New Internet Explorer 8 Ad Campaign Begins

In effort to strengthen Internet Explorer 8 position in the market and raise people awareness, Microsoft has launched a new ad campaign.

Here’s what Microsoft had to say about it:

To prove just how vulnerable your personal information is, Internet Explorer 8 re-recreated notorious internet scams–live, off the web– in the most street-smart city in world: New York. We used hidden cameras to film reactions of real people. In the first spot we asked people to provide very personal information in order to open a new bank account which would give them a cash reward of $500. We learned that, just as it is online, it can be hard to tell the difference between the scammer and the real thing. We filmed a lot of people and nearly all of them were convinced our “bank” was the real deal.

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Weekly Browsers Recap, June 7th

FavBrowser.com

• Microsoft Pushes Hard with Internet Explorer 9
It looks like Microsoft IE team tries to do its best to make you forget about Internet Explorer 6/7 mess.

• Internet Explorer 6 Market Share to Reach 10% in 2010
If we analyze Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 market share trend, the following conclusion can be made.

• Mozilla to Add Weave Sync for the Next Firefox Release
It appears that Mozilla has decided to integrate data synch feature into the upcoming major Firefox release.
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Silverlight 4, the Best Just Got Better

In today’s MIX10 conference, Microsoft has shared some details about the upcoming Silverlight 4 release. As final version is scheduled for the next month release, company is already cooking first RC build.

Key points: Read more

Microsoft Tweaks Browser Ballot Screen

As ballot screen was pushed at the beginning of March, various users started noticing anomalies behind random browser order.

For some reason, it would favor Google Chrome, increasing its chances to be first, second or third in the list.

As a result, Microsoft has tweaked random order algorithm, which solved this issue. Unfortunately, no more details were provided.

“We can confirm that we made a change to the random icon order algorithm in the browser choice screen for Europe. We are confident the algorithm change will be an improvement. As always, we are grateful for the feedback we get from developers, and we thank those who commented on the topic and suggested changes,” said Microsoft’s Kevin Kutz.

Internet Explorer 9 Details to Emerge in March

In the upcoming MIX10 conference, which begins in March 15th, Microsoft will be revealing more Internet Explorer 9 details.

One of the MIX10 team members also noted: “As General Manager of the team, Dean Hachamovitch is responsible for the design, development, and release of Internet Explorer. We welcome Dean back to the stage as one of our MIX10 keynoters in Las Vegas next month. After all, what would our premier web conference be without a browser update!? Dean will talk about changes and improvements that have been made to Internet Explorer 9 since PDC09, and his talk is sure to include a couple of surprises.”

It is yet unknown, whether Microsoft will make release available to general public or not. Although that would certainly be a nice surprise.

Weekly Browsers Recap, February 15th

• Microsoft builds panic button into Internet Explorer 8
• Give Firefox Opera 10’s Theme
• Mozilla Developer Preview (Gecko 1.9.3a1) available for download
• Mozilla retracts Firefox add-on malware claim
• Rant: Google Translate Toolbar In Chrome 5 Needs An ‘Off’ Button
• Apple Approves ‘Replacement’ Browser for iPhone’s Safari
• Opera beta burns Chrome for top spot
• Opera Mobile 10 Tip: Add More Search Engines to Search Bar
• Adobe apologises for unpatched Flash vulnerability
• Skyfire Acquires kolbysoft To Create Browser For Android Handsets

Thanks to Mabdul for links.

Microsoft Fills a Patent for an Enhanced Tabbed Browsing

Some time ago, Microsoft has filed a patent, designed to improve tabbed browsing functionality, which might be revealed in the upcoming Internet Explorer 9 release.

Abstract (as from uspto.gov):
The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for managing and selecting one out of large set of open tabs in a tabbed browser. Browsing software is configured to provide a quick pick user-interface that visually displays the content of the several tabs, such as a by displaying a thumbnail for each tab. The thumbnails allow a user to easily distinguish between each opened tab. Read more

EU Won’t Fine Microsoft Over Browser Ballot Case

Microsoft and European Commission have finally reached an agreement, in which browsers will be randomly listed in ballot screen (up to 12 browsers total)

Although EU have not fined Microsoft this time, if they fail to stick with an agreement for the next 5 years, Microsoft will have to pay up to 10% of yearly global turnover.

“This is a victory for the future of the Web. This decision is also a celebration of open Web standards, as these shared guidelines are the necessary ingredients for innovation on the Web,” said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO of Opera Software.

Thanks to Trygve Lie for news tip.

Microsoft’s “Response” To Mozilla Exec

If you have read “Mozilla exec urges Firefox users ditch Google for Bing” story, then everything should be pretty clear to you.

Wonder what Microsoft did? Well, check Bing.com background of the day:

Need I say more?

Via Robert Accettura’s blog and Mozilla Links.

EU Browser Ballot Case Might Finally Come to an End

If everything goes as expected, browser ballot case might be finally resolved by the end of December or even faster.

Bloomberg reports that during the phone conversation with Opera spokesman, it was said: “Our expectation is that the settlement will include changes sought by Opera and will come out around the 15th,”

What are those changes?
Opera Software suggested that instead of listing top 5 web browsers alphabetically, they should be randomly ordered, every time user sees a ballot screen.

Bloomberg also said that Jesse Verstraete, a Microsoft spokesman in Brussels, declined to comment on this case. So don’t hold your breath yet.

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