14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is already working on the next full version of Internet Explorer, which might arrive either in the second Windows 8.1 Update due this year or in Windows 9 (which might be launched in early 2015), so the company decided to offer a quick glimpse at some of the features to be part of the product.
While Redmond hasn't provided too many details about these enhancements, it did mention that they're now in development, so they're very likely to make it to the market when the next version of the browser comes out.
A list published on modern.ie reveals all new features that Microsoft is working on right now, including media capture and streams, gamepad API, HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS), cross-domain font loading, pointer lock (mouse lock), arrow function, default parameter, symbols, and web audio API.
“These features form a part of our commitment to delivering interoperable implementations for the latest features on the modern Web,” Microsoft said today.
“The current list of features ‘in development’ is not an exhaustive representation of what we will deliver in the next version, but an indication of what we currently have highest confidence in delivering. There are several other features that we realize are very important and are working on a plan to support – stay tuned for more updates in the future.”
The company also revealed that moving users to newer versions of Internet Explorer is a priority, so the developing team is now working to create more features like Enterprise Mode that would allow consumers to switch to a new build while retaining compatibility with applications developed for older releases.
At the same time, security has become a priority for Internet Explorer, as “users must feel secure running IE and businesses must feel secure deploying IE in their environments,” as the company pointed out. “We will continue to invest deeply in security features that provide broad mitigations to potential vulnerabilities.”
Last but not least, Microsoft is aiming to better interoperability and compatibility, so the company promises that future Internet Explorer versions will provide backwards capability as well as interoperability with HTML5 features available in other browsers.
In the meantime, Microsoft is yet to address a newly-found vulnerability in Internet Explorer 8 that's basically exposing users who are still running older versions of Windows, including the unsupported Windows XP. The zero-day flaw, which Microsoft might fix on Patch Tuesday, does not exist in modern versions of Internet Explorer, such as 10 and 11, which are currently part of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
There's no release date for Internet Explorer 12 right now, but expect Microsoft to share more details on this new project as we get closer to the public launch of the new Windows 8.1 update scheduled to take place later this year, most likely in August or September.