Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 8 RC1

Microsoft has just released Internet Explorer 8 RC1 with build number 8.0.06001.18372. Neowin.net notes the following improvements:

• Faster Internet Explorer 8 is more responsive with new pages and tabs, opening up fast and reliably. You can now get to the information you care about most, in fewer steps; one click access to your webmail, favorite news sites or other online services.
• Easier Reduce the steps to accomplish many common tasks, and automate your access to real time information updates. You can keep track of your favorite sports team, news, weather with a single click.
• More Private Helps protect your privacy and confidential information where ever you go on the web.
• More Secure Helps protect and stop malicious software from reaching your PC, and makes it easier to detect when a website is an imposter.

Additional Notes: RC1 now correctly supports .PNG image files. Prior to this, some .PNG images (ones that use transparency I believe) would only display correctly in compatibility mode. Also, at this time, RC1 gets just 20/100 on the Acid3 test. Hopefully this will improve in the near future.

Image courtesy of Neowin.net

At this time, there is no available RC1 download for Windows 7 users. A Windows 7 release is expected sometime next month. As for the general availability of Internet Explorer 8, it is expected to be completed before Windows 7 is released, which could be anytime from this summer to the first quarter of 2010.

Download Links

• 32-Bit Vista & Windows Server 2008
• 64-Bit Vista & Windows Server 2008
• Windows XP SP2 & 3
• Windows Server 2003 SP2 or 64-Bit Windows XP Professional
• Windows Server 2003 SP2