16 September 2010
Microsoft has brought out its browser-battling big guns by releasing a beta, or test, version of Internet Explorer 9 in San Francisco today, in a bid to beat back rivals Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome to become the computer user's first-choice of default web window.
Whilst other browsers are thought to utilise fewer than 10 per cent of a computer's capabilities, Microsoft plans to use IE9 to win hearts and minds by flexing technological muscle that promises users more and, Ina Fried of tech site CNet.com argues, brings Microsoft "back in serious browser contention".
Speaking to BBC News, Tami Reller, corporate vice president of Windows explains, "There are [one] billion Windows customers and about 60 per cent of their time is spent browsing the web. The sites and the content that customers are gravitating towards are very graphically rich - they want to watch videos, manipulate and see photos."
Supporting HTML 5 and boasting scalable vector graphics and app-like features, Microsoft hopes that Internet Explorer 9 will appeal to web and smartphone users, hungry to blur the boundaries between apps, interactive content and their browser.
And with 70 high-profile partners including Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, Amazon and Ebay throwing their weight behind Microsoft and producing sites designed to take advantage of Internet Explorer 9's graphic chip exploiting technology, experts have been quick to anticipate Microsoft's swift return to a market monopoly.
With Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group exclaiming, "It moves the bar for the rest of the browser environment. Microsoft has kind of chased Firefox for most of the last decade. This is their chance to step ahead."
The software giant's return to form would no doubt help to re-strengthen Microsoft's grip on the browser market share which has dropped from 96 per cent in 2003 to 60 per cent today - during which time, Mozilla's Firefox has risen to snap at Microsoft's heels with a burgeoning 23 per cent share.
Though, tech news site The Register has been quick to point out a tactical error - as Internet Explorer 9 is incompatible with Windows XP, Microsoft is in serious danger of losing thousands of potential users to rivals Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Apple's Safari.
However, for some, Microsoft's re-entering the arena more than compensates. With Rory Cellan-Jones, technology correspondent for BBC News, adding "For once, Microsoft's rivals may need to take some notice of what the once-sleepy giant of the browser business has been up to".
Previewed in March 2010, Internet Explorer 9 is widely tipped to be finally released early next year.
Microsoft releases browser-battle big gun Internet Explorer 9 in beta
Microsoft has brought out its browser-battling big guns by releasing a beta, or test, version of Internet Explorer 9 in San Francisco today, in a bid to beat back rivals Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome to become the computer user's first-choice of default web window. Whilst other browsers are thought to utilise fewer than 10 per cent of a computer's capabilities, Microsoft plans to use IE9 to win hearts and minds by flexing technological muscle that promises users more and, Ina Fried of tech site CNet.com argues, brings Microsoft "back in serious browser contention".
Speaking to BBC News, Tami Reller, corporate vice president of Windows explains, "There are [one] billion Windows customers and about 60 per cent of their time is spent browsing the web. The sites and the content that customers are gravitating towards are very graphically rich - they want to watch videos, manipulate and see photos."
Supporting HTML 5 and boasting scalable vector graphics and app-like features, Microsoft hopes that Internet Explorer 9 will appeal to web and smartphone users, hungry to blur the boundaries between apps, interactive content and their browser.
And with 70 high-profile partners including Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, Amazon and Ebay throwing their weight behind Microsoft and producing sites designed to take advantage of Internet Explorer 9's graphic chip exploiting technology, experts have been quick to anticipate Microsoft's swift return to a market monopoly.
With Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group exclaiming, "It moves the bar for the rest of the browser environment. Microsoft has kind of chased Firefox for most of the last decade. This is their chance to step ahead."
The software giant's return to form would no doubt help to re-strengthen Microsoft's grip on the browser market share which has dropped from 96 per cent in 2003 to 60 per cent today - during which time, Mozilla's Firefox has risen to snap at Microsoft's heels with a burgeoning 23 per cent share.
Though, tech news site The Register has been quick to point out a tactical error - as Internet Explorer 9 is incompatible with Windows XP, Microsoft is in serious danger of losing thousands of potential users to rivals Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Apple's Safari.
However, for some, Microsoft's re-entering the arena more than compensates. With Rory Cellan-Jones, technology correspondent for BBC News, adding "For once, Microsoft's rivals may need to take some notice of what the once-sleepy giant of the browser business has been up to".
Previewed in March 2010, Internet Explorer 9 is widely tipped to be finally released early next year.
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