Internet Explorer 8#Web Slices and authenticated feeds

File:Internet Explorer 8 wordmark (2005-2011).svg

IE8 development started in or before March 2006.{{cite web | url=http://news.cnet.com/Gates-looks-to-expand-view-beyond-Windows/2100-1007_3-6051400.html?tag=nefd.lede | title=Gates Looks To Expand View Beyond Windows | publisher=CBS Interactive | work=CNET | date=March 20, 2006 | last=LaMonica | first=Martin | access-date=August 28, 2008 | archive-date=August 10, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810024633/http://news.cnet.com/Gates-looks-to-expand-view-beyond-Windows/2100-1007_3-6051400.html?tag=nefd.lede | url-status=live }} In February 2008, Microsoft sent out private invitations for IE8 Beta 1,{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/private-ie-8-beta-1-test-build-coming-soon/1214 | title=Private IE 8 Beta 1 Test Build Coming Soon | publisher=CBS Interactive | work=ZDNet | date=February 23, 2008 | last=Foley | first=Mary Jo | access-date=April 17, 2020 | archive-date=November 13, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113044845/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/private-ie-8-beta-1-test-build-coming-soon/1214 | url-status=dead }} and on March 5, 2008, released Beta 1 to the general public,http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/Install.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810134139/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/Install.htm |date=2008-08-10 }} {{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/Install.htm |title=Internet Explorer 8 Readiness Toolkit |website=Microsoft |access-date=March 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308221407/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/Install.htm |archive-date=March 8, 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown }} Internet Explorer 8 Readiness Toolkit although with a focus on web developers.{{cite web | url=http://winsupersite.com/product-review/internet-explorer-8-beta-1-review | title=Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 Review | publisher=Penton Media | work=Supersite for Windows | date=October 6, 2010 | first=Paul | last=Thurrott | access-date=November 13, 2014 | archive-date=November 13, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113063830/http://winsupersite.com/product-review/internet-explorer-8-beta-1-review | url-status=live }} The release launched with a Windows Internet Explorer 8 Readiness Toolkit website promoting IE8 white papers, related software tools, and new features in addition to download links to the Beta.{{cite web | url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288472(VS.85).aspx | title=MSDN "What's New in Internet Explorer 8" | publisher=Microsoft | work=MSDN | access-date=2008-03-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418041526/http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288472(VS.85).aspx | archive-date=2008-04-18 | url-status=dead }} Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) added new sections detailing new IE8 technology.[http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/ie8whitepapers "MSDN IE8 White Papers"]. Microsoft. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307034500/http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/ie8whitepapers |date=March 7, 2008 }} Major press focused on a controversy about Version Targeting, and two new features then called WebSlice and Activities. The readiness toolkit was promoted as something "developers can exploit to make Internet Explorer 8 'light up'."

On August 27, 2008, Microsoft made IE8 Beta 2 generally available.http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/worldwide-sites.aspx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828074944/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/worldwide-sites.aspx |date=2008-08-28 }} IE8 Beta 2 download page. PC World noted various Beta 2 features such as InPrivate mode, tab isolation and color-coding, and improved standards and compatibility compared to Internet Explorer 7.{{cite web | url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/150385/ie8b2.html | title=Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2: Can It Outfox Firefox? | work=PC World | date=August 27, 2008 | last=Mediati | first=Nick | publisher=IDG | access-date=August 28, 2008 | archive-date=September 5, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905203555/http://www.pcworld.com/article/150385/ie8b2.html | url-status=live }} Two name changes included Activities to Accelerators, and the IE7 Phishing filter renamed Safety Filter in the first Beta to SmartScreen, both accompanied by incremental technical changes as well. By August 2008, the new feature called InPrivate had taken the spotlight.

On January 5, 2009, a tool was provided by Microsoft to block the automatic install of Internet Explorer 8 via Windows Update.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

IE8 reached general availability on March 19, 2009. A version optimized for Bing and MSN was also available.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/527984/ie8_browser.html|title=Internet Explorer 8: What You Need to Know|date=19 March 2009|publisher=PCWorld|access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=3 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103000930/https://www.pcworld.com/article/527984/ie8_browser.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx|title=Upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 Optimized for MSN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322064113/https://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 March 2009|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=2 January 2023}}

Language support (localization) was not complete on release. IE8 was released with 25 languages. This grew up to 63 for 32-bit in June 2009.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/06/26/ie8-is-now-available-on-windows-xp-for-5-more-languages.aspx |title=IE8 Is Now Available on Windows XP for 5 More Languages |first=Vishwac |last=Sena Kannan |work=IEBlog |date=June 26, 2009 |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=September 13, 2009 |archive-date=February 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218125229/http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/06/26/ie8-is-now-available-on-windows-xp-for-5-more-languages.aspx |url-status=live }} Support for additional languages can come pre-installed based on the OS, or downloaded and installed via Multilingual User Interface (MUI) packages.

{{Refbegin}}

:*{{Note|Asterisk}} Initially, Internet Explorer supported 25 languages; additional languages, for a total of 63 were released by June 2009, but not all languages are available on all Windows versions.{{cite web | url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/04/24/internet-explorer-8-is-now-available-in-18-additional-languages.aspx | title=Internet Explorer 8 is now available in 18 additional languages | publisher=Microsoft | work=IEBlog | date=April 25, 2009 | first=Vishwac | last=Sena Kannan | access-date=July 25, 2009 | archive-date=March 6, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306171050/http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/04/24/internet-explorer-8-is-now-available-in-18-additional-languages.aspx | url-status=live }}

{{Refend}}

Support for IE8 on most supported Windows versions ended on January 12, 2016, when Microsoft began requiring customers to use the latest version of Internet Explorer available for each Windows version.{{cite web|title=Microsoft to only support most recent IE version from 2016 on|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2014/08/07/microsoft-to-only-support-most-recent-ie-version-from-2016-on/|date=7 August 2014|website=ghacks.net|access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102234236/https://www.ghacks.net/2014/08/07/microsoft-to-only-support-most-recent-ie-version-from-2016-on/|url-status=live}} For versions of Windows in which IE8 was the final version of Internet Explorer available, support ended alongside the end of support for that version of Windows. This meant that support for IE8 on XP ended with its end of extended support on April 8, 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9246877/US_CERT_urges_XP_users_to_dump_IE | title=US-CERT urges XP users to dump IE | publisher=IDG | work=Computerworld | access-date=6 April 2014 | first=Gregg | last=Keizer | date=11 March 2014 | archive-date=15 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315135011/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9246877/US_CERT_urges_XP_users_to_dump_IE | url-status=dead }} On October 13, 2020, Microsoft released the final IE8 update for Windows Embedded Standard 7, marking the end of IE8 support on all platforms.{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2020|title=Products Ending Support in 2020|date=2 November 2022|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102234235/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2020|url-status=live}}

File:IE8 quick tabs.png

IE8 contains many new features, including WebSlices and Accelerators. At the first glance, the most visible change of the user interface is that the tabs have an inward colour gradient instead of outward.{{cite web | url = https://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/ie-8-to-feature-webslices-activities/1241 | title = IE 8 To Feature WebSlices, Activities | last = Foley | first = Mary Jo | work = ZDNet | publisher = CBS Interactive | date = March 4, 2008 | access-date = April 17, 2020 | archive-date = November 13, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141113050351/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/ie-8-to-feature-webslices-activities/1241 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = http://ie.microsoft.com/activities/en-en/Default.aspx | title = Internet Explorer 8: Service Gallery | publisher = Microsoft | access-date = August 28, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080906045702/http://ie.microsoft.com/activities/en-en/default.aspx | archive-date = September 6, 2008 | url-status = dead }}

{{Main|Accelerator (Internet Explorer)}}

File:Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 Activities.png]]

Accelerators are a form of selection-based search which allow a user to invoke an online service from any other page using only the mouse.{{cite web | url = https://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/NewFeatures.htm | title = New and Exciting Features | access-date = March 5, 2008 | publisher = Microsoft | archive-date = March 7, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080307001236/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/NewFeatures.htm | url-status = live }} Actions such as selecting the text or other objects will give users access to the usable Accelerator services (such as blogging with the selected text, or viewing a map of a selected geographical location), which can then be invoked with the selected object. According to Microsoft, Accelerators eliminate the need to copy and paste content between web pages. IE8 specifies an XML-based encoding which allows a web application or web service to be invoked as an Accelerator service. How the service will be invoked and for what categories of content it will show up are specified in the XML file.{{cite web | url = https://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/DevelopersNew.htm | title = How Do I Make My Site 'Light Up' with Internet Explorer 8? | publisher = Microsoft | access-date = March 5, 2008 | archive-date = March 7, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080307012717/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/DevelopersNew.htm | url-status = live }} Similarities have been drawn between Accelerators and the controversial Smart tags feature experimented with in the IE 6 Beta but withdrawn after criticism (though later included in MS Office).

The address bar features domain highlighting for added security so that the top-level domain is shown in black whereas the other parts of the URL are grayed out. Domain highlighting cannot be turned off by users or web sites. Other features of the address bar include support for pasting multi-line URLs and an improved model for inserting the selection caret, and selecting words, or entire URLs in the Address bar. The inline autocomplete feature has been dropped from Internet Explorer 8, leading to criticism by beta users.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/03/11/address-bar-improvements-in-internet-explorer-8-beta-1.aspx |title=Address Bar improvements in Internet Explorer 8 |publisher=Blogs.msdn.com |date=March 11, 2008 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=January 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124215300/http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/03/11/address-bar-improvements-in-internet-explorer-8-beta-1.aspx |url-status=live }}

If a website or add-on causes a tab to crash in Internet Explorer 8, only that tab is affected. The browser itself remains stable and other tabs remain unaffected, thereby minimizing any disruption to the browsing experience. If a tab unexpectedly closes or crashes it is automatically reloaded with the same content as before the crash.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

{{Main|Internet Explorer Developer Tools}}

For developers, Internet Explorer 8 includes tools that allow debugging HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and VBScript within the browser.{{cite web

|url=https://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/readiness/developers-new.aspx#tools

|title=Internet Explorer 8 Readiness Toolkit

|website=Microsoft

|date=September 10, 2009

|access-date=April 17, 2020

|archive-date=March 14, 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314143715/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/readiness/developers-new.aspx#tools

|url-status=live

}}

Another new feature in IE8 is a redesigned Favorites Bar, which can now host content such as Web Slices, web feeds, and documents, in addition to website links.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Internet Explorer 8 now has replaced the Find... dialog box with an inline Find toolbar which can be activated by pressing {{keypress|Ctrl|F}} or from search box drop-down menu but the {{keypress|F3}} (or any other kind of a keyboard-driven) NextFind command has gone. Internet Explorer 8 highlights all instances of found words while allowing the user to continue the navigation normally.{{cite web |access-date = 8 January 2010 |url = https://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/faster.aspx |title = Internet Explorer 8: Features (Section: Better Find on Page) |work = Internet Explorer 8 web site |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |quote = Internet Explorer 8 includes a completely redesigned Find On Page toolbar, which is activated by pressing Ctrl-F or choosing Find On Page from the Edit menu or Search box drop-down. |archive-date = 9 January 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100109052210/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/faster.aspx |url-status = live }}

{{Main|Private browsing}}

A new security mode called InPrivate debuted with IE8, and consists of two main features: InPrivate Browsing and InPrivate Filtering. InPrivate Browsing has been described as a "porn mode" in various news outlets.{{cite news|first=Paul|last=McDougall|title=Internet Explorer 8 To Include 'Stealth' Privacy Mode|url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/browsers/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210200838|work=InformationWeek|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=August 28, 2008|archive-date=September 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907181930/http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/browsers/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210200838|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/microsoft-internet-explorer-8-to-include-so-called-porn-mode-privacy-feature|title=Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 To Include So-Called 'Porn Mode' Privacy Feature|date=August 28, 2008|publisher=Fox News|access-date=September 13, 2008|archive-date=September 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912152648/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,412161,00.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://infotech.indiatimes.com/News/Porn_Mode_comes_to_IE8/articleshow/3385364.cms|title=Porn Mode Comes to IE8|date=August 20, 2008|publisher=Indiatimes|access-date=September 13, 2008|archive-date=September 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917180527/http://infotech.indiatimes.com/News/Porn_Mode_comes_to_IE8/articleshow/3385364.cms|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?%27Porn_mode%27_for_new_Internet_Explorer&in_article_id=284138&in_page_id=34|title='Porn Mode' for New Internet Explorer|date=August 28, 2008|publisher=metro.co.uk|access-date=September 13, 2008|archive-date=September 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913063623/http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?%27Porn_mode%27_for_new_Internet_Explorer&in_article_id=284138&in_page_id=34|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Microsoft-Release-Internet-Explorer-8-Beta-2-Say-New-Web-Browser-More-Secure-Easier-Faster/Article/200808415088783|title=Microsoft's 'Porn Mode' Browser|date=August 29, 2008|publisher=news.sky.com|access-date=September 13, 2008|archive-date=February 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202095352/http://news.sky.com/skynews/home/technology/microsoft-release-internet-explorer-8-beta-2-say-new-web-browser-more-secure-easier-faster/article/200808415088783|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3358269/Microsoft-launches-porn-browser-to-protect-privacy.html|title=Microsoft Launches 'Porn Browser' To Protect Privacy|last=Peterkin|first=Tom|date=August 28, 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=September 13, 2008|archive-date=August 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804004535/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3358269/Microsoft-launches-porn-browser-to-protect-privacy.html|url-status=live}} A similar feature, first introduced in Safari in 2005,{{cite news|first=Pei Zuan|last=Tam|title=Private Browsing with Safari Web Browser|url=http://macnify.blogspot.com/2005/10/private-browsing-with-safari-web.html|work=MacNify|date=October 2, 2005|access-date=January 29, 2011|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708051814/http://macnify.blogspot.com/2005/10/private-browsing-with-safari-web.html|url-status=live}} was later implemented in Firefox 3.5, Opera 10.5, and Google Chrome.

When a user uses InPrivate Browsing in Internet Explorer 8, one's browsing history, temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, and usernames and passwords are not retained by the browser, leaving no local evidence of browsing or search history.

InPrivate Filtering provides users an added level of control and choice about the information that third party websites can use to track browsing activity. InPrivate Subscriptions allow users to augment the capability of InPrivate Blocking by subscribing to lists of websites to block or allow.

As with other private browsing modes, there are ways that information about a browsing session can be recovered.

File:IExplore.svg

Internet Explorer 8 includes performance improvements across the HTML parser, CSS engine, mark-up tree manipulation as well as the JScript runtime and the associated garbage collector. Memory leaks due to inconsistent handling of circular references between JScript objects and DOM objects were corrected.{{cite web | url = http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd361842%28v=vs.85%29.aspx | title = Circular Memory Leak Mitigation | publisher = Microsoft | access-date = August 26, 2011 | archive-date = September 4, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110904011138/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd361842%28v=vs.85%29.aspx | url-status = live }} For better security and stability, IE8 uses the Loosely Coupled Internet Explorer (LCIE) architecture and runs the browser frame and tabs in separate processes. LCIE prevents glitches and hangs from bringing down the entire browser and leads to higher performance and scalability. Permissions for ActiveX controls have been made more flexible – instead of enabling or disabling them globally, they can now be allowed on a per-site basis.

SmartScreen Filter extended Internet Explorer 7's phishing filter to include protection from socially engineered malware. Every website and download is checked against a local list of popular legitimate websites; if the site is not listed, the entire address is sent to Microsoft for further checks.{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/privacy.aspx#services |title=Please upgrade your browser - Microsoft Windows |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=March 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311171937/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/privacy.aspx#services |url-status=live }} If it has been labeled as an impostor or harmful, Internet Explorer 8 will show a screen prompting that the site is reported harmful and shouldn't be visited. From there the user can either visit his or her homepage, visit the previous site, or continue to the unsafe page.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/07/02/ie8-security-part-iii-smartscreen-filter.aspx |title=IE8 Security Part III: SmartScreen Filter |date=July 2, 2008 |access-date=September 2, 2008 |author=Lawrence, Eric |archive-date=September 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903140938/http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/07/02/ie8-security-part-iii-smartscreen-filter.aspx |url-status=live }} If a user attempts to download a file from a location reported harmful, then the download is cancelled. The effectiveness of SmartScreen filtering has been reported to be superior to socially engineered malware protection in other browsers.{{cite web|url=http://www.nsslabs.com/assets/noreg-reports/NSSLabs%20Browser%20Security%20Test%20-%20Socially%20Engineered%20Malware%202009Q1.pdf|title=The Q3 Socially Engineered Malware Test Report|date=August 14, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214180148/http://www.nsslabs.com/assets/noreg-reports/NSSLabs%20Browser%20Security%20Test%20-%20Socially%20Engineered%20Malware%202009Q1.pdf|archive-date=December 14, 2010}}

This feature can be disabled or enforced using Group Policy.

File:IE8DevTools.PNG debugging session]]

This feature is described by Microsoft as a tool to suggest websites, which is done by the browser sending information to Microsoft over a secure connection, which keeps the information and a per-session, uniquely generated identifier for a short time.{{cite web

|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/02/05/suggested-sites-privacy.aspx

|title=Suggested Sites & Privacy

|date=February 5, 2009

|access-date=February 6, 2009

|work=IEBlog

|publisher=Microsoft

|archive-date=February 8, 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208151653/http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/02/05/suggested-sites-privacy.aspx

|url-status=live

}} The Suggested Sites feature is turned off by default and is disabled when the user is browsing with InPrivate enabled or visiting SSL-secured, intranet, IP address, or IDN address sites. Information that could be personally identifiable, such as the user's IP address and browser information is sent to Microsoft as an artifact of the HTTPS protocol. Microsoft has stated that they do not store this information.

The functionality was defended by Microsoft after itworld.com's Gregg Keizer described it as a "phone home" feature.[http://www.itworld.com/internet/54997/microsoft-defends-internet-explorer-privacy "Microsoft Defends Internet Explorer 'Phone Home' Feature"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924193937/http://www.itworld.com/internet/54997/microsoft-defends-internet-explorer-privacy |date=2008-09-24 }}. ITWorld.

{{Main|Web Slice}}

File:Internet Explorer 8 Web Slice.png

Web Slices are snippets of a full webpage to which a user can subscribe. Web Slices are kept updated by the browser automatically, and can be viewed directly from the Favorites bar, complete with graphics and visuals. Developers can mark parts of the pages as Web Slices, using the hAtom and hSlice microformats. Web Slices have been compared to Active Desktop, introduced in Internet Explorer 4 in 1997.{{cite web | url = http://blogs.computerworld.com/ie8s_new_webslices_feature_welcome_to_1997 | title = IE8's New WebSlices Feature: Welcome to 1997 | author = Gralla, Preston | work = Computer World | access-date = March 12, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080313041646/http://blogs.computerworld.com/ie8s_new_webslices_feature_welcome_to_1997 | archive-date = March 13, 2008 }}

Microsoft donated the specification to the public domain under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication. It is also covered by the Microsoft Open Specification Promise.{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc304073(VS.85).aspx |title=Web Slice Format Specification - Version 0.9 |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509200627/https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc304073(VS.85).aspx |url-status=live }}

Windows RSS Platform also supports authenticated feeds beginning with Internet Explorer 8.{{cite web |url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/2/6/F26DF665-1FFF-42F1-A47E-F60D16BDF2E4/AuthenticatedRSSFeeds-IE8DeveloperSeriesInformationPage.pdf |title=Authenticated Feeds |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309045915/http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/2/6/F26DF665-1FFF-42F1-A47E-F60D16BDF2E4/AuthenticatedRSSFeeds-IE8DeveloperSeriesInformationPage.pdf |archive-date=March 9, 2013 }}

Full-page zoom now reflows the text to remove the appearance of horizontal scrollbars on zooming.{{cite web | url = https://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/DevelopersExisting.htm | title = How Do I Keep My Site and Add-Ons Working with Internet Explorer 8? | publisher = Microsoft | access-date = March 5, 2008 | archive-date = March 8, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080308221404/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/readiness/DevelopersExisting.htm | url-status = live }} Image scaling is done using bicubic interpolation resulting in smoother looking images when scaled.{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc849094(VS.85).aspx#scale |title=Image Scaling in Internet Explorer 8 |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021010741/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc849094(VS.85).aspx#scale |url-status=live }}

Using the Compatibility View mode will cause style issues with {{Code|}} form elements when changing zoom levels.

=ActiveX behavior control=

The information bar lets users allow an ActiveX control to run on all Web sites or only the current one. Users can easily make changes to this behavior through the Manage Add-ons dialog box. For each ActiveX control, there's a list of sites where it has been approved by the user.

Removed features

• It is no longer possible to have Internet Explorer automatically open the current session at the next startup. Previous sessions can still be restored manually.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/askie/archive/2009/03/16/open-these-the-next-time-i-use-internet-explorer-no-longer-an-option-in-ie-8.aspx |title='Open These the Next Time I Use Internet Explorer' No Longer an Option in IE 8 |publisher=Blogs.msdn.com |date=March 16, 2009 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=December 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213171143/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/askie/archive/2009/03/16/open-these-the-next-time-i-use-internet-explorer-no-longer-an-option-in-ie-8.aspx |url-status=live }}
• Address Bar inline AutoComplete has been removed.
• CSS Expressions are no longer supported in Internet Explorer 8 Standards mode.{{cite web |author=Galineau, Sylvain |date=October 16, 2008 |title=Ending Expressions |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2008/10/16/ending-expressions.aspx |access-date=September 15, 2010 |archive-date=June 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609134908/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2008/10/16/ending-expressions.aspx |url-status=dead }}
• Web folders can only be opened through the drive mapping tools.{{cite web

|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/askie/archive/2009/03/20/open-as-web-folder-not-in-the-internet-explorer-8-file-open-dialog.aspx

|title='Open as Web Folder' Not in the Internet Explorer 8 File

|work=MSDN

|publisher=Microsoft

|date=March 20, 2009

|access-date=April 4, 2009

|archive-date=April 4, 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404052300/http://blogs.msdn.com/askie/archive/2009/03/20/open-as-web-folder-not-in-the-internet-explorer-8-file-open-dialog.aspx

|url-status=live

}}

• Support for the proprietary element is dropped.{{cite web

|url=http://news.deviantart.com/article/74674/

|title=Internet Explorer 8 Available Now!

|author=ppgrainbow

|publisher=DeviantArt

|date=March 19, 2008

|access-date=March 22, 2008

|archive-date=July 10, 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710122732/http://news.deviantart.com/article/74674/

|url-status=dead

}}

• The option to delete files and settings stored by addons or ActiveX controls is removed, as it is now performed automatically.Windows Help and Support: "Delete webpage history"
• Web page links and images can be dragged only to the desktop or to an open Explorer window.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ghacks.net/2009/05/10/4-internet-explorer-8-annoyances/#comment-806027

|title=4 Internet Explorer 8 Annoyances

|publisher=ghacks.net

|date=May 10, 2009

|access-date=October 26, 2009

|archive-date=January 29, 2014

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129212625/http://www.ghacks.net/2009/05/10/4-internet-explorer-8-annoyances/#comment-806027

|url-status=live

}}

Standards support

=Standards mode=

Internet Explorer 8's main rendering mode, known as standards mode, has improved support for various web standards, especially CSS, compared to Internet Explorer 7 and earlier versions.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/03/03/microsoft-s-interoperability-principles-and-ie8.aspx |title=Microsoft's Interoperability Principles and IE8 |last=Hachamovitch |first=Dean |date=March 3, 2008 |access-date=March 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830002633/http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/03/03/microsoft-s-interoperability-principles-and-ie8.aspx |archive-date=August 30, 2008 }}

The web standards supported by IE8 include the following:

• Accessible Rich Internet Applications specification for enhanced accessibility in Ajax-based rich Internet applications.
• CSS level 1 is fully supported. CSS level 2 is mostly supported;{{cite web |url=http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/#browsers |title=W3C - CSS browsers |publisher=W3.org |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215062000/http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/#browsers |url-status=live }} however, several rendering bugs and regressions may affect conformance.{{cite web|url=http://idreamincode.co.uk/ie8-bugs |title=James Hopkins" IE8 Bugs |publisher=Idreamincode.co.uk |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801120753/http://idreamincode.co.uk/ie8-bugs |archive-date=August 1, 2009 }} CSS level 3 is partially supported.
• Data: URIs (limited to non-navigable content less than 32 KiB)
• DOM, which brings it in line with implementations in other browsers. Attributes and properties in DOM objects are now handled differently, and the behavior of the getAttribute, setAttribute, and removeAttribute modifiers have been changed to match the behavior of other browsers.
• DOM storage
• HTML, including the HTML object fallback and the abbr and elements{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc304133(VS.85).aspx#Quoting |title=HTML Enhancements in Internet Explorer 8 |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com |date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023093641/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc304133(VS.85).aspx#Quoting |url-status=live }}
• Partial HTML 5 support, including cross-document messaging
• [http://www.w3.org/TR/selectors-api/ Selectors] APIs

However, IE8 does not support some other W3C standards:

File:Acid3ie8.PNG

• MathML
• Significant parts of DOM Level 2 and 3, including the standard event model used by other browsers.
• Scalable Vector Graphics. The lack of SVG support in IE8 was criticized by World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/224043/bernerslee-unhappy-with-ie8.html |title=Berners-Lee Unhappy with IE8 |date=September 29, 2008 |access-date=September 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015085229/http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/224043/bernerslee-unhappy-with-ie8.html |archive-date=October 15, 2008 |url-status=dead }}
• XHTML (except when used as a form of HTML)

IE8 passes the Acid2 test,{{cite web |url=http://channel9.msdn.com/showpost.aspx?postid=367207 |title=IE 8: On the Path to Web Standards Compliance - ACID 2 Test Pass Complete |publisher=Microsoft |date=December 19, 2007 |access-date=December 20, 2007 |archive-date=December 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221115421/http://channel9.msdn.com/showpost.aspx?postid=367207 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2007/12/19/internet-explorer-8-and-acid2-a-milestone.aspx |title=Internet Explorer 8 and Acid2: A Milestone |author=Hachamovitch, Dean |date=December 19, 2007 |access-date=September 15, 2010 |archive-date=August 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827092952/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2007/12/19/internet-explorer-8-and-acid2-a-milestone.aspx |url-status=live }} but fails the Acid3 test with a score of 24/100. During its development, Microsoft developed over 7,000 tests for CSS level 2 compliance, which were submitted to the W3C for inclusion in their test suite.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/03/20/more-web-standards-tests-submitted-to-the-w3c.aspx |title=More Web Standards Tests Submitted to the W3C |date=March 26, 2009 |access-date=September 15, 2010 |author=Upton, James |archive-date=January 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118161556/http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2009/03/20/more-web-standards-tests-submitted-to-the-w3c.aspx |url-status=live }}

=Compatibility View mode=

{{Main|Compatibility mode#Internet Explorer}}

Internet Explorer 8 was promoted by Microsoft as having stricter adherence to W3C described web standards than Internet Explorer 7. As a result, as in every IE version before it, some percentage of web pages coded to the behavior of the older versions would break in IE8. This would have been a repetition of the situation with IE7 which, while having fixed bugs from IE6, broke pages that used the IE6-specific hacks to work around its non-compliance. This was especially a problem for offline HTML documents, which may not be updatable (e.g., stored on a read-only medium, such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM).

To avoid this situation, IE8 implements a form of Version Targeting whereby a page could be authored to a specific version of a browser using the X-UA-Compatible declaration either as a meta element or in the HTTP headers.{{cite web |url = http://www.alistapart.com/articles/beyonddoctype |title = Beyond DOCTYPE: Web Standards, Forward Compatibility, and IE8 |author = Gustafson, Aaron |date = January 21, 2008 |access-date = March 22, 2007 |archive-date = January 23, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080123045312/http://www.alistapart.com/articles/beyonddoctype |url-status = live }}

In order to maintain backwards compatibility, sites can opt-into IE7-like handling of content by inserting a specially created meta element into the web page that triggers the "Compatibility View" mode in the browser, using:

Adoption

{{See also|Usage share of web browsers}}

Five weeks after the release of IE8 Beta 2 in August 2008, Beta 1's market share had grown from 0.05 percent to 0.61 percent, according to Net Applications.{{cite web |url=http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?sample=34&qprid=43&qpdt=1&qpct=4&qpcustom=Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer%208.0&qptimeframe=H&qpsp=89832&qpnp=97 |title=Usage Share Trend for 'Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0' |year=2009 |publisher=Net Applications |access-date=March 30, 2009 |archive-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120112049/http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?sample=34&qprid=43&qpdt=1&qpct=4&qpcustom=Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer%208.0&qptimeframe=H&qpsp=89832&qpnp=97 |url-status=live }} In July 2009, just under four months after the final release, the market share jumped to 13 percent.{{cite web |url=http://marketshare.hitslink.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=2&qpmr=40&qpdt=1&qpct=3&qptimeframe=M&qpsp=126&qpnp=1 |title=Usage Share Trend for 'Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0' |year=2009 |publisher=NetApplications |access-date=July 13, 2009 |archive-date=November 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125193233/http://marketshare.hitslink.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=2&qpmr=40&qpdt=1&qpct=3&qptimeframe=M&qpsp=126&qpnp=1 |url-status=live }}

{{As of|September 2013}}, estimates of IE8's global market share ranged from 6.93% to 8.73%.{{cite web

|url=http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php

|title=Global Web Stats

|publisher=W3Counter

|date=January 2011

|access-date=January 18, 2011

|archive-date=June 28, 2012

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120628/http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php

|url-status=live

}}{{cite web

|url=http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser_version-ww-monthly-201012-201012-bar

|title=StatCounter Global Stats

|publisher=StatCounter

|date=January 2011

|access-date=January 18, 2011

|archive-date=May 30, 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530110643/http://gs.statcounter.com/#browser_version-ww-monthly-201012-201012-bar

|url-status=live

}}{{cite web

|url=http://marketshare.hitslink.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=2

|title=Browser Version Market Share

|publisher=Net Applications

|date=January 2011

|access-date=January 18, 2011

|archive-date=November 10, 2017

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110192057/http://marketshare.hitslink.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=2

|url-status=live

}} Note: IE8 + "Compatibility Mode" numbers

According to a Net Applications web analytics report from October 2014, Internet Explorer 8 accounted for 17.31% of web traffic, now overtaken by IE11 in usage.

Reviews and reception

{{anchor|Reviews}}In a March 19, 2009, review, Benny Har-Even of IT PRO offered some praise of Internet Explorer 8, noting its reliability and good features and concluding that it was "certainly the best version of Internet Explorer in a long time," but also that "there's not yet anything here to make Firefox users want to jump ship."{{cite web|url=http://www.itpro.co.uk/610250/internet-explorer-8-review|title=IT PRO Reviews Internet Explorer 8|date=19 March 2009|access-date=11 May 2009|archive-date=25 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525185819/http://www.itpro.co.uk/610250/internet-explorer-8-review|url-status=live}} He offered praise to Microsoft for paying attention to their competition and producing "a better featured, faster and more reliable browsing experience for the masses" and suggested that as Microsoft continues to improve the product, it would become "harder to persuade the unconverted to switch away from IE."

The next month, on April 2, Mark Joseph Edwards wrote in the newsletter Windows Secrets that the new edition of Internet Explorer had greatly improved security, speed, and compatibility, but opined that it still lagged behind competitors in all three areas.{{cite web|url=http://windowssecrets.com/2009/04/02/01-No-reason-to-rush-your-upgrade-to-IE-8|title=Windows Secrets - No Reason To Rush Your Upgrade to IE 8|access-date=2010-01-02|archive-date=2010-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102071940/http://windowssecrets.com/2009/04/02/01-No-reason-to-rush-your-upgrade-to-IE-8|url-status=live}} Edwards noted that, at the time, Internet Explorer 8 was still underperforming relative to other browsers in speed and was not as successful in displaying webpages as they were intended to display as such browsers as Firefox and Opera. In terms of security, he wrote that its "continued reliance on ActiveX makes the browser vulnerable in its very foundation." For these reasons, he suggested that Firefox remained a better alternative to Internet Explorer 8, even though it was a "much better browser than IE 7."

Around 2010, a theme named "BlueSky" was created for the Mozilla Firefox browser with the aim to resemble the graphical user interface of Internet Explorer 8 as accurately as possible.{{cite web |last1=Dimmitt |first1=Toby |title=60 Most Popular Firefox Themes |url=https://designpress.com/freebies/most-popular-firefox-themes/ |website=Design Press |access-date=17 January 2022 |date=4 January 2011 |quote=[BlueSky] is the theme of the most perfectly simulating Internet Explorer 8 by far. |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182839/https://designpress.com/freebies/most-popular-firefox-themes/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/myfirefox/ |title=BlueSky :: Add-ons for Firefox |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807074601/https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/myfirefox/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}

System requirements

class="wikitable" style="margin:auto" |+ Versions and configurations of Windows supported by IE8{{cite web|title=Internet Explorer 8 system requirements|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/products/ie-8/system-requirements|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624025756/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/products/ie-8/system-requirements|archive-date=24 June 2011|url-status=deviated|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=3 October 2012}}{{cite web|title=Availability of Windows Internet Explorer 8|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944036|work=Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=15 November 2012|date=10 October 2011|archive-date=17 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117083809/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944036|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Installing Internet Explorer 8|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc985359.aspx|work=TechNet|date=20 January 2012|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=15 November 2012|archive-date=17 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917112249/http://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc985359.aspx|url-status=live}} ! Operating system !! Service pack needed !! CPU architecture !! Minimum RAM
Windows XP	SP2 or later	IA-32	64 MB
Windows XP x64 Edition	SP2 only	x64	128 MB
Windows Server 2003	SP2 only	IA-32 and x64	64 MB on IA-32, 128 MB on x64
Windows Vista	RTM or later	IA-32 and x64	512 MB
Windows Server 2008	RTM or later	IA-32 and x64	512 MB
Windows 7	RTM or later	IA-32 and x64	1 GB
Windows Server 2008 R2	RTM or later	x64 and Itanium	1 GB

See also

• Comparison of web browsers
• Mandatory Integrity Control

References

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web|title=Windows Internet Explorer 8 for Windows XP|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=43|work=Microsoft Download Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=15 November 2012|date=19 March 2009|archive-date=16 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116151855/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=43|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Windows Internet Explorer 8 for Windows Server 2003|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20335|work=Microsoft Download Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=15 November 2012|date=11 March 2009|archive-date=25 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125205836/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20335|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Windows Internet Explorer 8 for Windows Server 2003 SP2 64-bit Edition or Windows XP Professional 64-bit Edition|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14805|work=Microsoft Download Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=15 November 2012|date=19 March 2009|archive-date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114002420/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=14805|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Windows Internet Explorer 8 for Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=22166|work=Microsoft Download Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=15 November 2012|date=11 March 2009|archive-date=15 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115051708/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=22166|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Windows Internet Explorer 8 for Windows Vista 64-bit Edition or Windows Server 2008 64-bit Edition|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=18691|work=Microsoft Download Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=15 November 2012|date=19 March 2009|archive-date=12 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112230147/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=18691|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Internet Explorer 8 Upgrade Advisor does not function correctly after you install update 2183461 in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2 (Revision: 2.0)|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2398632/sv|work=Microsoft Support|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=3 October 2012|date=4 November 2010|archive-date=9 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309013948/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2398632/sv|url-status=live}}

}}

External links

• {{Official website|http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/}}
• [http://msdn.microsoft.com/ie/ Internet Explorer Developer Center] on MSDN
• [http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/ Internet Explorer team blog]

{{S-start}}

{{S-bef|before=Internet Explorer 7}}

{{S-ttl|title=Internet Explorer 8|years=2009}}

{{S-aft|after=Internet Explorer 9}}

{{S-end}}

{{Internet Explorer}}

{{Timeline of web browsers|2000s}}

{{Web browsers}}

Category:2009 software

Category:Internet Explorer

Category:News aggregator software

Category:Windows components

Category:Windows web browsers

cs:Internet Explorer#Verze 8

th:อินเทอร์เน็ตเอกซ์พลอเรอร์#อินเทอร์เน็ตเอกซ์พลอเรอร์ 8