Windows 7 gets its first Internet Explorer 11 preview

Microsoft IE11 preview for Windows 7

As Microsoft has previously promised Internet Explorer 11 is coming to Windows 7. Today the IE team is making available a preview version IE11. The new version of the popular web browser packs most of the features found in Windows 8.1, such as the new F12 developer tools, same performance enhancement, faster page loads, security, compatibility, WebGL support — technology that natively supports rendering of JPG images using the graphic processor –, and new web standards.

Internet Explorer 11 Developer Preview is also available for Windows Server 2008 R2. Keep in mind that this is a test build, bugs and error may occur. So be cautious in which PC you are installing the software.

Like I mentioned above, the version of IE11 come with most, but not all the new features that users will find in Windows 8.1. For example:

  • Windows 7 doesn’t get a Windows 8 app like version of the software. However, Internet Explorer 11 desktop app looks the same in both operating systems.
  • Microsoft also isn’t including the new feature that makes possible to have up to 100 tabs open in IE11 for Windows 7.
  • SPDY protocol to help websites to download faster is not supported in the Windows 7 version.
  • Media Source Extensions (MSE) and Encrypted Media Extensions (EME), both media streaming technologies will only be part of Windows 8.1.

I previously wrote a Windows 8 guide for Internet Explorer 11 that I recommend you visit to learn more about the new features from the web browser. Microsoft has also published the Internet Explorer 11 Preview guide for developers with an overview of feature and standards web developers will be able to take advantage building new web experiences.

The support for new versions of Internet Explorer still very important, as Microsoft has stated there still 700 million users using Windows 7. Although, the software giant is cutting off some features in the latest version of its web browser. In part, this may be to encourage users to jump to Windows 8. Which is understandable from the point of view where previous versions of Windows keep getting all new features, and consequently users take longer to move on to another OS.

Microsoft still not saying when the final version of IE11 will be available for all Windows 7 users, although a final version of IE will be included with the release of Windows 8.1 which is scheduled to go to manufacturers in late August.

Download IE11 Developer Preview 32- and 64-bit version and different languages.

Source IEBlog

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.