Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 7 for free download

Computerworld - Microsoft today released the final version of Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP and made it available for free download at the Internet Explorer 7 site.

IE7 is a significant upgrade to IE6. It offers tabbed browsing, an antiphishing toolbar, a redesigned interface and a variety of security features, including increased protection against rogue ActiveX controls. It is Microsoft's first launch of an all new browser since the release of IE6 in 2001.

Widespread distribution of the browser won't go into full effect until November, when it will be made available as a high-priority update via Automatic Updates and download automatically onto millions of users' desktops.

The launch comes days after the Release Candidate 3 (RC3) release of Firefox, which has a similar feature set to Internet Explorer. Although Internet Explorer is by far the dominant browser worldwide, Firefox has been slowly gaining market share, at the expense of Internet Explorer.

According to the most recent figures from Net Applications, in September Internet Explorer had 82.1% of the market, with Firefox taking 12.5%. A year ago, according to the firm, Internet Explorer had an 86.9% market share and Firefox had 7.5%.

IE7 includes features for IT staffs to better manage the browser on user desktops. It includes enhanced support of Active Directory Group Policy, so that IT managers can deploy and centrally manage the browser on desktops. Group Policy can manage both the Windows XP and Windows Vista version of IE7, so that IT staffs don't have to manage each version of the browser separately.

The Windows Vista version will be virtually the same as the Windows XP version, except that the Vista version includes a new security feature called Protected Mode, which is not available in the Windows XP version.

IE7 for Windows XP is available in English and runs on Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP 64-bit Edition and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1. It will be available in other Windows-supported languages "over the coming weeks," according to Microsoft.

Don't miss Preston Gralla's review, Just Say Yes to Internet Explorer 7, and our IE7 Visual Tour.

Related news: First security flaw signaled in IE7.

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