Vista Will Have Its Own Internet Explorer 7
At Microsoft these days, it seems that everything that was old is new again in Windows Vista. The software giant has added Internet Explorer 7 to the list of programs that will get a complete Vista makeover.
Christened IE7+, the new version of the Web browser boasts added security features not available in the current version currently in beta testing.
Secure Vista
Microsoft's Tony Schreiner announced the new version of the IE browser on the company's Internet Explorer blog.
While all current versions of IE are basically the same, IE7+ is enhanced with the addition of Windows Vista-only features such as a protected mode, new parental controls, and improved network diagnostics, Schreiner wrote.
"Features like IE7 protected mode, which runs IE in low rights, are doable because of features that are part of Windows Vista," said Michael Silver, an analyst at Gartner. "We think the User Account Control in general, including protected mode in IE7+, will be one of the most compelling features of Windows Vista for enterprises."
With the extensive parental-control features, adults will be able to limit and monitor a child's access to the Internet. Parents will be able to prohibit access to certain Internet sites and control which applications the child can use.
Parents also will have access to a detailed report that shows exactly what Web sites the child visited and the applications used.
Name Game
The Microsoft team wound up with the IE7+ name because the "naming gives us an easy way to refer to this version, Schreiner wrote. "'The version of IE7 in Vista' doesn't roll off the tongue as easily."
If nothing else, said Silver, the name "IE7+" really makes the point that the version of Internet Explorer 7 in Vista is different than the version in XP.
Nitin Gupta, an analyst at Yankee Group, said that although it is understandable that Microsoft would not be able to make the XP version of Internet Explorer 7 as secure as the Vista version, the company needs to be extremely careful with how it communicates the difference to users.
"Most Internet users do not proactively switch browsers," Gupta said. "For the group of Internet users that do, security concerns are an important driver."
Reproduced from an article published by Yahoo! News
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