Microsoft have officially announced the development of Internet Explorer 7.0 for Windows XP, the following is from the IE developers blog:

IE7
Today at RSA, Bill Gates talked about Internet Explorer 7. As the guy responsible for IE, I wanted to say a couple of things about it.

First, some basics: we’re committing to deliver a new version of Internet Explorer for Windows XP customers. Betas of IE7 will be available this summer. This new release will build on the work we did in Windows XP SP2 and (among other things) go further to defend users from phishing as well as deceptive or malicious software.

Why? Because we listened to customers, analysts, and business partners. We heard a clear message: “Yes, XP SP2 makes the situation better. We want more, sooner. We want security on top of the compatibility and extensibility IE gives us, and we want it on XP. Microsoft, show us your commitment.”

I think of today’s announcement as a clear statement back to our customers: “Hey, Microsoft heard you. We’re committing.”

Why are we talking about it today? Because our customers and partners have asked us, with increasing urgency, what our plans are. We want to convey our intentions to our customers and partners clearly and in a timely way.

I’ve gotten questions about the ship date. Yes, we have a date in mind. I’ll talk about the date after we get feedback from customers and partners. We’re going to release a beta and listen, then refresh the beta and listen some more. We’ll ship when the product is ready.

I’ve also gotten questions about support for Windows 2000. Right now, we’re focused on XP SP2. We’re actively listening to our major Windows 2000 customers about what they want and comparing that to the engineering and logistical complexity of that work. That’s all I can say on that topic.

Please know that the IE team is working hard. We’re eager to improve and better secure the web experience for the hundreds of millions of IE users around the world. We delivered on our part of XP SP2. We are actively delivering on our part of a great 64-bit Windows client. We continue to deliver on security updates for customers (across several versions of IE (back to IE 5.01) and Windows). We’re going to deliver on IE7.

Source

oh great another IE did he say that it wouldn't be as crappy as the earlier versions?

IE is a good browser, it's not 'crappy' by any means.

im going to have to agree with saruman, there are a lot of people out there who just love being different and will try there very best to knock things that the majority of people consider "good" for instance i dont care who you are but you can not say that brittney spears is ugly, you may not find her attractive but that does not make her ugly, how many people though say that she is? do you think they say that because they believe it or do they say that because they like being different, same goes with apple users, they try and down windows yet windows is a very good OS, if it wasnt then it wouldnt be around today, and lastly theres people now a days who just jump on the bandwagon (not saying your one of them) and say IE is garbage, i question some of the posters on here that say this, i wonder if they actually feel that way or are just saying it because they have heard others say it, ive posted in topics bashing IE with a positive post about it, and then after i break the ice it seems everyone else that agrees with me starts to post

Where are the IE bashing topics? Its far too early to say anything about IE7 there are several months to go before a beta is released, if they continue to improve on SP2, implement some of the features featured on MSDN, and continue to open up their websites to the other browsers I may even go back. Oh and no I dont jump on any bandwagons or hate IE, I have actually defended MS on a lot of issues, Opera gives me the options and the workspace I want, IE doesnt.



Well why dont you simply ask them what features they find usefull in alternative browsers that arent present in IE or perhaps ask them why they find alternative browsers better. After all IE was an alternative browser itself at one point.

Not to "bash" IE but I think I'll stick with Firefox even after the release of 7.0

Totally agree with you arben. Firefox is the cat's pyjamas, you can't beat the Firefox tab system in my opinion.

for those (myself included) that are dissatisfied with IE for not providing the features like tabbed browsing of browsers like Firefox, yet don't want to ditch IE, there is the option of Avantbrowser (www.avantbrowser.com), that is based on IE, with extra features like tabbed browsing etc . It's freeware (no spyware)

have used it for almost two years, works great

Hmmm... IE will still be the main target of attackers, maybe more secure, but still the main target.

And I want the tabbed browsing too,I don't use firefox anymore because i got a new computer and have been very lazy andnot wanting to reinstall it.

I just installed that Avant browser, mentioned above... I'm digging it.

It's what I've been looking for... IE with tabs.

but firefox walks all over it
*owned*

She's OK
http://www.hereinreality.com/makeup/britney/5.html
IE is getting better, slowly.

Just wait until MS releases Longhorn, you'll all be losing bowel control momentarily.

EWWWW!

Yep, the tabs are a great tool. No need for opening up new windows that clog your taskbar. I hope the next IE comes out with a similar idea of tabs. Not that I'll be using it. Me and my older bro uses Firefox, while my other bro, uses IE... he says Firefox screws up the design of a website, that he looks at.

That's why you don't look at personal websites, whose web creators don't know the rules and standards of web site development.

just like those people who bash kotor 2 cause it's different , and hate doom 3 casue it's too dark