• Accelerators (the feature formerly known as “Activities” in Beta 1): Technology allowing users to perform tasks like finding a definition of a word, posting a blog entry, mapping an address or posting a blog entry) available on the page they are viewing, instead of on a new page

• Web slices: Brings the user’s favorite data (sports scores, weather reports, stock quotes, etc.) directly into the Favorites Bar. Changes and updates are retrieved and users are visually notified of the updated information status

• Visual search suggestions: In the Instant Search box, as users type a search term, they will receive real-time search suggestions from their chosen search provider, as well as results from the users’s own Favorites and browsing history.

• Suggested sites: These are recommendations about other, related sites that might be of interest. This feature must be enabled by the user; it’s not on by default.

With this intensity and reliance, web developers and designers face an evolving set of needs including:

• Interoperability and compatibility
• Built-in tools that help both first time and experienced developers and designers get pages built right
• Browser capabilities that enable innovative experiences

Internet Explorer 8 will take the web experience beyond the page and introduce a new way to seamlessly experience the best of the web, whether you are a web developer writing to standards or a user discovering a new online service.

Activities

Activities are contextual services that provide quick access to external services from any web page. Activities typically involve one of two types of actions:

* “Look up” information related to data in the current webpage
* “Send” content from the current webpage to another application

Info page for Beta 2

Download Now!

System Requirements

Computer/Processor

Computer with a 233MHz processor or higher (Pentium processor recommended)

Operating System

* Windows Vista x64 and x86
* Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) x64 and x86
* Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
* Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)
* Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
* Windows Server 2008 x64 and x86
* Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) x64 and x86

Memory

* Windows Vista – 512MB
* Windows Vista Service Pack (SP1) – 512MB
* Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) – 64 MB
* Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) – 64 MB
* Windows XP Professional x64 Edition – 128 MB
* Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) – 64 MB
* Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 ia64 – 128 MB
* Windows Server 2008 – 512MB

Drive

CD-ROM drive (if installation is done from a CD-ROM)
(Internet Explorer 8 Beta is only available via download)

Display

Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors
Expand/Collapse
Peripherals

Modem or Internet connection; Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device

Related posts:

1. Download Internet Explorer 8 RC 1
2. Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta Download
3. Font Explorer L.M. 5.4

This download helps you evaluate the new features of Windows Server 2003 R2, the most productive infrastructure platform for powering connected applications, networks, and Web services from the workgroup to the data center. Windows Server 2003 R2 simplifies branch server management, improves identity and access management, reduces storage management costs, provides a rich Web platform. For more information about Windows Server 2003 R2, please go to www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer.

This is a preconfigured virtual machine contained within the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) format. A virtualization product that supports the VHD format is required to use this virtual machine. Microsoft Virtual PC or Microsoft Virtual Server are provided for free and can be used with these VHD based virtual machines. Please refer to the system requirements section for more details.

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1. Microsoft DirectX 9.0c (full package)
2. Windows Media Player 11 Beta

* Sign-in and messaging in multiple locations – You asked for it, now you have it! You can now sign into Messenger from more than one computer at a time, up to four at once. Simply sign into Messenger from one computer, install Messenger on another computer and sign in using the same account. (Only works if all computers are running Messenger 9.0 Beta. Currently enabled only for users whose Windows Live ID country is US or Canada.)
* Signature sounds – Pick your own personal sound that your contacts will hear when you sign into Messenger (only works if you and your contacts have Messenger 9.0 Beta).
* Per contact sounds – Pick unique sounds for each of your contacts. You will be able to tell from across the room who is sending you a message.

* SPAM Reporting – If users send you unsolicited messages or invitations that you consider spam, you can block them and report them as spammers. If you report a user as a spammer, the messenger service will collect this data and put appropriate restrictions on the spammer accounts. All reports of spammers are kept confidential.
* Animated Display Pictures – Show your moves! Messenger now supports animated .gif files as display pictures.
* Link in Personal Status Message – URLs in Personal Status Messages are hot and clickable in the Messenger contact list.
* Behind the Scenes Changes – Architectural changes that modified how things work but shouldn’t have changed how things look
* Changes to sign-in, connectivity, presence, sending text IM’s, voice & video features
* Windows Live Contacts Server – wlcomm.exe runs in the background to keep your contacts’ information up-to-date and helps Messenger sign you in faster.

Download : Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta | Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta Mirror | Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta Mirror | Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta Mirror

Related posts:

1. Download Yahoo Messenger 9 Full Setup (Offline Installer)
2. Download Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) Beta 2
3. Windows Media Player 11 Beta

Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP offers you unmatched choice and flexibility for your digital media. Easily manage your libraries of digital music, photos, and videos on your computer, and then sync with a variety of portable devices so you can enjoy it all wherever you want.

PLEASE NOTE: If you use Windows Media Player to access a favorite online store, some are not available for this beta release. The following stores are available in the Windows Media Player 11 beta release: Audible, f.y.e., Live365, Movielink, MSN Music, Napster, Passalong, Puretracks, URGE, Wal-Mart and XM Radio. For more information, see the Readme.

Download | Microsoft

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3. VLC Media Player 0.9.4