IE7 Final

For those of you who have been using the new IE 7 RC1, the final version of Internet Explorer 7 was released late Wednesday night. Just click on the link and it will take you to Microsoft's site for the download. I always like to 'save' the file for later downloading. That way if for some reason I uninstall or whatever, I can just 'run' the file again.

CTV had a fairly decent writeup on the new IE Web Browser. This gives you an idea of what the new browser is all about.

A lot of what is in the new browser is to play catch up with Firefox and others. Of course it has the 'tabbed' browsing that Firefox and Opera are noted for. However, it also has improved security to help users surf safer.

I have been running the IE 7 Release Candidate 1, and prior to the that the Beta, for the last couple months. As the program progressed from the beta stage to the release candidate stage, I noted that the browser got better and better. Now I've only had the final version installed and running since yesterday, but I do see that it is a bit quicker loading then the RC1 version.

Anyone who is running Windows with automatic updates will be receiving notification of a 'security update' in the next month or so. The users will get the opportunity to elect to upgrade or not. Of course you will need to let Microsoft ensure you do not have a pirated version of their operating system before you can get the new version of IE. This new IE7 is the browser that will be part of Microsoft's new Vista operating system scheduled for release this January.

If you choose to go with the new version of the IE 7, then you will first of all need to download the file which can be found at New Internet Explorer 7. I would suggest to 'save' the file to a location that you can find after the download finishes (Desktop, Download folder, etc). Once you have the file downloaded, you then need to double click on the downloaded file to commence the install.

The first thing you will notice is that you need to 'Agree to the Install' and a 'validation' of your computer. Once that is done, you continue through the dialogue boxes which ultimately end in a 'restart' of your system.

Once your computer restarts, you should notice a dialogue box in the top left of your screen. This dialogue box shows that the system is automatically importing your settings from your previous browser (IE6). This would be your 'Favourites', 'Home Page', etc.

You'll notice that the icon for the IE is changed a bit, but it is still evident that it is for IE. The first time you open up your browser, you will be taken to Microsoft 'Run Once' site. The screen should give you an option of your settings. The first setting is for your 'Default Search Engine'. For those of you who use 'Google' or 'Yahoo' or whatever as your search engine, then you want to click in the 'Keep Default Search Engine'. The other option is to choose form a list.

Then going down the page, you have 'Optional Settings'. Place a check mark in the 'Use ClearType' selection.

Next is to 'Customize your Webpages'. You should click the selection to 'Use current settings English (United States). Of course if you wish, you can click on the other selection and choose your own language.

With that all done, you then click on 'Save Settings'.

A new dialogue box should pop up giving you the option to take a 'tour of the new IE7', 'customize with add-ons', or go to your 'Home Page'. If you select to go to your 'Home Page' you will be transferred to your old home page that you had in your previous version on IE. However, just as the page is coming up, you should be shown a dialogue box to 'Turn on Phishing Filter'. I suggest you select this and then continue on with 'OK'. You will then be taken to your normal home page.

Of course if you elect to take a tour of your IE7, you will be able to see some of the new things about the browser.

If you select to 'customize with add-ons', you will be able to choose a variety of add-ons for your browser. Some of these add-ons are probably going to be needed as your surf, whereas, some are just sort of nice to have. If you elect not to view the add-ons at this point in time, you can always go to IE Add-Ons at a later time and choose some of the programs.

Seeing as this is a new program from Microsoft, I'm sure there will be some updates in the immediate future to ensure that the browser should work as it was meant to.

So far, so good though.