For anyone who actually uses Internet Explorer but is stuck with a slightly older version of Windows: You're in luck! The latest version of Microsoft's native browser, which shipped with Windows 8, is finally due to hit Windows 7.
Microsoft will roll out the update automatically, but if you're in a hurry, you can always grab it here. The update requires users to have Service Pack 1 installed, and Microsoft also announced in a blog post that it would upgrade users who installed the IE10 Release Preview first. Though the interface is not quite as minimalistic and slick as Windows 8's, IE10 for 7 includes integrated spell-checking, autocorrect, and is also optimized for touchscreens.
It also packs better support for HTML5 and other standards that Microsoft has been falling behind on. Microsoft claims it now offers a 60 percent increase in support, including CSS3 transitions and gradients, among other features. The company suggested that developers use modern.IE to test the compatibility of their sites with IE10, as it will scan a page for issues and suggest possible solutions for those in older browsers.
Do Not Track, which asks websites not to track a users' browsing habits, is turned on by default, PC Rumors reports. IE10 is also lighter on its proverbial feet, reducing strain on CPUs and batteries while still upping its speed. Microsoft alleges that JavaScript enhancements and certain tweaks will let it run up to 20 percent faster than IE9. Daniel Ionescu at PC World says IE10 was definitely more responsive when he had a chance to test it.
Despite its fairly mediocre reputation among hardcore computer users (most prefer Mozilla's Firefox or Google Chrome), Internet Explorer is the second-most widely used browser globally, weighing in at 30 percent of the market. Chrome takes first at 36 percent, having overtaken IE in May 2012, StatCounter reports. In the North American market, Internet Explorer tops the chart at 40 percent, while Chrome has 27 percent.
