Critics Slam Microsoft Internet Explorer 8

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft has finally unveiled the final release of Internet Explorer, but will it be too slow to matter?

Internet Exporer holds appeal for the adult industry because of its private browsing feature, called InPrivate. But with speedier, more relevant (and adult-friendly) competition out there, Internet Explorer may lose more of its market share among industry professionals as well as the general public.

Tech pundits have criticized IE for its slowness, cluttered interface and lack of compatibility with a large number of websites. Analyst Erick Schonfeld said that with this new release, Microsoft is once again relying on its formidable user base.

"If you’ve already left IE for a speedier browser, IE8 is not going to bring you back, and Microsoft knows it," he wrote for TechCrunch.com.

Schonfeld praised Apple's Safari browser, which rolled out a vastly improved fourth version last month. Safari also includes a porn mode, known as Private Browsing.

On another front, tech analyst Rob Pegoraro slammed IE's lack of compatibility with many websites. A long-running complaint among web designers is how hard it is to make a site work in IE, and version 8 doesn't look like it's going to alleviate that stress.

"Microsoft changed its 'compatibility view,' provided for pages written for earlier versions of IE that paid less heed to Web standards, in a way that causes IE 8 to label most Web pages with compatibility view's broken-page icon," he wrote for the Washington Post. "Microsoft says this issue doesn't affect how most pages look or work, and that Web developers can easily work around it. But a Web browser's most basic job is to display the Web accurately, and in this respect IE 8 fails."

On the plus side, IE8 will offer a list of recently closed tabs and new gizmos that Microsoft is calling "Accelerators." This new feature will let IE users activate an array of quick shortcuts found under the right-click menu.

The Accelerator idea is similar to a previous invention by Mozilla, purveyors of the Firefox browser. Last year, Mozilla rolled out a new plugin called Ubiquity, which let Firefox users access an ever-growing choice of handy shortcuts through a small, simple text field.

To download the new version of IE, visit Microsoft.com.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Report: VPN Downloads Soar in UK Following Age Verification Deadline

Virtual private network apps, which can be used to circumvent geo-specific age verification requirements, are topping Apple App Store downloads in the U.K. in the wake of new Online Safety Act rules, the BBC is reporting.

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

Ireland’s Online Safety Code came into force Monday, including a provision requiring adult sites headquartered in Ireland to implement age assurance measures beyond self-declaration.

XBIZ Amsterdam Calls on New Startups for 'Spotlight' Program

XBIZ is pleased to announce that its new “Startup Spotlight” programming will make its European premiere at XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel Amsterdam.

Texas Resumes AV Lawsuit Against Aylo Following SCOTUS Decision

A district court judge in Texas has unfrozen the state’s $1.6 million lawsuit against Aylo for allegedly failing to comply with age verification requirements, Bloomberg Law is reporting.

JuicyAds Wins Trademark Infringement Case Against Fraudulent Domain

JuicyAds has won its World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) case against a website using a similar domain to impersonate the company's site and defraud customers.

Show More