience for your site when visited by Internet Explorer 8 users.

For more information about increased compatibility visit:

Compatibility View: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/features/enhanced-navigation.aspx

Internet Explorer 8 Web Developer Self Help Site: http://www.microsoft.com/singapore/windows/internet-explorer/compatcenter/

Better Productivity

While website functionality is increasing at a rapid rate through new technology innovation, Microsoft is also increasing the functionality that the browser can deliver on a web page. Internet Explorer 8 innovations like Accelerators, is enabling users to get more done via one click functionality rather than multiple website navigation. Accelerators can be engaged on a website by simply highlighting specific terms on a page, which would then pop up an icon giving users access to the Accelerator functionality, as pictured below.

In addition to enabling one-click access to functionality, another Internet Explorer 8 innovation, called Web Slices, is enabling users access to regularly updating information without having to constantly navigating back to the web page itself. Web Slices enable users to subscribe to specific content sections of a website and have them easily accessed in the users favorites bar. This can be seen in the picture below.

Any web developer can add web slice functionality to their website by adding a few simple lines of HTML code to existing pages, enabling users quick access to your data.

For more information about Better Productivity visit:

Accelerators: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/features/accelerators.aspx?tabid=1&catid=1

Web Slices: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/features/web-slices.aspx?tabid=1&catid=1

Microsoft is excited about the innovation Internet Explorer is delivering in the areas of Security, Compatibility and Productivity, and encourage you to download Internet Explorer 8 today, and realise the benefits it can deliver for your users and your organization.

You can download it today at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx