Internet Explorer 10 has been a Windows 8 exclusive so far, but Windows 7 users can get their hands on the preview today. What’s changed from IE 9? For many Windows 7 users, there will be no apparent change other than the updated interface. Windows 8 users running Internet Explorer 10 will notice the biggest changes as Microsoft designed IE from the ground up to work with touch. Windows 7 users won’t get the simplified touch interface nor will they get handy features like sharing from the Windows Charms Bar.
There are plenty of improvements under the hood of the Internet Explorer 10 preview for Windows 7. Here’s a look at the features that may make you want to upgrade.
Do Not Track enabled by default
It seems that just about every browser these days has a ‘do not track’ feature. This feature allows users to opt out of targeted advertising. With Google Chrome, you’ll have to enable it yourself. Read my guide on how to do this here. Microsoft makes ‘do not track’ user friendly by having it be opt-out instead. This move by Microsoft has upset some companies with its do not track enabled by default. Some companies have announced that they will be ignoring IE 10’s do not track settings.
Security enhancements
IE has been very weak in the security department and Microsoft hopes to change this with IE 10. The main security addition to IE 10 is “Enhanced Protected Mode,” which will lock down parts of the Windows operating system, preventing the browser from accessing the OS. There will be specific pop-ups that will ask for permission to access part of the OS that a browser typically doesn’t require. This will help prevent viruses or hackers from gaining access to your files, even if IE has been compromised.
Performance enhancements
IE 10 is the quickest version of the browser yet. Microsoft has included support for web standards like CSS animations, HTML5 spell checking, and improved JavaScript performance. The browser definitely feels a lot snappier than previous versions and puts it on par with competitors like Firefox and Chrome. Microsoft even partnered with Atari and Contre Jour to show off the power of Internet Explorer 10.
There are plenty more improvements to the browser but these are the most notable. Are you going to upgrade to Internet Explorer 10 or are you going to stick with another browser?
