Microsoft has decided to release Internet Explorer 7 for a wide testing phase worldwide. Users can now download this new browser version here.
The IE 7 Beta 2 testing version includes all the features that have been “advertised” recently, such as tabbed browsing, integrated search tools, and RSS support.
This Beta version of IE 7 also boasts a much cleaner interface compared to existing versions. The focus of this new browser design is to allocate more space for displaying web pages.
However, this testing version appears to only support Windows XP Service Pack 2. Users are also advised that since this version is still in development, there may be certain bugs present. These could include display issues or application errors that may cause the browser to freeze. Users are encouraged to report these bugs to Microsoft.
With the goal of maximizing space for displaying web pages, IE has only two very compact toolbars positioned at the top of the screen. The first toolbar contains basic functions like “Back, Forward, Refresh, and Home.”
The tabs – a new feature in IE 7 – appear on the second toolbar. Although you cannot move these tabs yet, you can use the “Quick Tabs” feature, which allows you to view thumbnail images of all the websites you are currently visiting.
The new security features in this version include a phishing filter tool that alerts users if they visit a site suspected of phishing, improved ActiveX management, and better personal information cleanup.
