Internet Explorer 8: Review

For the web developers, Microsoft MIX08 event was very significant. In this event, the Microsoft has released a web-browser which is very online marketing friendly. The name of this browser is Internet Explorer 8 or (IE 8).

On the first instance the IE 8 doesn’t seem much different from version 7. Most of the base features are the same and it looks like an Internet Explorer. However, this is packed with some new features. Let’s look at what these features are.

IE8 has some new and improved features which can be beneficial for the end-user. Some of these features are…

1. Activities: Previously, if you needed to get the address and map a route to a holiday spot, you would go to their website, copy the address and paste it into a map website such as Live Maps.

Now, with Activities, you simply highlight your selection and the activities button appears. This button gives you the option to map an address (a preview of activities is available without launching a whole new tab or page).

2. WebSlices: in IE8 some of the websites are enabled for WebSlices, like eBay and Facebook. You can simply click on the WebSlice button and add it to your favorites bar and from any webpage your updated content will appear with bold type.

3. Favorites bar: The Favorites bar replaces the links bar from IE 7 which provided one-click access to favorite sites.

4. Automatic Crash Recovery: this feature is designed to recover your web pages in case of a crash or hang in your web browser. ACR might help in minimizing disruptions and it can improve your productivity.

5. Improved Phishing Filter: IE 8 have a safety filter that does more than block sites that are used for phishing. It blocks sites that are known to contain malicious software that may harm your computer.

There are speculations that these improvements may make Internet browsing easier and more productive. With IE8, Microsoft may change the Web browsing experience.

Microsoft MIX08: Announcement of Internet Marketing-Friendly Products

The date, the place and the event are of much importance for the web developers and web technocrats. It was a period from March 5-7, 2008, the place was The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas and the occasion was the unveiling of the Microsoft’s latest web-oriented products and technologies. Now, let me tell you the name of the event which is Microsoft MIX08 or we can call it simply mix08.

This event was of much significance, firstly for the Microsoft, then for various web developers and lastly for the technologies that would emerge after this event of the Microsoft.

Mix08 was not a product launch as such. What Microsoft has chosen to show at this event are not finished products, but the first wave of new products that will become generally available over the next six months.

The event shows that the Internet is going to become the core functional area of Microsoft and it will continue to develop web-based software. According to chief technology officer of Microsoft, Ray Ozzie, "We are placing the internet at the centre of our strategy." This shows that world would see more major Internet developments in the coming times and it would be beneficial for the Internet marketing as a whole.

Furthermore, internet aware devices are becoming more commonplace with us these days. We are carrying mobile gadgets which are totally Internet-based. So, the consistent research of the Microsoft is very useful for us, I think!

Also, in the event MS has announced some of its latest technologies among which the key release was beta version of Internet Explorer 8 (IE8). This is the latest web browser from the Microsoft. Through this web browser, Microsoft has made it easy for websites that provide services to be used from any other website.

For example, if you highlight a street address in IE8, the right click menu will allow you to bring up the location on through the Live Maps service. Online buying and selling is a common process these days. Now, just find an interesting item you're looking to buy? Right click and be taken directly to the search results for that product. These innovations are going to make a difference in the online marketing.

Moreover, Microsoft's Silverlight technology is yet another tool which was demonstrated at the event. This is a set of tools that plugs into your web browser and allows websites to display rich media content and applications. Here, with a heavy focus on media, especially video, Silverlight can deliver very complicated and detailed web pages.

There are speculations that Nokia would make Silverlight available for the majority of their handsets and internet tablets.

Thus, Microsoft is keeping on striving for the excellence. Perhaps the company is also influenced by the advent of the Internet marketing that is why it is emphasizing on the online marketing friendly Internet browser. This is definitely a good news for all those people who are involved in affiliate marketing, search engine marketing or any kind of Internet marketing.

Online advertising scene would change forever in China

Do you know which region in this world have the most internet surfers? Is it Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Middle East or Australia/Oceania?

The answer is Asia! Yes in Asia there are approximately 510 million or over half a billion Internet users approximately, according to Internet World Stats, December 2007 report.

Let see Internet scene in the China. According to a report by eMarketer, February 2008, there are 176.5 million internet users here. The numbers are increasing day by day and these users affect Chinese online marketing business to a great extent. These users are influenced by online marketing and its various tools so different manufacturers, advertisers and publishers want to get some benefit from these internet users.

Good news for them is that a business software company Omniture Inc., which is a leader in the online business optimization and Chinese search engine Baidu.com Inc., are together going to provide a technology that will monitor the effectiveness of Chinese marketing campaigns.

The confluence of these two giants will help the companies to determine the influence of the online marketing over the Chinese Internet users. Most probably this will change the face of the online advertising in China.