Microsoft releasing new Internet Explorer
Microsoft announced that it will release the latest version of its
Internet Explorer Web browsing software free online late Monday (0400
GMT Tuesday).
"Things are about to change," Microsoft corporate vice president Dean
Hachamovitch said at a press conference at the South By Southwest
Interactive technology festival in Texas. "We took a dramatically
different tack."
Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) will be available for download in 30
languages at beautyoftheweb.com.
"It's a really good day for the Web," Hachamovitch said.
IE9 is built to make the most of Microsoft's latest operating system,
Windows 7, as well as graphics processing chips that can power videos,
games, graphics and other stunning visuals.
The long list of partners that have adapted websites to IE9 includes
Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Hulu, and Yahoo!, according to Microsoft.
"We have worked with partners reaching a billion active Internet
users," Hachamovitch said. "All of these partners are using IE9 to make
a more beautiful Web, starting today."
More than 40 million copies of IE9 have already been downloaded as
part of the process leading up to its official release, according to
Microsoft.
Microsoft showed off a lean, muscular new Internet Explorer crafted
to spotlight slick websites and beat back competition from Firefox and
Google in the Web browser arena.
Microsoft director of web services strategy Ari Bixhorn booted up an
Apple MacBook Pro laptop running the latest version of Firefox for a
side-by-side comparison at a radio station website with rich interactive
graphics.
A laptop powered by Windows and using IE9 smoothly zipped through
cascading images illustrating top tunes while the opposition slowly
worked its way along.
"The Web as we know it is taking a huge step forward today," Bixhorn
said.
While Microsoft doesn't charge separately, the browser is included
with Windows software and it is in the technology giant's interest to
keep users happy and devoted to its products.
"A browser is important to Microsoft because browsing is the top
activity people do on their PCs (personal computers)," Hachamovitch
said. "We want browsing the Web to be a great experience so people keep
choosing Windows to do it."
Windows operating systems are at a core of Microsoft's software
empire. The Redmond, Washington-based technology colossus claims more
than one billion Windows customers.
Microsoft seems to have hit the mark with IE9, according to analysts.
"The browser is the stage and the websites are the stars of the
show," Hachamovitch told AFP during an earlier demonstration.
Once a website is reached, the browser seems to step out of the way
and almost vanish to spotlight the content. IE9 promised to be another
hit release for Microsoft, which has seen market successes with Windows
7 operating system and a Kinect motion-sensing controller accessory for
Xbox 360 video game consoles.
AFP
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