Internet Explorer Updates Help Attract Developers and Consumers
For the longest time, it was almost assumed that you were viewing your favorite websites on Internet Explorer. Clicking on that big blue “e” sitting on your taskbar was just a part of the daily routine. But over time, bigger and better alternatives arrived.
Firefox and Safari are used and enjoyed by millions of consumers, and Google Chrome has just recently overtaken Internet Explorer as the most-used browser in the United States. Competitors have continued to show initiative to innovate while Microsoft seemingly rested on its laurels. But a fresh update for Internet Explorer 11 has patched twenty-five of the browser’s key vulnerabilities and even added new tools to entice additional developers.
Internet Explorer hasn’t always been the most secure service. Just a few months back, a critical exploit that allowed rogue code to run on computers was a hot topic of conversation, and a subsequent defect that allowed for remote attacks needed an emergency patch to protect millions of unsuspecting users. Microsoft has lost a bit of trust with a significant segment of PC users and has even considered changing the browser’s name to erase the negative perceptions. However, these new security patches are a strong first step in the healing process.
On the development end, greater UI responsiveness and additional tools meant to simplify some website complexity have been added. Websites can now be tested through WebDriver support that automates how certain products respond to multifaceted scenarios. The official blog post lists a medley of features that have been upgraded.
“The user interface, console, DOM explorer, debugger, emulation tool, UI responsiveness and memory profiling tools all have new features and bug fixes," a member of the Microsoft team wrote.
The depth and variety found within a browser’s toolbox play a big role in a developer’s interest. Most desktop browsers have reached parity in the sense that they all mostly have the same offerings, so it’s vital that Microsoft is making a concerted effort to clog its security holes while also offering greater development utensils to differentiate itself.
Whether or not this will make the blue “e” a desktop mainstay again is still unclear. People aren’t often thrilled to change their habits, but if Microsoft continues to push updates that do more than just bring Internet Explorer up to snuff with its competitors, then it might regain the positive prominence that it once enjoyed in the minds of consumers.
