Internet Explorer 8 Beta Ready for Download

Microsoft Corp has released its beta version of Internet Explorer 8 (IE8). This test version, its second in these many months, is a total upgrade to the most used Web browser in the world, about three-quarters of Web users across the globe, from the world’s largest and most successful software company.

This release comes on the heels of news that Mozilla’s famed browser, Firefox, has been steadily eating away at Internet Explorers reign, due mostly to Firefox’s faster download speeds and its propensity for being less vulnerable to internet hacks.

Microsoft claims that IE8 will have many new features including the ability to enhance privacy and Web security plus ease-of-use, something Firefox has always been able to boast about. IE8 will copy many of the features already available from Firefox version 3, including the aforementioned security and privacy issues, as well as, a smart address bar that will remember and redirect users to previous websites visited. One new feature will be something Microsoft is calling “InPrivate Browsing,” a new tick that will ensure that user history, temp Internet files and cookies are not recorded on the user’s PC. Again, a feature similar to one already employed by Mozilla’s Web browser.

The official launch date for the actual IE8 has not been given by Microsoft at this time. The beta-1 was released to IT volunteers back in March of this year and this beta-2 version was opened up to the more general Web-users on Wednesday.

The beta-2 of Internet Explorer 8 is available for download at www.microsoft.com/ie8.