Date: 07/29/05 (WebDesign)    Keywords: rss, browser, css

Most of you are probably curious about the upcoming IE 7. Will it make our lives easier? Will it liken itself to current browsers? Will it take our headaches away, or mute them quite a bit.

Apparently, yes, yes it will. IE 7 will reportedly catch up to here and now, and remain a current, strong browser... from what I've read and the developers have said.

I will preface everything following this with a warning. This release IS NOT (I repeat - IS NOT) meant for public/consumer/everyday designer use. It is very unfinished, very rough, and only for professional developers who have test machines to use and reformat anytime they like. The more-polished, finished version is coming in the next few months in the form of Beta 2 or 3, or Release Candidate 1.

That said, you may come across the first beta of the new browser.

Here are some very important points to keep in mind:

• This is the first beta, not a release candidate.
• The public beta is still on its way, probably after Beta 2 is released later this summer.
• It was released to MSDN subscribers for the purpose of IT professionals and developers review and co-development only.
• It was not intended for public/consumer usage/review. Especially this early in beta with many bugs and unpolished features.
• It was only released through MSDN, and unless you have a $99 minimum subscription, you won't get it in a way that's meant for you.
  • You can, however, find this through other means.
• Once you install it, it cannot be uninstalled as it updates system files. Remember? Early beta with rough, unpolished features.
• Make sure you have your stuff backed up!
• You must have Windows XP with SP2 installed, and it must be validated as "genuine." (As in, it's your product key, not someone else's.)

Now, for those of you who do install IE 7 Beta 1, there are a few other important things to know:

• Many features are not in this beta version. They will be implemented in the next beta. (Read this whitepaper for the info.)
• Many/most CSS improvements (CSS 2 anyone?), full 32-bit PNG support, RSS features are not in this version, but will be in Beta 2.
• Don't bitch about it if you haven't read that whitepaper. Many questions are answered in that whitepaper.
• It is unfinished, unpolished, and buggy! Be warned. It was not meant for you (ie: everyday designer/developer), just professionals that have testing machines.

Now, again, for those of you who have installed Beta 1, enjoy. There are lots of promising things in it, the interface has changed quite a bit, and as you can see, there are tabs, RSS support, enhanced printing controls, loads of privacy controls (you can clear all cache, history, cookies, and anything "private" by one menu item.)

Things are not quite finished yet, you can't move the address bar or search bar or other menu items until the next beta.

Trillian users, listen up!

• Installing Internet Explorer Beta 1 breaks Trillian! (Remember, it wasn't meant for you, just developers on testing machines!)
• To fix this problem, you must disable Trillian from loading its MSN Messenger plugin.
• To do this, go to your Trillian directory, the plugins directory, and rename "msn.dll" to something else, like "msn.dll.deactivated."
• Trillian will now work properly, sans MSN Messenger.

For those of you who want to wait, you should wait. Unless you absolutely must see an unfinished, unpolished, buggy browser that won't be put back together at least until the next beta or the public Release Candidate, then wait. Remember, you cannot uninstall this once you install it. You've been warned!

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/940618.html