IE 8 to get ‘porn mode’?

[fryguy2]

The countdown to Internet Explorer (IE) 8 Beta 2 is on. Microsoft said the consumer-focused IE 8 test release would be available in August. There are just 11 days left….


No doubt, Microsoft has been holding back some features that will be added to the new test build. Istartedsomething’s Long Zheng blogged on August 20 about one such possibility: Private browsing, a k a “porn mode.” Private browsing is a feature that the Mozilla team ended up pulling from Firefox 3 (and 3.1), but one that Safari has had since 2005.

Private browsing allows those browsing the Web to erase their online tracks in history, cache and personal information entered and shared by a user on a Web page.

I asked Microsoft whether Zheng was right, and all a spokeswoman would say is the company will have more to say about privacy as IE 8 evolves.

There have been a couple of IE Blog posts that offer hints that Microsoft may be going beyond the pure “private browsing” mode.

From a June 24, 2008 IE Blog post on trustworthy browsing:

“(T)there’s more to online privacy than cookies, as cookies are only one implementation of content that can disclose information to websites. In some discussions, people have also described IE7’s Phishing Filter as a privacy feature because it helps protect users from sharing information. The larger challenge here is notifying users clearly about what sites they’re disclosing information to and enabling them to control that disclosure if they choose. As we talk more about privacy, we will broaden the discussion to include additional protections from sharing information that the browser can offer users.”

Some IE users have been saying for years that they want somthing more granular than the current browser option to delete all cookies or all temporary Internet files. From way back in 2006 in the comments on the IE Blog, poster Nick Davis said:

“I *hate* clearing my history, because lots of history is useful. What’s that new supplier’s site I went to last week and forgot to bookmark, etc. I hate losing all that info, just to cover up the fact that I, ahem, bought a gift for a loved one.

“Selective history. That’s what we need. Or a way to selectively delete browsing history after the fact. I mean, we’re only over 10 years into this whole web browser thing, and we have basically the same feature since v1.”

Any guesses as to what Microsoft might deliver on the privacy front with the forthcoming IE 8 Beta 2 and/or final release (slated to be available before the end of 2008)?

[p2pasun]

For me, I just feel that the release of IE8 is taking so long. I've been using the IE7 since the beta version and think it is convinient one for me because several online banking only support it! But IE7 has obvious deficiences like take so many memery resources, black holes, etc. So I really hope that IE8 can bring me a lot of improvement!

[Whispers143]

I dunno, I can't wait to see I.E. myself. I have a friend that works for MS and swears that it is off the charts sweet, and of course that opened up a heated discussion because I am a die hard firefox fan, but my friend swears it's the best around, but doesn't see the finished version coming out until late this year (December) or early next year... So I dunno...

[GeneralTso]

IE is actually my favorite browswer for some weird reason. I don't like Firefox. I don't know why, but I just don't. Maybe its' becasue I've been using IE since I got a computer and got high speed internet. Who knows, but I can't wait until IE 8 comes out! :-)

[Bach]

IE7 is big slow and feels like driving a fuckin Star Destroyer compared to driving a Tie Fighter with Firefox. (Star Wars, fuck yeah.) HOWEVVVVER, Still some sites Firefox just can't open, comething I don't understand.. but when I encounter these sites I sure am happy I have IE. period.

So, basically if IE could shed some weight (about 95% of its fatass) and therefore become faster and more efficient, than it will rock Firefox. One thing though, if they don't apply the same featusre Firefox has now with the Saving Your Seesion Everytime You Quit All Tabs Included, it will suck. Caus that's a great feature. Seems Firefox always is one step ahead, first the tabs, the IE caught on, then the restoring session and being able to save a session. What if IE would come up with a cool feature of their own instead of only copying FireFox!

Let us wait and see!

[Hermes]

Why is it necessary with each new version of IE to move the menu bars around. I guess it goes to the same reason why it is necessary in each Windows version to constantly rearrange the interface. I was an IE6 user for a long time and just could not get used to the IE7 interface - IE8 with new underpinnings but classic IE6 menus would be really nice. But I trained myself to get used to Firefox now, so I doubt I will switch back.

[Chris]

Lol I never use IE,
FIREFOX FTW

[Bobz]

i used to always use IE but they just fell behind so i switched to firefox.. i doubt i will switch back.. adblock ftw =D

[laurentziu]

Well firefox is much more good than IE but there are situation when i use IE too

[vvginovv]

I know nobody who uses it, even my school uses firefox