Visual Lizard

This afternoon Microsoft announced the launch of Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 on the IE blog. As soon as I saw this I decided to take it for a test drive!  My first concern when installing the beta version on my Windows machine would be that I would lose IE7 for testing. However it turns out that there is a convenient button titled "Emulate IE7" which to my discovery, once enabled, renders exactly like IE7.

This first thing I decided to try was to browse through a list of websites that I visit regularly, some of which push the limits of Web Standards, to see if it would render them properly. I expected them to behave similar to the IE7 beta, when that was launched, and turns out they did just that. Most webpages render just fine with various alignment issues showing up and mysterious double margins.

The second thing I did was run the Acid 2 Test on the Web Standards Project website to see if the claims on the IE blog were in fact true, they were! However, later today Microsoft announced that the Acid 2 Test doesn’t pass other versions of the test due to cross domain security checks IE performs for ActiveX controls. Looks like the poor smiley face got punched in the face! Acid 3 test anyone?

While I cannot comment on wether or not this is the next revolutionary browser, I can comment that Microsoft appears to be on the right track with the development of this web browser through their claims to build a browser that claims to abide by Web Standards and how they are asking web developers for their feedback. Time will only tell if they really do listen. Besides isn’t it just good business to listen to one’s customers.

Update: If you are running Multiple IE’s the beta will conflict with the rendering of IE6.