Overview
Windows Internet Explorer (IE) has been the most widely used web browser since 1999, conquering a peak of around 95% usage share during 2002 and 2003. However, since then Microsoft’s tight grip on the browser market is rapidly slipping. The older versions of Internet Explorer had been subject to many security vulnerabilities and concerns, which were the primary reasons for the downfall of Internet Explorer and increased preference of other browsers. The other reason was that it comes with toolbars, which makes it slow to load and when those are uninstalled, it deglamourizes the user interface as compared to other browsers.
Nonetheless, Microsoft unveiled a new version of Internet Explorer web browser, Internet Explorer 9 on 15 September, 2010 with better JScript performance, improved Graphical User Interface, superior security features, and many other enhanced features over its previous releases of Internet Explorer. It is considered as the most secure web browser. The current release of the IE9 series is the Internet Explorer 9 Platform Preview 7, which was launched on 17 November, 2010. Microsoft, with this product, takes a big step to compete with other modern browsers. With Internet Explorer 9, currently in beta version, Microsoft is back with a bang in the browser market. In its four earlier platform previews, Microsoft has already shown some novel features that it is delivering in IE9.