Internet Explorer 9 Beta Launching September 15

Microsoft yesterday began sending out invitations for a special event to selected members of the press, VIPs and developers. Microsoft says the event will serve as a chance to "Celebrate the Beauty of the Web" and perhaps more importantly, as a launch pad for Internet Explorter 9 Beta.

Microsoft's James Pratt wrote about the invitation in a blog post and detailed that IE9 has been well received so far, with 2.5 millions downloads of the platform previews since MIX, in March of this year.

He also included a screen shot of the invitation, because space constraints meant they had to keep the attendee list small.

Since space is limited at the event and not many invites have been sent out, I captured what the invite process looks like so everyone could see. Invitees get an e-mail invitation with a link to a special HTML5 website. To RSVP, they have to complete a word puzzle by typing the letters shown on the screen : Unlock the _ _ _ _ _ _ webThe letters they have to work with are V E A N T I and the solution is a single word.Once the puzzle is complete, the RSVP button appears so they can RSVP for the event.

Microsoft has launched four developer previews since MIX, but has yet to commit to a date for the full release.

Source: The Microsoft Blog

  • ThatConfusedMofo
    I wonder if it'll make me switch from Chrome back to IE.
    Reply
  • For those of you who don't want to figure it out,

    V E A N T I = Native
    Reply
  • tipoo
    Wake me up when it gets an extensions gallery.
    Reply
  • wotan31
    Too little too late. Sorry Microsoft, but Firefox won this battle already. Give it up already, nobody with any common sense uses IE any more.
    Reply
  • Godfail
    wotan31Too little too late. Sorry Microsoft, but Firefox won this battle already. Give it up already, nobody with any common sense uses IE any more.
    This "battle" has been going on for longer than Firefox existed, and it's definitely not over yet.
    Reply
  • ares1214
    Sheesh, M$ anti-fanboyism...if its better than the rest, or close to better than the rest with features i like, ill use it, if it isnt, i wont, that simple. No need to not even give it a chance or give it no hope, even though i will guess it wont be quite enough.
    Reply
  • cookoy
    They're at version 9 now? Firefox is fine with me for years.
    Reply
  • Sorry, but Opera is King. ;)
    Reply
  • kawasaki_kinger
    IE7,IE8,IE9
    NOT Change
    all is low
    Reply
  • eklipz330
    wotan31Too little too late. Sorry Microsoft, but Firefox won this battle already. Give it up already, nobody with any common sense uses IE any more.uhh... what?

    doesn't IE have like 70% of the market share? battle is long from over, my friend.
    Reply