Microsoft Launches IE 10 Release Preview for Windows 7

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A release preview version of Internet Explorer 10 is now available for Windows 7.

Microsoft reports that Internet Explorer 10 is now available for Windows 7 customers in a Release Preview format. The new browser was originally launched on Windows 8 in both desktop and Modern UI formats, the latter of which takes a cleaner approach by putting Internet content first instead of toolbars, navigation, addons and other visual clutter (see below).

"IE10 on Windows 8 brings an entirely new browsing experience and set of capabilities to the Web, such as a new touch first browsing experience and full screen UI for your sites, security improvements that offer the best protection against the most common threats on the Web, improved performance, and support for the HTML5 and CSS3 standards developers need," said Rob Mauceri, Group Program Manager, Internet Explorer.

Mauceri said this new preview build for Windows 7 users offers the same performance, security, and under-the-hood changes seen with the Windows 8 version. It also automatically warns sites to "Do Not Track" by default, protecting your privacy and surfing habits.

"Browser performance is critical for running today’s modern Web sites and applications. IE10 is all around fast, bringing improved hardware acceleration and Chakra JavaScript engine to Windows 7. We continue to focus on improving real world site performance and third party recognition of IE's leadership in this area has been consistent," he said.

To test the new browser's improved speed, users can load up a few demos on the IE Test Drive site including the Aston Martin 3D visualization (hardware accelerated rendering) and the Audio Explosion demo (touch, media interactivity). The Mandelbrot test driver also shows how fast the new browser loads up web sites with "computationally intensive JavaScript and graphics".

"IE10 shines on Windows 8, and with this release preview, IE 10 brings the same powerful HTML5 engine to Windows 7 customers," he said. "We believe that meeting customer expectations by putting people first is the best way to grow online commerce and the Internet economy. Our commitment is to provide Windows customers an experience that is "private by default" in an era when so much user data is collected online."

To get your copy of Internet Explorer 10 Release Preview for Windows 7, head here.

Modern UI version of IE 10 for Windows 8

Desktop version of IE 10 for Windows 8

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Kevin Parrish
18 Comments Comment from the forums
  • svdb
    It might be another step in the right direction towards supporting standards. However it's a bummer even IE10 isn't supporting major parts of HTML5 and related technologies.
    Look for "Comparison of layout engines (HTML5)" on wikipedia.

    Reply
  • dameon51
    IE 10 is nice, but as long as people are shackled to windows xp/ie8 your average web dev company won't be able to use a lot of the new HTML 5 features available. Hopefully in the future MS will be better at keeping its users up to date with its web browsers.
    Reply
  • Zetto
    The shackling is due to corporate software still not updated since IE 6. Until these million dollar web based applications have been discontinued/ replaced / updated, net standards will have an anchor around their neck holding progress back. We need economic recovery for that, getting Barack back is a step in the right direction.
    Reply
  • BoredErica
    Well, it works with Windows 7 at least. Not that I use IE all the time, but it's nice to get an upgrade.
    Reply
  • dogofwars
    Great if they use a "frameless" windows without menu etc I can see our customers crying. There is this feature called the F11 key that do the same thing. Do you think if you put that to full screen they will be able to find the menu.

    When IE 7 came out a lot of peoples had a hard time because the menu was off screen until you press the alt key.

    By all mean it's better but you need to take that into account when a good portion of your customer are not the finesse/skillful of peoples.:|

    Windows 8 is not that complicate but there is people struggling with thing like clipping, hidden menu(like IE 7) etc..

    Bottom line they should not make it that way by default. At least they should give the choice at the beginning, classic and new style.
    Reply
  • StormOfRazors
    This is all very good, innovation is cool, but I shall be staying with Firefox. At least they havn't forgotten about windows 7 or worse withholding features from it to try and get us to upgrade to windows 8.
    Reply
  • etichi
    no full html5 support? get with the program MS. You are not dictating to the world how to do things anymore (thank god)

    I am currently creating a web service at work and I have to take into account the IE sucks and is the dullest blade in the drawer.
    Reply
  • tomfreak
    IE10 the best browser to download another browser.
    Reply
  • gravewax
    svdbIt might be another step in the right direction towards supporting standards. However it's a bummer even IE10 isn't supporting major parts of HTML5 and related technologies.Look for "Comparison of layout engines (HTML5)" on wikipedia.
    No one fully supports HTML5 yet, that is because HTML5 is still under development as a standard, various browsers have implements various parts of the drafts but it is still a constantly changing target.
    Reply
  • internetlad
    I'm glad to see this comment section, while not being filled with postive aspects of IE10, isn't filled with

    IE SUX LOL FIREFOX FOREVR, and is at least filled with legitimate, semi-intelligent posings of why it isn't liked. . . Even if all those gripes are "WTF EVERYTHING ISN'T HTML5"
    Reply