Microsoft Releases Internet Explorer 8

Being a Firefox guy myself, with every heartily vaunted IE release I've tossed out the rhetorical "what's the big deal?" Of course I'm pretty much full of it, seeing as I check code against IE versions more or less every day, and there are millions of general and corporate users out there who probably don't know or maybe even care that there are other browser options available. So, setting the snarky commentary aside, "cue trumpets!" As of 12pm est today PC users can enjoy yet another update to the icon permanently attached to the upper right corner of their desktops. Will IE8 really be any different from dear departed #7? Steve Ballmer seems convinced of it. According to the the Microsoft CEO and lead tongue:


"Customers have made clear what they want in a Web browser -- safety, speed and greater ease of use," continuing to say, "With Internet Explorer 8, we are delivering a browser that gets people to the information they need, fast, and provides protection that no other browser can match."

Will this really be the case? We'll see. As a matter of course I'll be joining the masses and downloading my copy shortly, but if Ballmer is right then maybe I'll have an additional use for IE yet. Check out the Microsoft press release for the features that IE8 will supposedly be bringing and if you are looking for a download link, here it is.