Internet Explorer 7
Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) was a significant update to the Internet Explorer line of web browsers from Microsoft. Released on October 18, 2006, IE7 was designed to improve upon the security, usability, and standards compliance of its predecessor, Internet Explorer 6.
History
- Development: The development of IE7 began in 2004, with the goal of enhancing the browser's security and user experience in response to competition from Mozilla Firefox and other browsers that had gained market share by offering better security features and standards compliance.
- Release: IE7 was initially released as a beta version in July 2005, with the final release coming in October 2006. It was included with Windows Vista and made available as a free update for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
Features and Improvements
- Tabbed Browsing: IE7 introduced tabbed browsing, allowing users to open multiple web pages within a single browser window.
- Enhanced Security: It included several new security features like Protected Mode, which isolated Internet Explorer from the rest of the system to prevent unauthorized changes, and Phishing Filter to warn users of potentially fraudulent sites.
- User Interface: The user interface was redesigned with a new look, including a tab bar at the top, a search box, and the ability to zoom in on web pages.
- Standards Compliance: IE7 improved compliance with web standards such as CSS 2.1, HTML, and DOM, although it still had some issues with full compliance.
- Additional Features: Other enhancements included a quick tabs feature for easier navigation among open tabs, web feeds support, and better printing options.
Reception
IE7 was well received for its security enhancements and improved user interface, but it was criticized for not fully adhering to web standards. Developers and web designers were particularly vocal about the browser's lack of full CSS support. Despite these criticisms, it was considered a step forward from IE6, which had been widely panned for its security vulnerabilities and poor standards support.
Legacy
While IE7 was an improvement over IE6, it was soon overshadowed by Internet Explorer 8 which promised even better standards compliance and security. However, IE7's introduction of features like tabbed browsing set a standard for subsequent browser versions. The browser was officially discontinued with the release of Internet Explorer 11 in 2013, and support for it ended in January 2016.
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