IE 9 launched its non-beta version in early March of this year.  Over the past few years,  Internet Explorer has seen its market share dwindle due to competing browsers like Mozilla’s Firefox and Google’s Chrome. We were curious as to what new features Microsoft added to increase the browser’s usage rates.

1.      A faster web experience than previous IE versions.   They have created a modified cache browser with hardware accelerations in text, video, audio sounds and graphics that allows users to surf the web faster.

2.      A cleaner yet elegant design. Tab modifications allow users to color code multiple tabs for organization based on needs and specifications. Additionally, a a combined search and address bar allows for easier navigation. 

3.      IE9 now has improved JavaScript performance and supports HMTL5 features such as:

• CSS3 – CSS is what the web is formatted with.  It includes selectors, color, values, backgrounds, borders and fonts.  
• H.264 video – A video player that does not require a plugin to play.  Many sites like YouTube and Vimeo have already been experimenting with this format. 
• Embedded Audio:   Audio that can be embedded directly to the page and does not require a plugin to play.  IE9 will now support MP3/ AAC codes. 
• Scalable Vector Graphics:   Allows the creation of certain types of graphics that scale perfectly.        

4.      Integration of IE 9 with Windows 7 includes the ability to pin a site to the task bar, making it more visible and accessible for users. 

5.      InPrivate Browser settings that prevents browsing history, temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, and user names and passwords from being retained by the browser.

Although IE9 has improved in speed and functionality, it still is not compatible with all technologies.   Please Contact us if you see that your site has a need for any administrative updates.