Internet Explorer 8 Review - Features
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The most prominent features associated with Internet Explorer 8 include: InPrivate browsing, caret browsing, accelerators, web slices, automatic crash recovery and SmartScreen Filter. More information can be found in the sections below.
InPrivate Browsing
InPrivate browsing is the most controversial feature associated with Internet Explorer 8. Consisting of three parts, browsing, blocking and subscription, the InPrivate feature puts your computer into a stealth-like mode. The browsing and the blocking portions automatically delete anything within your cache, while the subscription portion gives you control over which sites have access to your computer. So, if you have a site that you really trust, add it into the subscription feature. That way, you will still have access to it despite InPrivate’s automatic deletion.
Caret Browsing
Caret browsing is a feature available for other browsers, but Internet Explorer 8 makes it much clearer. Basically, users can move within a Web page by using just their keyboards and an on-screen cursor. So, in essence, caret browsing allows the same type of keyboard navigation you would use in a word processor.
Accelerators
The accelerator function is unique to Internet Explorer 8. Basically, it allows instant access to other online services based on the text you select. For example, say you wanted to find the location of a business. All you would need to do is highlight the company’s name and click on the Accelerators icon. From there, you can access IE8’s “Map with Live Maps” feature.
Consider another accelerator example. Say you read an informative article on how to buy laptops. The author suggests a laptop that looks interesting to you. Instead of having to search for the laptop in a different tab, you could highlight it and press the Accelerator icon. From there, you can buy the computer off of Amazon, eBay or any other service you designate.
Web Slices
Web slices give surfers a chance to keep track of updated content on a particular website. For instance, if you’re trying to buy something on eBay, you want to know if another eBayer placed a higher bid than you. Without Web slices, you would either have to check your email or go to the site directly.
Once you implement Web slices, however, all you have to do is go to your Favorites bar. After you select your desired slice, you will be shown the latest bids that have occurred. Your browsing activity does not get interrupted.
Automatic Crash Recovery
Before Internet Explorer 8, browser crashes meant a surfer’s Internet history was completely lost, unless it was bookmarked in some way. Well, automatic crash recovery solves this problem by allowing surfers access to whatever sites they were visiting before the crash occurred.
SmartScreen Filter
SmartScreen Filter uses advanced programming technologies to determine whether or not malware, adware or other harmful software has been installed on your computer. It is better than a virus program because it keeps these threats from ever reaching your machine.
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