What is an Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer - what is it? Development and functions. Disable Internet Explorer Browser
It's hard to believe that someone else doesn't know anything about browsers. These programs have long become our assistants, they allow you to plunge into the world of the Internet and find out everything we want. Web browsers help you not only view web pages, but also open special documents, files, directories, manage applications and solve all sorts of software tasks.
Browsers
We have all heard about the Internet browser that has become "cult" (with a negative connotation). Now it is used by a small number of people. This is also due to the fact that the company has practically ceased to programmatically support its offspring, and users are tired of slowdowns and lags.
It may seem to some that Internet Explorer was the first browser. But this is not the case. In fact, he is only 22 years old. WorldWideWeb became the first Internet observer. He became famous back in 1990. It was designed by Tim Berners-Lee. Over time, the browser was renamed to Nexus. But this option can hardly be considered complete, since it was used for special tasks.
But NCSA Mosaic has become a common columnist. He started working with Windows, and it was on his basis with the source code that Internet Explorer became known. It happened in 1995. From that point on, IE began to be included in the Windows operating system. And only in the 10th version of the OS, this browser was replaced by a new product from the company Microsoft Edge.
The first steps
The browser project was founded in 1994. Thomas Reardon worked on it. The first version appeared the next year and is similar to Spyglass Mosaic, since it was developed on the basis of this browser. Microsoft on legal grounds creates its first browser by redeeming the license. The version became known to the owners of Windows 95. Later, an intermediate version appeared, for which the support for displaying HTML tables was improved.
Subsequent versions began to appear one after another. In them, users could get acquainted with new functions. Then programmers began to use iframe - element HTML language, which made it possible to create documents in a document.
The fifth version finally stopped reloading on HTTP requests to the server. The method of grabbing and dragging parts became known. Now it is included in the fifth version of the markup language and is accepted by all applications by default. Added attributes for direct editing of elements from the browser and opened access to the clipboard.
Sixth version Internet browser Explorer for XP noted that it began using the P3P protocol to communicate visitor privacy. In the seventh version, this function was improved, the information was now protected from viruses and network attacks.
Eighth
IE8 became known to the world in 2009. A beta version was released earlier, which revealed all the shortcomings. After that, the second beta version was released with revision, and on March 19, the main one came into wide use. This browser worked with Windows XP, Vista, 7, Server 2003 and 2008. The system architecture could be 32 or 64-bit. The manufacturer claimed that this option the browser had to provide security, simplicity and lightweight work with PSS, CSS, etc.
The developers have tried to implement strict adherence to the standards and the correct display of cascading style sheets. JavaScript has also been improved and performance has been improved. Anonymous mode could be used. But, despite all the declared advantages and innovations, some countries recommended their citizens to abandon the use of this web browser, since security problems were discovered during the work. This version of Internet Explorer for Windows XP was the last for users of this operating system.
Ninth
We started working on this update immediately after the previous release. The developers wanted to improve the performance of web applications by improving DirectX work... In 2011, it was possible to test this when working with IE9. This version supported operating systems starting with Vista. It became possible to use CSS 3, but partially. We also decided to provide support for ICC color profiles 2 or 4 versions.
It was the first web browser to be hardware accelerated. It was needed for quick display graphic elements... The loading of text and video was also accelerated due to special technologies... Pinning pages to the taskbar became available, and testing showed excellent results.
Tenth
The tenth version of Internet Explorer for Windows 7 was not released immediately. Initially, the company introduced this browser for two systems: Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. At the G8, this version of the web browser was divided into two parts: the classic one for the desktop, and the first one for touch devices. The update made it possible to manage all the latest JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS3. Again, we tried to refine technologies for the security of user data and various tools.
The last
Internet Explorer 11 is the latest update. Released in 2013 on Windows 8.1. At first I worked with this version of the operating system for PCs and smartphones, later with the "seven". With the release of Windows 10, it entered the complex along with a new product from Microsoft.
The updated version began to support the synchronization of all personal data and tools through the account Microsoft entry... The developer has conducted testing and stated that this version is definitely considered the fastest at the time of its release. Many innovations are associated with the version for the smartphone.
Since the beginning of 2016, the manufacturer announced that this version of Internet Explorer is the only one that will be supported by the company for some time. All others, obsolete, will be deprived of technical support and security updates.
Criticism
It's no secret that very few people like this browser. He received a ton of criticism at the time. At first, this was due to the fact that Microsoft's web browser was the only possible one on the system. The developer wanted to monopolize the desktop operating system market. But soon it became possible to choose the default browser.
Later, many countries began to claim that Internet Explorer is not a flexible page browser. It does not have sufficient support for web standards, which, of course, did not like the programmers. And only in the ninth version all the necessary technologies and functions were added, while the webmasters switched to other platforms.
There were also questions about security and operational work. Especially doubts arose about the test scores. Some experts believed that Microsoft was deliberately twisting the results in order to somehow stay afloat.
Continuation
Microsoft Edge is a continuation of the Internet Explorer browser. The new application appeared along with the tenth version of the operating system. The novelty is presented to the public as the default browser. Internet Explorer 11 also remains on the system to maintain backward compatibility. Microsoft Edge is powered by a new JavaScript engine and interpreter. Allows you to use the stylus. Assistant Cortana has been introduced. You can log in through a biometric authentication system and much more.
Replacing the old Internet Explorer was successful. Of course, it’s too early to talk about it, since his audience is small. But those who have already tried this web browser were satisfied with both speed and security. The only thing is missing some additional tools and extensions.
Internet Explorer is an free program, which is developed by Microsoft Corporation and is intended for viewing Internet content. All Windows operating systems are equipped with this data. It has been included in the set of this operating system since 1995. However, at that time it was not yet widely used. But today it is the most popular among users. And this is not without reason, since it has a convenient and intuitive window interface.
Internet Explorer browser window interface
At the top of the program is the title bar. There are three buttons in the right corner: Collapse , Minimize to window and Close... The operation of these buttons is very simple, each one performs the action assigned to it.
Below is the address bar, where the address of the required web page is registered in. In addition, the page address is entered into the line automatically when moving from one publication to another.
To the left of the address bar are the buttons Back and Forward... The icons are displayed as arrows. At the button Back the arrow looks to the left, the button Forward has an arrow pointing to the right. With these icons, you can easily navigate from page to page. To return to the previous page, just click the corresponding button. To view the next page, click the icon Forward .
Depending on the product series, bookmark open page can be located in two variations: either next to the address bar, or below it. Along with the address bar and the bookmark of the open page, there are buttons Home , Magazine (Favorites) and Settings .
Using the button Home you can quickly return to home page search engine that the user has set as their home.
In the tab Journal data are recorded on the days of the visited pages. Tab Favorites displays the pages that the user has brought here for their convenience. Using this tab, you can quickly move from one site to another, as time is not wasted searching.
Using the button Customization you can send the document for printing, change the scale of the window, go to the pinned sites.
The toolbar is located under the address bar. It includes the name of the search engine. Here you can customize various icons for your convenience. A pictogram is often placed here. Email, weather button, currency quotes. Each user customizes the panel at his own discretion.
Below the toolbar is the work area. It directly displays the content that is posted on websites. There are scroll bars (vertical and horizontal) that appear depending on the size of the content.
Thus, the interface of the Internet Explorer web browser (Internet Explorer) is similar to the interface of other commonly used programs such as Microsoft Officce Word and Microsoft Officce Excel. This similarity attracts the user, since an inexperienced person does not need to study the structure of the window for a long time in working with an Internet browser, it is enough to look around at it. This is the main and main advantage of this web browser.
Working with Internet Explorer
Windows developers have provided frequent use browser. As a result, they moved the icon to the taskbar. The pictogram displays a browser icon in the form of an uppercase letter e with a vertical belt. Thus, the program can be launched using the button from the taskbar or it can be launched from the list of programs using the button Start... After launch, a browser window appears.
Here, the user either uses his favorite sites, which are recorded in Chosen, or enters the address of the desired e-page... Site addresses are written in Latin. But recently it became possible to enter website addresses in Russian. However, even when entering the Russian-language site name, it must be remembered that the protocol http: // should be written in Latin.
In order for the user to be able to view sites, he initially needs to establish a connection with the provider. If the connection is not established, then instead of web pages, after starting the browser, a message will appear in the working window about the impossibility of displaying the page.
Disadvantages and criticism of the Internet browser Internet Explorer
Any program has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, this browser is no exception. A lot of users note that some websites are not displayed correctly.
Professionals criticize him for not supporting the web standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Incorrect display data creates a problem not only for users, but also for the masters of web pages. Of course, the latest versions of Internet Explorer (Internet Explorer) have support CSS3 and objects Java Script load quickly, but this browser there is something to strive for.
But this browser also has important positive characteristics... According to research by NSS Labs, in the test Internet Explorer 10 version far ahead of its competitors. More than 99 percent of malware was detected and blocked by it.
Hello dear readers of the blog site! I thought for a long time and nevertheless decided to write about the Internet Explorer, which has a very rich history, containing both ups and downs. This web browser (- what is the browser, which one is the best) has enough name variations: IE, Internet Explorer, MSIE. The last abbreviation betrays his belonging to the great and mighty MicroSoft, which says a lot.
First of all, the fact that the Explorer developers have a huge resource of tools and capabilities that allow them to constantly improve their brainchild and through constant innovations and the introduction of new functionality go ahead of your competitors. By and large, this is what happens and IE takes the leading positions in the world, because more than 55% of all users prefer this browser.
However, everything is learned by comparison. Indeed, even at the end of the last century or the beginning of this century, the share of Internet Explorer in the world market was more than 90%. But competitors (first of all, Mozilla Firefox, Opera and especially Google chrome) have taken a giant step forward during this time, while Microsoft representatives missed this leap, hoping for their infallibility.
This belief was based on the fact that Microsoft has the lion's share of the operating system (Windows) market, with which various modifications of Internet Explorer were bundled. It was only thanks to this circumstance that it was possible to retain a significant part of its superiority.
However, absolute leadership was lost. This happened due to the fact that a number of IE modifications were extremely unsuccessful, until now webmasters curse Explorer 6 as a standard of bungling and absurdity. After all, this browser, unlike the same Mazila, Opera and Chrome, was completely not adapted to the requirements of the validity of CSS and HTML code (and about checking the site for errors using the W3C validator, approved by the International Consortium of the same name).
For this reason, webmasters had to literally go to waste in order to more or less bring their websites in accordance with the requirements of cross-browser compatibility (about the need for the same display of the site in different browsers). Internet Explorer 6 could not be ignored in any way due to its wide distribution among users, despite all its "jambs".
However, this also applies to 7 and 8 Explorer versions, although many of the shortcomings have already been corrected in them. MSIE developers had to roll up their sleeves and catch up with competitors that had gone ahead. And only starting with the version of Internet Explorer 9 was it possible to improve the browser so much that it became almost on par with competitors in terms of code validity, security and functionality.
As I mentioned above, due to the unfortunate period when Microsoft spawned a monster named IE6 (and I want to say that they let the genie out of the bottle), the corporation has lost its absolute leadership in the browser market. However, this giant has very strong leverage to influence the situation and regain its former power in this area, as I have already noted above. It's amazing how MS was able to get out of hand with such a resource.
But, albeit belatedly, Microsoft began to rectify the situation. The first step was to use the possibility of manipulation with the help of Windows operating systems (Vista, XP, 7, 8), with which Explorer began to spread on an even larger scale. As you know, in terms of OS MicroSoft is the undisputed leader.
As a second step, it was necessary to catch up with competitors (again in the face of Google Chrome, Opera and Firefox) in terms of bringing the browser to generally accepted norms in terms of code correctness and compliance with international standards. After the release of Internet Explorer 9, 10 and even 11 modifications, we can say that this stage is over. Moreover, the latest versions of Explorer are very different high level of security significantly exceeding this aspect of competitors.
In order not to be unfounded, I will give the result of an analysis of the well-known NSS Labs campaign, which tested the ability of leading browsers to block the download of malware:
Along with Internet Explorer 10, 3 more popular browsers were tested. As a summary of this test, I will only say that only Explorer users will be protected from 20 out of 20 malware attacks. One hundred percent result! Draw your own conclusions.
By the way, this is about countering malware. But if we talk about ensuring the safety of surfing the Internet, then I have a persistent rejection of using any browser manager, even the most reliable, as a password keeper. For these purposes, I use third-party software, namely, which provides not only automatic authorization on sites, but also helps to access the files of my own resource, for example, via FTP (about the FileZilla client).
In my humble opinion, Microsoft has one more step left to restore the status quo, namely, to come up with some tricks in order to finally lure some part of users to its side, although, of course, it will not be easy to do this in the near future, because many still have 6 and 7 versions in their memory.
I hope, dear readers, that you are not offended for such a long introduction, but I could not do otherwise. It was necessary to issue information that briefly describes the history of the formation of the Explorer browser, so that you can make a decision about using it not on the basis of my unfounded advice, but on the basis of incidental facts.
How to download the correct version of IE depending on the OS
In general download suitable version Internet Explorer, depending on the operating system, is available from the official Microsoft page absolutely free of charge:
Moreover, the version of the Explorer depends on the modification of the operating system that you have installed. For example, for Windows XP owners, the latest version is IE 8 and newer is no longer available (in this case, when you go to the download web page, it will be Explorer 8 that will be offered). For those who have in their arsenal Windows Vista the maximum possible is IE 9. I use 7, so I did not miss the opportunity and was able to download Internet Explorer 10:
Well, users who own Windows 8 have every right to download Explorer 11 version, as you can see from the above screenshot. Also, those who wish are quite accessible to the Explorer modification, sharpened for search engine Yandex and includes Yandex Elements (you can download it from here).
Based on the above, Microsoft's policy is clearly traced, which is to incentivize users to purchase new products, as a result of which the circle of potential clients... Want IE 10? Please install Windows 7 instead of XP, and so on. Of course, such a policy cannot be called flexible and clean in the full sense, but what to do.
Competitors (Mazila, Opera, Chrome) provide the latest developments for almost all operating systems, but the immense popularity of Windows in the world and the linking of the MSIE browser to it, which is included in the kit, makes it possible to implement a similar strategy.
Internet Explorer 10 Settings
First, I will say that after installing the tenth version of Explorer, its happy owners will be able to fully enjoy its high-speed work, at least, I drew attention to this. After opening a browser window, you can make sure that a dozen provides ample opportunities edit Internet Explorer add-ons as your heart desires.
Consider add-ons in a browser window. By default, the "Menu" panel is displayed, however, if you follow the path "View" → "Toolbars" and check the corresponding lines, you can achieve the display of additional panels, for example, the command line:
As a result, we get the following picture:
Now let's connect some add-on as an add-on. To do this, from the context menu
"Service" → "Configure add-ons" select the appropriate extension and click on the "Enable" button:
If you uncheck the box next to the "Dock toolbars" option, then the line that appears can be dragged left and right up to the opposite edge of the browser window:
In order to do this, you need to move the cursor to the vertical that appears after unchecking the checkbox. dotted line until the cursor takes the shape of an arrow directed in opposite directions. Hold down this area with the left mouse button and without releasing it, drag to the desired place. After that, release the button and the add-in will take a new place. Subsequently, to disable the add-in, you can simply click on the nearby red cross and confirm the action by clicking on the "Disable" button in the dialog box that appears.
Favorites are the URLs of the most important web pages for you that you open in Explorer (well, or the most visited) and the ability to reach them with a single click. To add a new web page, click on "Add to favorites" (by the way, in essence, favorites in IE are the same as bookmarks in other browsers).
To edit this tab as you wish, click on the small triangle next to the "Add to favorites" button and in the menu that opens, click on the line "Sort favorites". As a result, a dialog box will appear in which you can distribute the order of the URL addresses, place them in the thematic immediately created folders, rename and delete unnecessary folder addresses.
Web feeds are nothing more than the RSS feed of the blogs and sites you visit. This is a very handy option in Internet Explorer. You can immediately familiarize yourself with the content of the web channel of any resource. To this end, it is enough to open the web page with the desired site and click on the corresponding RSS button located in the command line. However, keep in mind that if the site does not have an RSS feed, this button will not be active.
After clicking on the RSS button on the right, the web channel of this resource will open, which you can familiarize yourself with. After that, if you wish, you can immediately subscribe by clicking on the "Subscribe" button. After this action, a dialog box will appear, within which full set actions: in the "Name" column put your name for this channel (if desired, of course). To place a link to this feed in separate folder, create it right there. To add it to the favorites bar, check the corresponding checkbox. After all these manipulations, click on "Subscribe".
And, finally, the journal is the history of web page visits for a certain time. How view history in Internet Explorer? Just open the "Journal" tab, where from the drop-down menu you can configure the parameters for viewing sites (by date, by attendance, by order of visit, etc.). By the way, the group of tabs "Favorites | Feeds | History" can also be fished out by clicking on the star icon in the upper right corner of the browser window.
Probably longtime followers of Internet Explorer know where the basic settings of the IE browser are. In this sense, nothing has changed in versions 9 and 10. We go along the path "Service" → "Browser options" from the left menu or by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right corner and we see the familiar block displayed in the dialog box:
In the "General" tab, by clicking on the "Delete" button and putting a checkmark in front of the necessary categories, you will achieve deletion of all categories of the review history intended for this operation. These categories include: temporary files (), cookies (cookies), history, download history, web form data, saved passwords, and Internet Explorer Activex filtering and anti-tracking data (we'll talk about the latter below). If you want to configure the cache and set the conditions for storing the visited pages in the form of a log, click on the "Options" button.
Of the most important options, it can be noted that in the "Content" tab, you can configure control over the web content allowed for viewing by clicking on the "Family Safety" button. In the "Privacy" tab, you can, for example, check the boxes next to the appropriate options, enable pop-up blocking and force Explorer to disable toolbars and extensions when using InPivate mode (private browsing) to speed up the browser. In general, the settings are given by default, which are properly tested for the average user and are usually changed to those that are necessary to perform certain actions.
Some features of the latest versions of Explorer
So, we briefly covered how to configure the basic functions of Internet Explorer. Now I want to talk a little about those positive aspects in the latest versions of IE 9 and 10, which are designed to slightly improve the situation with the promotion of this brainchild of Microsoft and, perhaps, in the not too distant future, to win new adherents.
1. Explorer 10 uses the resources of the video card when generating pages, this is one of the sources of optimizing the speed of its work. I must say, after installing and launching it, I immediately felt in practice that it is much faster than its predecessors.
2. Following the example of all their competitors, from which the MSIE guys do not want to lag behind, now the address bar in Explorer is combined with the search. This mechanism works similarly to the live search function in Google Chrome. As you enter the search word or phrase, various options from the default search engine base will be offered:
And if a search engine (in this case, Bing) considers any word to be sought based on analytical considerations, he can substitute its ending, colored in blue. Everything for the user, everything to save time. By the way, if you think that you need to integrate some additional software system, then there is no problem. To do this, just click on the "Add" button, after which you will be taken to the page with the collection various extensions... There you need to click on the icon of the search that you need, for example, Yandex. As a result, you will be redirected to the download page, where you click on the "Add to Internet Explorer" link.
3. As already described above, high level security guaranteed to Explorer users by the developers. I liked the fact that the command line has a separate section "Security", in which you can individually apply protection functions:
InPrivate- private browsing mode similar to how it is implemented, for example, in Chrome (- how to download latest version Google Chrome) or in Mazil (a - download Mozilla browser Firefox is free). By using InPrivate Browsing, you can hide information about your browsing session, such as cookies, temporary Internet files, history, and more. In this case, toolbars and add-ons are disabled by default. Sometimes a very popular option.
Tracking protection- this feature has appeared already in IE 9. It prevents the sending of information about the sites viewed to third parties (for example, advertisers who collect statistics on user behavior) and thereby guarantees the confidentiality of all activities in the Internet space. After clicking on the corresponding line, a dialog box will appear, in which there will be a link "Get anti-tracking lists from the Internet", by clicking on which, you will be taken back to the Explorer add-on collection web page, where to add a list, click "Add" opposite the selected icon.
After adding a list, this function can be activated by clicking on the "Parameters" button and putting the On loaded list (or lists) on. It should be borne in mind that for active defense from tracking, some elements of the content of the sites may be inaccessible. Subsequently, you can turn Tracking Protection on and off in the same way.
ActiveX filtering... Activex is the mechanism used by most information resources on the Internet for watching videos, animation elements, etc. Some of the components of this technology can harm the security of your computer or slow it down. To activate or deactivate this function, just click on the corresponding line in the "Security" block.
SmartScreen Filter detects sites with malicious software and websites created for the purpose of phishing (obtaining fraudulently personal user data). Using this technology, you can check the security level of any resource. If you somehow suddenly decide that a web resource seems suspicious, you can report it to the Microsoft campaign by filling out a special form that appears when you go to SmartScreen Filter → Report unsafe website. In the future, SmartScreen will warn about this site when you go to any of its pages.
4. The appearance in the latest versions of IE modern download manager... You can get into it by fetching the "View downloads" option from the top menu or from the "Service" command line (alternatively, you can use the Ctrl + J keys on the keyboard). In the window that appears, get all the information about the downloads made via IE. In addition, by clicking on the "parameters" link located at the bottom of the download window, you can determine the folder in which the downloaded files will be located.
5. Well, and now good news for webmasters, where can we go without it. Microsoft at one time mishandled its old versions of Explorer, which went against all innovations and standards in the field of web development, as a result of which poor webmasters had to achieve by hook or by crook the correct display of their site pages in this browser and by using various hacks to achieve its cross-browser compatibility , as I said above. Now he is trying to rectify the situation, and it is useless to lag behind competitors.
Therefore, starting with Microsoft Internet Explorer 9, the Developer Tools option has appeared, which can be invoked from the top menu or from the same Tools command line, or by simply pressing the F12 key. This built-in add-on is analogous to the famous Firebug extension (about the plugin for Firefox browser I already wrote). Moreover, there is an opportunity not only to edit HTML and CSS code online, observing visual changes on the page, but also to see how the elements will look when using previous versions of Internet Explorer:
6. I must say that the most popular browsers are used by all latest features and gadgets, often copying them from each other. This is a big plus for users, because the habits of long-studied and familiar things are very strong in people with rare exceptions, so there is not always a desire to cheat on them. Now, let's say, a very necessary feature has appeared in any browser, and you are accustomed to another browser, which seems to you the most convenient, but your passion is how you do not want to change a familiar tool to another for the sake of this new option.
But if a similar thing appears in your favorite browser, this is a completely different matter. True, the function that I will talk about below is not so important, but nevertheless. We are talking about an analogue of the Express Panel in Opera (- free download, install, update and configure the Opera browser), which is now present in the Explorer. If you open an empty tab, you will see the following picture on the web page:
Here favicons (- how to create a favicon icon for a site) of the most visited web resources are placed in rectangular shapes. This is an additional option with which you can get to the desired web resource with one click of the mouse. In order to embellish the picture, you can, I will write about this in future publications.
How to update and how to remove Internet Explorer
In order to understand the principles that define Internet Explorer update, it is necessary to remind once again that this browser is closely tied to the operating Windows system, so if you have a licensed version of this OS, then you do not need to take any steps to track updates. Find from the section of the top menu "Help" → "About":
Here is full information about the current version of IE and a link to the official MS page, where the description is detailed last update... Be sure to check the box next to the "Install new versions automatically" option to avoid the headache that there is no automatic update.
As for the fact how to uninstall IE, then again everything is determined on the binding of this browser to Windows. If you have installed, for example, Windows 7, then in order to uninstall (or rather, disable) the current version of Explorer, you need to click on the "Start" button, select "Control Panel" from there, then "Programs" → "Programs and Features" and from the left menu - "Enable or disable Windows components". A window will appear in which you need to uncheck the box next to the desired item.
But! There will also be a warning that the removal of Internet Explorer may lead to undesirable consequences:
Do you need it? If the answer is yes, then feel free to click on the "Yes" button. I try not to make unnecessary body movements that can lead to a new headache. Therefore, try to avoid such radical steps, especially since the very presence of IE in the operating system does not negatively affect its work. In addition, it is desirable for webmasters to have the most popular browsers on their computers to regularly check that the elements of their website pages are displayed correctly in them. Finally, two short videos
And yet monopoly is a great power. If you have the most popular operating system on planet Earth in your hands. If only 19 countries in the world are richer than you. If over the years you dictate your own rules of the game, then you can afford to be imposing.
About the success story Microsoft browser Internet Explorer, do not forget that this browser itself is a rather average and not so powerful development as they want to present it to us today. But if you have the opportunity to integrate your program into Windows (the most popular operating system world), then it will in any case be used by millions. With such colossal opportunities, you will pull even the most mediocre solution into leaders.
And that's exactly what happened with Internet Explorer. The introduction is over. I invite you on a journey along IE history.
The Making of Internet Explorer, or How Bill Gates Slept Through the Internet
Even geniuses sometimes make mistakes. So, in fact, it happened with: in the early 90s, he was firmly convinced that the Network will remain the lot of the elite. Today it sounds wild and even ridiculous, but the train of thought of Gates can be understood: at that time it was not yet adapted for a simple user. Everything was too expensive, cumbersome and difficult to master. Guided by considerations of the weak potential of the Web, Microsoft focused on the minimum - the creation of an online service MSN, which, in the opinion of management, should have covered all the needs of a few users.
And 1995 broke out ... And they saw their sight. And they realized how wrong they were.
I teach, of course. Everything was not so pretentious, but the essence was conveyed correctly - it was in 1995 that Microsoft faced the need to urgently reconsider its strategy. MSN, in which a huge investment was made, was failing in its leadership role. Bill Gates understood that they urgently needed someone who could, at least, become popular and convenient. It was decided to start working on IE.
Internet Explorer's first victory
In the mid-90s, the Internet was dominated by Netscape browser... The developers of Internet Explorer were given a specific task - in the shortest possible time to create a program that would win the palm from Netscape. The first release was based on the developments of the now defunct Mosaic browser. Naturally, some things have been improved, and some have been improved.
Finally, on August 16, 1995, the first version of Internet Explorer was released. By the way, it was not yet integrated into Windows and was offered for free download. Free Browser, immediately integrated into Windows "95, appeared a little later - in 1996. And this immediately began to bear fruit: the program had its first fans. By the way, since the second release (November 1996), the browser was available for both Windows and for Mac.
By 2001, six versions of the program were released, and each of the versions was significantly updated and modernized. We must pay tribute to Internet Explorer - for that time it was quite a solid browser: high download speed, completely free, constant updates.
It is no wonder that it was in the period from 1999 to 2003 that the Internet Explorer browser conquered a huge market share, finally defeating the completely irreplaceable Netscape Navigator in a fair fight. It was this period (until 2003) that is considered to be the "golden era" of IE: according to some sources, up to 90% of Internet visitors used the program at that time. The figure is more than impressive.
Internet Explorer Sunset
In 2001, an event occurred that first propelled the popularity of Internet Explorer to the highest level, and then turned into its "gravedigger". It was in this year that the famous sixth version of Internet Explorer was released, causing thousands of severe nervous disorders and attacks of hatred among webmasters around the world. This version completely ignored the generally accepted standards and applications specifically adopted by the W3C consortium.
In simple terms, sites may look great in all known browsers, but they will frankly "float" in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6. Of course, too many did not like this state of affairs. Numerous holes in the security of the program did not add optimism either.
What exactly happened? It's simple - the usual dizziness of success. In addition to the fact that the sixth version itself was good enough (apart from the aforementioned problem and security problems), it was installed on Windows XP - a real Microsoft masterpiece that broke all records of popularity among users: an unthinkable thing, even today, after more 10 years, millions of people use this OS.
It was just a fantastic situation: a very popular version of the browser is installed on an even more popular version of the OS. It would seem like a miracle comparable to winning the lottery.
You, Microsoft did not pull confrontation with the whole world and did not derive any benefit from this situation for itself. I don’t presume to judge what exactly became the root cause of such a strange position: whether it is pride, the desire to create an alternative (read, subsequently the main) direction in the development of browsers, or something else. What worked great with Windows did not work with IE browser: users did not want to accept the imposed rules of the game and started looking for other programs for surfing the Web.
The sixth version of the browser is notorious for both web developers and users. And the more XP grew in popularity, the more dissatisfaction was caused by the browser built into it. This is such a paradox in the history of Internet Explorer.
Internet Explorer today
Of course, Microsoft began to rush to rectify the situation, but it was too late. The churn of users began and continues to this day. Yes, there was the ninth version of Internet Explorer, where all sites were viewed quite correctly, and the security problems were more or less solved. But invaluable time has already been lost. Over the years, new programs (,) have grown and fledged, which happily picked up the flag that fell from the weakening hands of IE. The moment was lost.
As of today, there are 11 full-fledged IE releases, and the last one is quite a competitive product. Not without flaws, of course.
Yes, today the share of the Internet Explorer browser ranges from 25% in the US to 8% in Russia and some European countries. But what forces are given to the company! If earlier the influx of users was completely natural, today the retention of positions is possible only with the support of three pillars: huge money, mass PR and, of course, integration into the world's most popular Windows OS.
What was literally lying underfoot yesterday, today the creators of the browser have to get colossal efforts.
From this it is, the history of the browser Microsoft Internet Explorer. A browser that could be to Internet visitors what Windows became to most computer users - everyone. But in the end, IE became just one of the.
The browser built into the most popular operating system. It is present in any Windows and themes and is valuable. Provides basic functionality that can satisfy only the undemanding user.
Current stable release: 11
Supported OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and above.
Engine: Trident.
Plugins: the presence of accelerators, there are no plugins as such.
Skins: system themes Windows.
License: EULA.
Browser from Microsoft is supplied as part of operating systems Windows family, and therefore is familiar to almost every user personal computer... Anyone who worked in Windows XP remembers how bad and inconvenient Internet Explorer 6 was: it didn't even have tabs. Meanwhile, Microsoft, having won a victory over its main competitor, Netscape Navigator, stopped working on the development of the browser for many years.
Naturally, this situation did not suit users. Manufacturers understood this situation alternative browsers(Opera and) and began to accelerate the development of their products. Moreover, a number of companies began to release add-ons for Internet Explorer ( Maxthon , Avant and others) that added missing features to the Microsoft browser. This situation led to a significant drop in market share for Internet Explorer. More and more users refused to use the browser installed in the system and looked for alternatives.
Finally, Microsoft came to its senses and decided to catch up with Mozilla Firefox. The Trident engine, which is the basis for IE, has been significantly redesigned, many features already present in other browsers have been introduced, and work has been done to support the browser for generally accepted standards. Today Internet Explorer is powerful and functional with excellent integration into the operating system and a number of unique features.
We will take a look at the most modern browser from the line - Internet Explorer 1.
Interface
Browser style in general outline does not deviate from the style of modern operating systems from Microsoft. It looks organic both in Windows Vista and in Windows 7 or 8.
In the new blank tab the user is offered several possible actions:
- reopening tabs that were closed at the end of the last session;
- inPrivate browsing mode (private browsing mode is available in all common browsers);
- work with text in the clipboard. The text can be sent to a search engine, blog or translated using a service. When installing additional extensions (in Microsoft terminology - accelerators), you can perform other actions with the text.
The domain name (first and second level) in the address bar of the browser is highlighted in black, while the rest of the navigation information is displayed in gray. This is supposed to serve as additional protection against phishing. However, it seems to me that few people today pay much attention to the address bar.
The functionality of the address bar of Internet Explorer 11 is practically not inferior to analogs:
- when typing a domain name, the browser offers sites from the magazine and several generated options that may fit this domain name;
- when typing a phrase, the browser redirects it to the default search engine and loads the search results page.
- Internet Explorer 11 can search for words in page titles, as, for example, Mozilla Firefox and.
Functional
The functional component of the browser is fairly standard. The core functionality is similar to that of most common alternative browsers: Opera, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.
Users have access to:
- tabs;
- blocking pop-ups;
- phishing protection;
- rss aggregator;
- auto-update;
- anonymous work mode;
- accelerators (extensions);
- web slices.
I would like to note the latter separately. Web Slices are like advanced RSS. A special link with information appears on the Favorites panel. The browser periodically scans the contents of the link and, when new information, signals this to the user: the link font becomes bold.
This function has one unpleasant feature: it needs support from the site to work. Until the webmaster adds the necessary functionality, this function cannot be used. Therefore, how lucky you are.
In addition, the Web slices that you can add to the Favorites panel are limited by the size of the panel itself.
Accelerators
I would also like to mention the so-called accelerators. Unfortunately, the browser developers did not want to create full support for add-ons in the browser, just as it is implemented in Firefox. Accelerators are just about making it easier to access a particular web service. A list of accelerators can be found on a dedicated site. However, I repeat: the functionality of the browser cannot be extended with their help.
Advertising
A huge disadvantage of the browser is the lack of an ad blocker. It is not included in the standard delivery. Of course, as a "cutter" for banners and text messages, you can use a third-party software... But for this, you need, firstly, to know about such software, and secondly, to have the skills to configure it.
In principle, it is possible to block ads using IE. But this setting looks very nontrivial. You can read more about ad blocking in the article “ Remove ads from pages in Internet Explorer 11 ».
Summary
Intetnet Explorer 11 is a solid middling. If you have used previous versions and browsers, it makes sense to upgrade to a new one. But if you are used to the functionality of alternative browsers, then there is no point in switching to IE: it will not be able to provide fully adequate functionality.
There is no way to sync data between browsers on different machines. Here you can also use additional functionality, but the absence of such solutions in the browser itself brings certain inconveniences.
And yet, with proper configuration, IE can make a good "second" browser. You can read about its setting in our article “ Setting up Internet Explorer 11 ».
So who is Internet Explorer for?
- wants to use the browser built into the OS;
- uses only Windows;
- does not need additional functions;
- calmly refers to advertising.