Internet Explorer

The long expected final version of Internet Explorer 7 is here. After the beta versions, Microsoft Corp. have released on the market a truly competitive Web browser. With enhanced security features designed to provide a high degree of security during any Web surfing experience, a newly implemented 'Windows Customer Service Experience Improvement Program' and many more useful features, Internet Explorer 7 appears to be a very good alternative to Mozilla Firefox or Opera. Let's have a look at the user interface: tabbed design, customizable toolbar, 'Favorites Center' containing history and RSS feeds, 'Windows Live' search engine included by default. All the open tabs can be displayed in thumbnail mode (Quick Tabs), the search engine section can be customized by adding or removing search providers and setting your favorite search engine as default. The help section has been improved: you can take a quick tour of IE7's features, send feedback and get online support. The tools in IE7 provide a safer browsing or online shopping: the pop-up blocker filters help you allow or block all pop-ups or pop-ups from selected Websites. You can also build a list of exceptions. The phishing filter improves your online security level: phishing filter settings can be manually changed, you can report phishing Websites or check a Website. Now you can manually manage IE7 add-ons and ActiveX controls by enabling and removing them. As for cryptographic protection, SSL 2.0 and 3.0 and TLS 1.o protocols are used by IE7 in order to provide authentication and communications privacy over the Internet. Among other features, I must mention the 'Auto-complete' feature, accessibility options, customizable security level for browsing, content advisor, multilanguage support. Pluses: Enhanced security features, support for Google and Yahoo! toolbars, quick browsing experience, session restore feature, import/export wizard (this feature allows you to import and export Favorites, RSS feeds or Cookies to other applications or files which can be saved on your computer). A nice thing I noticed, after I installed this new version of Internet Explorer, was that it can be set to use ClearType fonts. This kind of font improves the readability of text on LCD displays. I also saw that my Yahoo! Messenger windows were also using ClearType after the installation of Internet Explorer 7. Drawbacks / flaws: A download manager with pause/resume functions is still missing. Since all current browsers are trying to comply with the W3C standards I had to test the browser with the well known Acid2 test. Unfortunately, IE 7 failed. In conclusion: The final release of IE 7 can be now compared to other competitive browsers on the market.