Vista - IE8 Release Candidate1 Alpha Build Released

Microsoft have released the IE8 Partner Release Candidate 1 Build to the IE8 Tech Beta Participants.



This build represents a preview of our progress and is best used to verify issues fixed since releasing Beta 2. While we believe it to be of adequate quality for you to use, is not as extensively tested as a milestone build, so it is not meant for the general public but only for testing purposes.

Instructions to download the IE8 RC1 Build:
1) Microsoft Connect Participants can click here: Downloads
2) Click on "IE8 Partner Build" for your version of Windows.
3) Read the Install Guidelines
4) Click on "Download" at the bottom of the page.

Acid3 Tests result: 21% for this IE8 version (up from Beta2), There seems to be a fair few Speed and UI improvements, the engine seems more capable and stable than Beta2





The Acid Web Standards online tests I have done appear to intentionally give Internet Explorer a lower rating it seems

The one thing most people use for testing Standards Compliance and you would think running with a low Integrity Level security would be something to give points since it protects the system instead of taking them for doing the right thing and protecting users, just shows the Acid tests are intentionally designed to give Internet Explorer a lower Standards Compliance score regardless of security improvements made over two years ago!!

Disclaimer: I use Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome over Internet Explorer

I don't think you understand exactly what that message means, and by no means protects the system. Tests 14 and 15 are designed to see if the browser properly handles mime types sent by the server: Internet Explorer has never been one to follow mime types from servers.

Test 14 uses an invalid PNG with javascript code in it (which internet explorer passes) and Test 15 uses a plaintext file (that is, a .txt file) with javascript in it (which internet explorer ignores the text/plain headers and rendering it as an actual webpage instead of a plaintext file).

Don't believe me? Here's a simple test (note: if your webserver doesn't give the "text/plain" mime type for .txt files this won't actually work):

Note: I know example.html isn't actually valid HTML; it doesn't matter for the scope of this example and will work with valid HTML.

example.txt
example.html
Just to save some time I'll screenshot Google Chrome (a new browser!) rendering this and Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 rendering this:

Google Chrome:


Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2:


Internet Explorer has been doing this for years while just about every other modern browser on the face of the planet hasn't, or has changed to handle mime types properly.

Cliffnotes Version: Internet Explorer puts users in harms way for ignoring mime types when it should be properly obeying them like other, more modern browsers (Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox to name two).

[Also, I think this is my first post here -- Hi]

you just blew me away

my head is spinning

Hi and welcome ForTheLose, and thanks for all the info.

Hi ForTheLose,

Welcome to the forums.

I tried the link and got a 404 error. Had my login at the top of the page, so that's not it.

Gary

when i click on the link it goes to connect page but the only option i have is IE beta feedback home or feedback and when i click on the feedback home or dashboard i only have the IE8 beta 2. What am i doing wrong?

I am getting the same thing as havhenry. Anyone have an answer?