By default, you would click the cog wheel, choose “Security, Browsing history” from Internet Explorer 9’s menu. Try pressing the Ctrl+Shift+Del keyboard shortcut to open the cleanup dialog immediately. Now just pick the items to delete (or leave the default check box states) and click the OK button to clean up the browsing data.

An important factor was the Web community’s engagement as the IE team took a more open and transparent approach across the nine platform releases of IE9. With the Release Candidate, for example, we took to heart over 17,000 pieces of feedback about IE9. We want to thank the millions of people who have installed and used Internet Explorer 9 during pre-release testing. The value of your feedback in developing the product is hard to overstate.

Microsoft has given an easy-to-use interface and built in additional security features. For example, IE9 features a Tracking Protection that summarizes which websites or ad frames store the user’s data. Via lists, you can choose individually which sites may access your data and which accesses you want to block.

Thanks to IE9’s support for the new HTML5 web standard, IE9 can now directly play videos and audio clips on websites without needing any additional application or plug-in. For many multimedia contents, the browser is now much more stable, as it has direct access to the Graphics processor (GPU).

Internet Explorer 9 is available for Windows 7 and Vista in 39 languages:
Get IE9 Final now!, or find out more at BeautyOfTheWeb.com.

On Monday, March 14th at SXSW, we’ll be celebrating the developers and designers who are making that beautiful web a reality. If you’re coming to SXSW, join us for free drinks and live music from Yeasayer, the Head and the Heart, and Fences at Austin City Limits Live. It’s a party you won’t want to miss.

As the Release Candidate of the new Windows web browser has been published recently, this lets you imagine that IE9 Final is going to be around this date as well. For European users, it is on 15 March, remember.

To test the compatibility of your own web site, you don’t have to install all browser alternatives and versions. Adobe Browser Labs makes your life easier. Just visit https://browserlab.adobe.com/, and click Try BrowserLab to create a free Adobe account.

At the top, click Test and enter the web URL. The website is then loaded in Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer. To show all versions at once, click View, 2-Up. You can simulate more browsers and versions using the top left button.

https://browserlab.adobe.com/

Messenger Companion displays notifications to let you know you when your friends in Messenger have shared links to pages on the site you’re visiting.

If you don’t want to be notified, click the Options icon in the notification , and then click Yes, stop showing.

To turn notifications back on, in Windows Internet Explorer, click the Messenger Companion button, click the arrow next to your name, and then click Show notifications.

When nothing works anymore in Internet Explorer, reset it with the following steps:

1. Press the Windows+R shortcut and enter the following command (watch out for upper- and lower case!):

   rundll32 inetcpl.cpl ResetIEtoDefaults

2. Click OK, then Reset.
3. Now reboot Windows.

Internet Explorer will now start with default settings. If opening IE still doesn’t work properly, you can retry the process, but check the “Delete personal settings” option.

Tip: You don’t want to enter the command manually? Download the corresponding FixIt solution from Microsoft’s website at support.microsoft.com/kb/923737.

As promised and much anticipated, Microsoft has started the beta phase for Internet Explorer 9 during their Beauty of the Web special event. Ryan Gavin, IE business and marketing guy, is excited:

We are excited to see IE9 help enable a material step forward with one of the most important experiences on Windows, browsing your favorite sites.

In a first test run, I quite liked the speed that Internet Explorer now has. It is possible to load new tabs without noticeable delay, to navigate in web pages… — all without that old-fashioned feeling saying “IE is slow as usually.” The browser’s startup time is simply amazing. Also, when a browser add-on might slow down the IE launch, you are notified and can disable the corresponding add-on to keep IE speedy.

The installation wizard also got much simpler (yet takes as long as IE8). Overall, IE9 decreases the hole between Microsoft and the current browsers Firefox 4 Beta, Safari 5 and Chrome 6. Meet the new IE and get your own opinion!

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/products/ie-9/home

This revamped Facebook Chat system will run more stable, compared to the current system used since Facebook Chat was launched some two years ago. Rodrigo Schmidt, Software Engineer at Facebook, states:

Many of you have told us that sometimes your Chat session comes and goes or even stops completely. [...] We know you want Chat to be hassle-free and uninterrupted. In the coming weeks, we will be making important improvements in the way connections are established and messages are sent, so that Chat will be much more stable for you and your friends. The biggest improvements come from changes that aren’t supported on older web browsers.

So, if you are still surfing the web with IE6, you have now one more reason to upgrade. By the way – just on September 15, the Internet Explorer 9 Public Beta is launching… why not give it a try?

The user interface integrates tighter into Windows 7. For example, tabs support jumplists and can dragged off the window. In all areas, I see ideas realized that other browsers use as well. Let’s look at some changes compared to Internet Explorer 8.

• The address bar and search box are combined into one single bar, like Google Chrome does.
• Previously 6 menus are consolidated into one single menu, easy to access.
• The Favorites icon is moving to the top-right edge as well as the home page button.
• To save more room, address bar and tabs now share one line. (I’m sure this can be reverted, in case you are using many tabs and want to give them their deserved space.)
• The new Internet Explorer 9 icon is lighter than its old IE8 equivalent.
• IE9 also supports Web Apps, much the way Google Chrome does. By dragging a Pin icon to the taskbar, you will create an application shortcut – handy for Web Apps like Gmail, Facebook or Remember the Milk that can be used without the full Internet Explorer browser controls.

The screenshot, accidentally published in advance by Microsoft Russia (and already taken down again), was confirmed as real by the news portal Neowin. The public Internet Explorer 9 beta is scheduled for September 15, 2010. The upgraded browser will provide support for the modern web standards HTML5, CSS3 and SVG2, and ships with a new Javascript Engine.

Once again, Internet Explorer is stepping up closer to its competitors, most notably Mozilla Firefox (its 4.0 Beta 4 was just released) and Google Chrome. I’m looking forward to see whether IE9 brings any new features that the others don’t have yet.

What do you think about the new user interface for Internet Explorer 9?

This event, Beauty of the Web, is going to take place in San Francisco on 15 September and marks the launch of the Internet Explorer 9 beta. The Technical Previews have received much positive attention, as they were downloaded more than 2.5 million times.

IE9 features many new functions, like for example support for hardware graphics acceleration, better web standards implementation, and a new rendering engine for Javascript. Internet Explorer 9 will also provide support for the new web standards HTML5, CSS3 borders, backgrounds and selectors and SVG 1.1 (second edition).

Add-ons for Firefox, IE, Safari and more

Modern browsers like Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari or Chrome are able to do lots of things. They are comfortable, easy to use and fast. As different users have different needs though, browsers are extensible. So-called add-ons extend a browser, adding additional features to it.

Browser add-ons for small wishes

The concept is great: All browsers ship with the most important features that everybody needs. You can go online, open websites, manage bookmarks. Everything is there – and that’s enough for most users. At the beginning, that is. Sometime extra wishes might arise in you, and you will expect more from your browser or want more comfort. Then you simply download the necessary extensions. They are called add-ons or plugins. Such add-ons are small programs that you can download for free. Just for Firefox, there are more than 6,000 of these extensions. For free. For any case to imagine.

Good-looking photo search: Cooliris

If you work much with photos and find the photo galleries in Google Search boring, you can install an extension creating appealing 3D views from them. A good-looking photo canvas, much more comfortable for finding your desired image. This extension is called Cooliris. Sure, that’s something for the eyes only. Other extensions help with hiding advertisements in websites, speeding up your browser – or they make it easier to manage music, videos or photos. In short: It’s worth taking a look at the extensions available.

Simply turn off ads: Adblock Plus

Firefox has the largest add-ons repository; more than 6,000 add-ons are available. The most popular one is Adblock Plus. That’s a really useful ad blocker, hiding most of the advertisements displayed in websites. To install an add-on, just click “Add” — that’s all you need to do.

Dictionary, Maps, …

Internet Explorer is extensible too, especially with features helping to research something. For example, a word in a foreign language. Just select the word and look it up in a Web dictionary. Or an address. Just select it: Internet Explorer displays the address in a Web map. Such useful extensions exist for other browsers too, like for Chrome, Safari and Opera. There are not that many add-ons available for those — yet. But: There are some useful ones among them too. It’s worth the effort.

Browser add-ons not compatible with each other

You ask yourself: Why are there different extensions for the different browsers? Sadly, you cannot swap extensions like you want, the add-ons are not compatible. A Firefox extension cannot run in Internet Explorer — and vice-versa. That is something you cannot change.

Simple to install — and as simple to remove

Important: Trying an extension is free — and mostly risk-less. You decide when you want to get rid of an extension. Each browser has an overview displaying all currently loaded add-ons. You can disable them one by one — and remove if you don’t like or need one anymore. It’s just a matter of one mouse click.

Fun and useful add-ons

Just for fun? Sometimes that’s true. There are even small games available for download, for example a 3D car racing for Chrome. With an extension for Firefox, you can watch TV while surfing. But most extensions are just useful. It is worth browsing the extension galleries and just try the one or other add-on.

More information

• Cooliris (www.cooliris.com)
• Adblock Plus (addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/1865)
• Firefox Add-ons (addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/)
• Internet Explorer Extensions (ieaddons.com)
• Pimp my Safari (pimpmysafari.com)
• Opera Add-ons (www.opera.com/addons/)
• Chrome extension gallery (chrome.google.com/extensions)

Dean Hachamovitch, IE General Manager, is one of the keynote speakers for MIX10.  Dean is going to talk about the changes and enhancements at Internet Explorer 9 that have taken place since PDC09, back in November 2009.

We don’t know details about Dean’s talk yet, but it was announced that his talk is going to contain “some surprises.”  Therewhile, I’ve heard some birdies tweeting that we are going to see a first Community Tech Preview of Internet Explorer 9.  We’ll keep our eyes open.

Opera, Firefox, Internet Explorer—everybody may and must decide which program to use for surfing.  Professionals are glad, for newbies this can be messy.  What now, which program to pick?  Let’s talk about the backgrounds—and get some tips.

Many Internet Explorer alternatives

Probably every Windows user is familiar with Internet Explorer, as the Microsoft browser was pre-installed by default on every Windows computer.  Just there.  And that is why most people went online with it.  At least for first.  However, there are so many alternatives: Opera.  Firefox.  Safari.  Chrome.  Just to mention some.  But not every Windows user knows about these alternatives, or hesitates in switching because he doesn’t know how to install them.  There are still such people.

Ballott Screen

That is why the EU Commission has forced Microsoft to leave it up to each and every Windows user in Europe to choose a browser they want to use for surfing the Web.  Now this user choice has come reality: All Windows computers are about to get such a choice.  After updating, you are presented with a selection dialog, called ballott screen, listing the five most popular browsers, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari and Chrome.  The order in which these browsers are displayed is by random—and determined from scratch each time the dialog is displayed.  This is how it looks like:

Exploding download counters

One mouse click is sufficient for installing a different browser and setting it to be your new default application.  You can also install and use multiple browsers in parallel—no problem at all.  Obviously, many users make use of this.  Since days, Firefox and Opera notice exploding download figures—good for competition.  Here in Germany, Firefox is the most-used browser anyways since a while.

Just one mouse click

Important: It has never been that simple to use a different browser on your Windows computer —and you should make use of it.  To install one of the suggested browsers, one mouse click is sufficient—and all the rest happens automatically.  It is also possible to install multiple browsers and use them in parallel.  Here’s a tip:  Only five browsers are displayed—but there are more to choose from.  Simply drag the scroll bar to the right, then more alternatives are shown.

Manual Windows Update

However, only the first five browsers are really interesting, the others are not well-known.  And if you know them, you are able to get them without such an aid, too.  If you want such a choice dialog as well, but you cannot see it on your Windows computer yet: Launch Windows Update from the Control Panel.  You will get a corresponding update that you can download and install to get the comfortable browser choice window.  All newly sold Windows computers get shipped per default with the browser selection.

Browser summary

Some like the new freedom of choice—others are overwhelmed as they do not know which browser to use.  So, here is a short summary what the five most important browsers are like:

Firefox

In Germany the most popular browser.  It is fast, reliable—and customizable.  What I like most: You can easily extend the browser and thus integrate new features.  The optimum for individualists.

Internet Explorer 8

I think Internet Explorer is better than its reputation, at least in the most recent version, and it is relatively fast, too.  However, there are still too many security issues—that are often not removed fast enough.

Opera

Insides like it very much, as it is very fast and innovative.  Opera offers many interesting features.  However, its usage can be thrilling to get used to.  I don’t have to use it—but a good browser without a doubt.

Safari

Apple’s browser used to be much faster than other browsers.  In the meantime though, the others have gained speed—and I don’t know any good reason why to use Safari in Windows.  Unless you are a real Apple fan.

Chrome

That’s Google’s browser.  Extremely fast and very ordered.  Pages display with high speed really.  If you surf much and get impatient quickly, you should take a look at Chrome.  But only if you trust Google.

The good thing is: It has become much simpler to try out other browsers—and to stay with the browser you like most.

More information

• Browser choice (www.browserchoice.eu)
• Firefox (www.firefox.com)
• Internet Explorer 8 (www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/)
• Opera (www.opera.com)
• Safari (www.apple.com/safari)
• Chrome (www.google.com/chrome)

According to an agreement with the European Commission, Microsoft will give all Windows users in Europe the possibility to choose their favorite browser. From 17 March onwards, an update is delivered showing a ballott screen listing a number of browsers. On an exclusively created website, Microsoft presents all browsers installable for European Windows users. Even exotic browsers have managed to get on the list.

You can view the displayed browsers from now on via the Microsoft website browserchoice.eu. In total, users can choose from 12 different browsers. Each browser entry has a small description and two buttons leading to the direct download and the company website. On the first page, the following 5 browsers are offered prominently:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Opera Browser
• Windows Internet Explorer 8

The order how the browsers are shown changes on each page reload, sorted by random. This is how Microsoft meets a requirement by the European Commission stating that all browsers presented to users must be shown in a random order. Using a horizontal scroll bar, you can show the remaining 7 browsers. There are also exotic browsers among them, like:

• Sleipnir
• K-Meleon
• GreenBrowser
• Avant Browser
• Maxthon
• FlashPeak
• Flock

This secondary list of 7 browsers is also sorted by random each time you reload the page.

Entry points for hackers

Internet Explorer.  Outlook.  Outlook Express.  Windows Mail.  Windows Live Mail.  Microsoft Help System and the Microsoft Sidebar.  There are a half dozen of commonly important programs and features in Microsoft Windows that have become attackable.  That is very dangerous, which is why everybody is concerned about it.  Even several governments, like the German Federal Office for Security in Information Technics (BSI), have intensely warned about the security holes.  The “easy” solution:  Don’t use Internet Explorer—or at least use it in the so-called Safe Mode, so the danger can be reduced.

Alarm Level Red

The malicious thing about the current security hole: It is sufficient to navigate to a modified website—and the hole can be abused.  You won’t notice anything, you cannot see it on the site, maybe not even the site owner knows that their site is being abused for such purposes.  A nightmare concerning security.  Absolutely.

Quick Reaction by Microsoft

But gladly Microsoft reacted quite fast this time.  Within few days, the developers have removed the security holes.  Now the patches only have to find their way on your computer.  You have to install an update.  Some computers do that automatically, but I wouldn’t rely on that.  Luckily it is not very complicated to install the security update.

How to Fix the Hole

And this is how you can fix the security hole on your Windows computer: In the Start menu, call the “Windows Update” feature.  There is also a menu entry in Internet Explorer.  The computer then searches for current updates and important patches that you can download with one mouse click.  It will only take some minutes.  If you are advanced and want to learn more details: On its homepage, Microsoft explains all changes detailed and informs which holes have been closed.  After the update, your Windows computer is safe again—and you can continue to surf with Internet Explorer.

By the way: Not every security hole gets as prominent as the latest.  Nevertheless, there are lots of them.  That’s why you should run Windows Update on a regular basis, perhaps once per week.  It won’t take long—but you will be safe.

Using Alternative Browsers

With or without a known security hole: It can’t hurt to play around with other browsers as well.  Whether Firefox, Opera, Safari or Google Chrome: There are lots of possible alternatives.  If you test a different browser when it is calm and have it already installed, then you don’t have to waste lots of time looking around for an alternative when you mustn’t use Internet Explorer for a while.

Firefox

Largest competition for Internet Explorer: without a doubt Firefox.  Version 3.6, even faster, has only been published yesterday.  You should simply take a look at this browser.  Just download it for free and check it out, then it will be available anytime.  But other browsers like Safari, Chrome or Opera are interesting as well and have many fans.

Security Holes in Other Programs As Well

To stay fair: Over the past year, it was not Internet Explorer being the software with the most newly found important security holes, but a different software—Adobe Reader.  Nearly everybody has it installed, because it serves for viewing PDF documents.  Thus, it has become a favorite target for hacker attacks.  Many people just don’t think about that.  My tip: Keep important default programs, like Adobe Reader, up-to-date as well.  Just call the update feature within the software…