When will we see features that Internet Explorer lacks in Internet Explorer?

Here is a list:

• Support for standards as should have been done in the FIRST place - just had to mention that
• Drag 'n Drop Tabbed browsing
• Download Manager w/Bit Torrent support
• Cookie Manager
• Text Size buttons that work on sites that have text size data in the CSS - bug
• MSN Messenger button option in Toolbar Manager

I'd say a download manager period, popup blocking and addon management but that will be in either XP SP2 or Longhorn from my understanding.

Download manager will be in Longhorn for sure, I already used it there

And I thought I've seen a cookie manager in there as well

Shining Arcanine wrote:

• Drag 'n Drop Tabbed browsing

Dup post...

There will not be a new version of IE per MSFT.
Meaning that you will not be able to get new functionality in IE unless you upgrade to new version of Windows. Think of versioning like "IE from Windows 2005" or "IE from Windows 2007" etc.
I hope dump that idea
In the light of Avalon it's hard to see where this will end up though.

Not exactly true about them linking new IE functionality with a OS upgrade (but close lol). In addition to lots of security updated the upcoming XP2 for Windows XP is getting some new funtionality including popup blocker and I believe some addin management among other things... not earth shattering but the pup blocker will be nice (although my google toolbar does a good enough job). Hopefully this will be a trend at least with the continueing delays of longhorn (which was a while out anyway).

Josh

Yup, XP SP2 adds popup blocking and plugin management to IE6. Did we mention that we're looking for people to test it?    Of course, you might want to bring a good defragger, as I found out.

Personally, I use MyIE2 at work, to get that tabbed goodness around an IE6 core.  Been meaning to blog about it... maybe later this week

This is really a serious issue, especially with standards support. I talked to an MS developer a year ago asking when IE would support common internet standards, and he blew me off by asking "If you had to commit 10 developers to adding standards support or making flashy powerpoint transitions for web paged, of course you'd choose the cool powerpoint transitions. That's all users care about." And that's an attitude that I find absolutely reprehensible. If I want to make a modern, accessible site today, IE is my roadblock. I want to use transparent PNGs? No go. I want to float an element? IE doubles the padding values for no reason. And on and on. The biggest use for home computers now is to surf the internet, and most people use IE. Microsoft owes its users to keep IE upgraded, since it's probably the most popular MS application ever.

why doesn't microsoft just upgrade the next version of IE to mozilla?

I agree. Tabs would be very nice, etc etc. (I actually use Firefox for most of my browing these days), but what IE needs more than anything else is to be a truly standards-compliant browser. Just implement the stuff on w3c, OK?!!?

<>As some one who creates web pages in his spare time I code my sites to work in Mozilla, Opera and MSIE using XHTML1.1/CSS2/PHP. The challenge? Getting it to "look" right in IE, all because it just does not support standards. Sure GRE and Opera have their flaws, Opera has a padding issue on pictures with css border styles and Mozilla/FFox has a glitch where when you use div's to make a page the background colours don't fill to the bottom but all of these have simple to work out fixes where as MSIE requires fiddling until you find some thing that remotely works with it.

I personally inform all IE users on my sites when they enter the following and laugh at any one who uses it and feels remotely safe in doing so or believes they have all the features a modern browser has to offer.
-quote-
You're current web browser, Microsoft Internet Explorer, is non-compliant with internet standards, outdated by over three years and dangerously insecure. Upgrade immediately to one of the following Mozilla FireFox, Opera Internet Browser or Mozilla Web Browser 1.6 which are all available to download and free to home users.
---
<>
My over all feeling? It should be scraped and built from the ground up so that it has a chance at being as good as Moz/Opera/etc because it is constantly patched for big flaws which is not the best way to "improve" software.</rant>

Also what is going to happen in the up coming search wars in regard to the home page that MSIE will be set to? A touch off topic but I've been wondering this for awhile.

I work and develop web applications for IE - and while I admit it does have it's share of bugs - it does also have it's fair share of very powerful functionality - web services in JScript, VML, client-side XML DOM support.

While I agree with the other posters that standards compliance would help a great deal - many business applications don't need to worry about cross browser issues - they are developing an app for use within a company and company's can tightly control their browser configuration and have almost all standardized on IE.

My question around this topic is what kind of enhancements should we expect in the upcoming version of IE? It think is particularly relevant considering the choices companies have now when developing apps to be widely distributed (.NET vs. IE).

If I was asked for an IE wishlist... 1) Mouse gestures, as per Opera. This was what took me away from IE, the dealbreaker for me. I'm lazy, and I find it speeds up my surfing and reduces effort in actually moving a heavy mouse. 2) Yep, tabs would be nice. 3) Making every successive release have a lighter blue icon. 4) Built in rss reader. I use my present reader essentially as a second browser, shouldn't it all be together?

To be honest I couldn't care a whink about most of the 'features' listed here. Tabbed browsing? Sorry, it's less efficient for me (if I can't alt + tab to it, I don't want it). Gestures? Tried it, but since it's not in my normal workflow (see ActiveWords) it doesn't help me be more efficient.

Shining Arcanine wrote:

...

• Support for standards as should have been done in the FIRST place - just had to mention that

...

CumpsD wrote:

Download manager will be in Longhorn for sure, I already used it there

And I thought I've seen a cookie manager in there as well

ArSa wrote:

There will not be a new version of IE per MSFT.
Meaning that you will not be able to get new functionality in IE unless you upgrade to new version of Windows. Think of versioning like "IE from Windows 2005" or "IE from Windows 2007" etc.
I hope dump that idea
In the light of Avalon it's hard to see where this will end up though.

jcarlisle wrote:

Not exactly true about them linking new IE functionality with a OS upgrade (but close lol). In addition to lots of security updated the upcoming XP2 for Windows XP is getting some new funtionality including popup blocker and I believe some addin management among other things... not earth shattering but the pup blocker will be nice (although my google toolbar does a good enough job). Hopefully this will be a trend at least with the continueing delays of longhorn (which was a while out anyway).

Josh

dalangalma wrote:

This is really a serious issue, especially with standards support. I talked to an MS developer a year ago asking when IE would support common internet standards, and he blew me off by asking "If you had to commit 10 developers to adding standards support or making flashy powerpoint transitions for web paged, of course you'd choose the cool powerpoint transitions. That's all users care about." And that's an attitude that I find absolutely reprehensible. If I want to make a modern, accessible site today, IE is my roadblock. I want to use transparent PNGs? No go. I want to float an element? IE doubles the padding values for no reason. And on and on. The biggest use for home computers now is to surf the internet, and most people use IE. Microsoft owes its users to keep IE upgraded, since it's probably the most popular MS application ever.

Important Things That Are Needed Now, not in 2-3 years

• Follow W3C standards
• Tighter security for ActiveX objects
• Tighter security for BHO's
• Easier control of BHO's
• Protect IE process space from interlopers

Nice To Haves, but could be provided by 3rd parties

• Tabbed Browsing
• Cookie Management
• Download Manager
  

FrankCarr wrote:

Important Things That Are Needed Now, not in 2-3 years

• Follow W3C standards
• Tighter security for ActiveX objects
• Tighter security for BHO's
• Easier control of BHO's
• Protect IE process space from interlopers

Nice To Haves, but could be provided by 3rd parties

• Tabbed Browsing
• Cookie Management
• Download Manager