Microsoft recently released Internet Explorer 9 beta, the upcoming version of the most popular web browser in the world. We are totally impressed with the features of Internet Explorer 9. It’s lightweight, fast and easy to use. The efficiency of the IE 9 can be improved by using a set of keyboard shortcuts. The keyboard shortcuts in Internet Explorer 9 and Internet Explorer 8 are almost the same. Here we have compiled a list of most commonly used shortcuts that will work with Internet Explorer 9.

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Opera software ASA today announced the final version of Opera browser 10 for Windows . We earlier covered the features of Opera 10 . At a glance the final version of Opera 10 include a redesigned user interface ,Opera Turbo ,expandable tabs ,developer tools , automatic updates , more languages ,new web standards support , and in-built spell checker .Opera 10 final is near 6.6 MB for full download . The browser is really fast companion for those who are on dial up internet . The opera turbo feature that can be enabled from the left bottom of browser window compresses files before they are arrived on user desktop . The quality of the images and text will be slightly lower , but you will see a faster page load time .

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Internet explorer is a popular web browser developed and supported by Microsoft ,for their Windows line of operating systems . The initial release of Internet explorer was on 1995 with Internet explorer 1 and latest one is Internet explorer 8. So in total there were 8 internet explorer releases . Here you can download earlier versions of internet explorer from version one to eight .

The first version of internet explorer was only near 1MB in size and the size gradually increased there after .

Internet Explorer 1.0 (4.40.308)
Internet Explorer 1.5 (0.1.0.10)
Internet Explorer 2.01 (2.01.046)
Internet Explorer 3.0 (3.0.1152)
Internet Explorer 4.01 (4.72.3110.0)
Internet Explorer 5.01 (5.00.3314.2100)
Internet Explorer 5.5 (5.51.4807.2300)
Internet Explorer 6.0 (6.00.2800.1106)
Internet Explorer 6.0 (6.00.2900.2180)
Internet Explorer 7.0 (7.00.5730.13)
Internet Explorer 8.0 (8.00.6001.18702) .

Market share of Internet explorer is getting worse each day .The release of Internet explorer 8 didn’t created much hype as Microsoft expected . Check out the market share of popular browsers . It seems that its a negative sign for Microsoft and Internet explorer .Anyway, this portable collection of previous versions of  Internet explorer might help developers or web enthusiasts to know more about the eventual growth and fall of of MS IE . Download also contains a developer toolbar for checking the compatibility of web design with Internet explorer .

Download earlier versions of Internet explorer .

The wait is almost over . After several months of beta testing ,upgrades , internet explorer 8 is final ready for download.

Microsoft says that internet explorer 8 final is faster than Firefox 3 ,Chrome and all other current browsers . And they have taken enough care to correct the security flaws and web page  rendering capabilities of internet explorer 8 final before making it for the public to download . You can download internet explorer 8 final here.

Previous versions of internet explorer were well known for their poor web page rendering (IE6) and security flaws .Microsoft has almost fixed these issues in internet explorer 8 final .Microsoft is planning to release internet explorer 8 final through their Windows update program . But the schedule for update has not been decided yet .Internet explorer 8 and Windows media player 12 will be the default browser and media player in Windows 7 .

Features of internet explorer 8 final .

Internet explorer 8 final comes with lot of new features and others adapted from  browsers like opera ,safari and Firefox .

Accelerators

As the name indicates , accelerators in internet explorer 8 will accelerate the user functions in the browser .Users can highlight any text and click on the blue accelerator link , then a set of suggestions will appear as shown below .

Improved phishing detection:

Phishing site detection in internet explorer 8 final is far superior than that in internet explorer 7 .Users will have the option to turn on or off the phishing filter .

InPrivate Browsing:

Just like in last Firefox release , internet explorer 8 final concentrate more on user security .Turn on InPrivate Browsing and all your browsing history , files ,cookies etc, will be deleted after th completion of the session .

Web slices :

Web slices   is a feature internet explorer 8 that is similar to the web page thumbnail preview in Opera browser ,but different in a sense .You can set you ebay auctions , live scores , stoke quotes etc. in a web slice and it will be automatically updated . You can access Web slices in internet explorer 8 as shown below .

Search suggestions :

Search suggestion is another important update in internet explorer 8 final version. Enter any term and select as source as shown below . IE 8 will automatically display some search suggestions for easy access.

Microsoft has reduced the size of internet explorer 8 download from the previous versions of internet explorers .

Currently you can download internet explorer 8 RC1 from here and I will immediately put the final download link after the official release later Today .

Download internet explorer 8 final .

Microsoft IE was reported with a major security flaw during the last 2-3 days  . This vulnerability could be used by the hackers to get very sensitive user information such  as banking passwords and credit card data  . Experts were advising the internet explorer users to switch on to another browser till there’s a suitable fix  . IE security flaw patch is assumed to be a fix for about 2 million computers running Windows OS.

I am always a supporter of open source browser movement and personally using Firefox and Google chrome  . At the same time i know that many are  still using Internet explorer (about 60%) ,and this could be the best indication for the depth of this vulnerability . Though the studies says that market share of FF and Chrome are increasing , for many colleges , companies and internet cafes ,browser means its Internet explorer .Even now ,they may not be aware of this major security flaw in IE  .  Anyways this download would be an easy fix for all IE fans out there .

Download  IE security flaw patch
For Internet explorer 6 Windows XP
For Internet explorer 7 Windows Vista
All other windiows users can download the patch here

Essential Internet Explorer 8 Shortcuts .

ALT+RIGHT ARROW : Takes you to the next page .
SHIFT+CLICK : Open a hyperlink in in new window
BACKSPACE : Used in IE8 to go to previous page
ALT+HOME : Shortcut to go home page
SHIFT+F10 : Used to show shortcut menu for a hyperlink
CTRL+C : Shortcut for copy in internet explorer 8
CTRL+V : Shortcut for paste in internet explorer 8
TAB :Move forward through different boxes and controls items on opened web page.
END :Move to the end of a web page
ESC : stops opening a page
CTRL+A : Select all in the browser windows
CTRL+D : shortcut to Bookmark a website
CTRL+E : Open the Internet explorer 8 Search bar
CTRL+F : Shortcut Find a text on browser
CTRL+H : Shortcut to open internet explorer 8 history bar
CTRL+I : Bookmarks Folder
CTRL+N : Opens a new window in internet explorer 8
CTRL+O : Opens address
CTRL+P : Print the current web page
CTRL+S : Shortcut to save complete website in internet explorer 8
CTRL+W : Closes IE 8
F11 : Move on to the full-screen view in IE8
F5 : Refresh the current browser page
F4 : Shortcut to Display a list of former addresses
F6 : Internet Explorer 8 Shortcut to change the focus of address bar and page.

Update: Internet Explorer 9 shortcuts