14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has completed development of another Internet Explorer update, so everyone should be getting it in the coming days on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. The same version will also be part of Windows Phone 8.1 when it debuts later this year, the company said.
Installed by default on Windows 8.1 Update, the new IE version will come to provide a seamless experience across all devices, comprising WebGL improvements, new enhancements to the F12 developer tools, and a brand new Enterprise Mode aimed at organizations.
First of all, the new Internet Explorer 11 version will offer support for both smaller and larger devices, while also working flawlessly in either landscape or portrait modes.
“The Web is still front-and-center but new design enhancements make your browsing experience feel like it was made just for your device – like the number of tabs on-screen and the size of the fonts and menus. You can also now control when the browser remains on-screen or hides away for full-screen browsing depending on the type of device you use,” Microsoft points out.
As far as the developer tools are concerned, the new IE11 version comes with improved UI and Memory tools, while also offering new shortcuts to quickly control specific options from the keyboard.
The new Enterprise Mode, which has been spotted in some leaked builds of Windows 8.1 Update that reached the web in the past few months, enables organization to offer backwards compatibility for websites that were designed to work on Internet Explorer 8 or below. This is particularly important for businesses because many are still struggling to upgrade their in-house applications.
This fresh build of Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 is already up for grabs from MSDN and TechNet, but as you can easily guess, a subscription is needed in order to get them. Those without a subscription will have to wait until April 8, when Microsoft will deliver the updated browser via Windows Update for all users.
April 8 is the day when Microsoft will also start shipping Windows 8.1 Update to users across the world, but also Patch Tuesday fixes supposed to address the vulnerabilities found in the company’s software solutions lately. Last but not least, Windows XP is projected to reach end of support on April 8, so the operating system launched 13 years ago will no longer receive updates and security patches as of this date.