Planet Lowyat

Microsoft only had 11 more days within which to deliver the more customer-focused IE 8 Beta 2 if it were to hit its August deadline. According to one well-placed tipster, who requested anonymity, the current plan is for Microsoft to make IE 8 Beta 2 available for download from its Web site by August 28. And the final version is tracking for a November release, the tipster added.

Microsoft is expected to provide some previously undisclosed new features as part of the upcoming beta release, including some kind of new private-browsing (a k a “porn mode”) functionality.

(To be clear: Microsoft isn’t confirming it will have the same kind of “private browsing” functionality that Safari already offers, and some are speculating that all Redmond will end up doing is identifying which sites are porn sites, which won’t be very useful to those who are hoping IE 8 will help them cover up their online tracks. )

Microsoft is expected to make the Beta 2 build available to anyone who wants it. The Beta 2 build is the successor to the more developer-focused IE 8 Beta 1, which Microsoft also made available to any interested parties, on March 5. I’m hearing that folks who already have IE 8 Beta 1 installed will get Beta 2 via Automatic Updates.
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According to Microsoft IE team, Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is just right around the corner. If you wish to be a part of making IE better by contributing great bug reports then please email to Microsoft at IESO@microsoft.com and tell them a little about yourself including why you’d be a great beta tester.

Interested? Download IE8 here.

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