With Data Sense, Do Not Track, Find on Page, Tap+Send and more

Dec 10, 2012 15:23 GMT  ·  By

Being built on the same core as Windows 8, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 platform comes with Internet Explorer 10 as well, though with the mobile version of the application, and not with the full desktop software.

There are a lot of enhancements packed inside the app for all users to enjoy, and Microsoft has decided to provide us with a better glimpse at what it has to offer.

The application retails the familiar look of Internet Explorer in Windows Phone, though it brings along a more solid design.

The app offers more room for displaying sites, just as in Windows Phone 7.5, while also keeping the smart address bar, tabbed browsing, and pinned sites from that release, along with other features.

However, there are also a variety of changes that Internet Explorer 10 brings along in Windows Phone 8, and Microsoft’s Amin Lakhani presents some of them in a recent blog post.

In addition to under-the-hood enhancements, the new flavor of the mobile browser arrives on devices with new sharing capabilities, taking advantage of the included NFC capabilities of a smartphone. Simply hit Tap+Send in the Sharing menu.

“And this isn’t just for two Windows Phones. Since NFC is an industry standard, you can share with any smartphone—or even a Windows 8 PC—that supports the technology,” Lakhani explains.

There’s also the Data Sense feature in Windows Phone 8, which was designed to ensure that users keep an eye on their monthly data usage on a new device.

“Where available, Data Sense can help reduce your data consumption while browsing the web without slowing things down or changing how sites appear. With Data Sense enabled, we estimate that you’ll be able to load up to 45% more web pages on the same data plan,” said blog post continues.

IE10 also sports a series of safety and privacy improvements, including a SmartScreen Filter, which checks sites visited on the phone to make sure that they won’t harm the device.

Furthermore, the app arrives on devices with Do Not Track, which tells websites that users do not want their information to be collected. The feature is automatically turned on when choosing the “recommended” setup option when accessing Internet Explorer 10 for the first time.

Users can also configure the address bar button in IE10 through going to More > Settings. From there, they will be able “to configure the address bar button, and make it refresh/stop (default), favorites, or tabs. If you choose tabs, we’ll also show a count of the number of tabs you have open,” Lakhani notes.

Windows Phone 8’s Internet Explorer 10 also comes with a Find on Page feature, identical with the one available in Windows 8, offering a fast and robust experience.

Photo Gallery (6 Images)

Internet Explorer 10 in Windows Phone 8
Internet Explorer 10 in Windows Phone 8Internet Explorer 10 in Windows Phone 8
+3more