Windows 8.1 Internet Explorer 11
Windows 'Blue', also known as 8.1, comes with a new version of Internet Explorer. One important improvement in IE 11 is WebGL support.
Remember that there are two versions of IE 11, one for the Metro-style UI version, and another version for the traditional ‘desktop’ browser.
Configuring IE 11 in Windows 8.1 'Blue'
- Windows 8.1 IE 11 Metro – Default Setting
- IE 11 Desktop – The Traditional Controls
- View on the Desktop from IE 11 Metro
- IE 11 Improvements
- Ensure Your Tabs and Address Bar Are Visible in IE 11
- Browser Statistics
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Windows 8.1 IE 11 Metro – The Default
When you launch IE 11 from the Metro-style interface you get a version, which is very secure, but hard to change. That is the ‘problem’ I am going to solve.
IE 11 Desktop – The Traditional Controls
The main purpose of this page is to explain how you can configure the IE 11 Metro tile so that you get the traditional Microsoft Internet Explorer.
If you are at the Metro UI, then click the desktop tile. Now launch IE 11 from the taskbar (key point), what you get is the full traditional Internet Explorer.
Here is the key point for getting the Metro UI version to behave in the manner of a traditional IE browser.
- Launch the desktop version of IE 11, select the familiar cog top-right.
- Select: Internet options.
- Click: ‘Programs’ tab.
- Tick: ‘Open Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop’, see screenshot below.
Note 1: The key point is ‘Open Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop’. (What you select under ‘Choose how you open links’ is not critical.)
'View on the Desktop' Using IE 11 Metro
Here is another way of getting the configurable form of IE 11. Let us assume that you have already launched Microsoft’s browser from the default Metro tile. Right-click in the IE 11 interface, and you should see control icons at the bottom of the screen. Select the Wrench, then ‘View on the Desktop’. (If no bar appears try WinKey +z)
The difference is that now you will see the traditional Internet Explorer and crucially, that cog at the top where you can make your internet options.
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IE 11 Improvements
Windows Blue's IE 11 browser uses the WebGL tech which enables accelerated 2D and 3D graphics. In this respect IE 11 is catching up with Mozilla's Firefox and Google's Chrome which already have WebGL. The idea is for the hardware's GPU to perform the rendering without the need for additional plug-ins. WebGL enhances mapping and other graphics-intense functions such as gaming.
As you might expect, IE 11 supports HTML 5 standards and CSS3 features such as text shadow. HTML5 test score 355 (IE 10 = 320)
What pleases me most with viewing my own sites in IE 11 is that it renders the text more crisply especially at 150%; in particularly the Milonic JavaScript menus are clearer. Others webmaster report that their animations are smoother because they now run at about 40 frames per second.
IE 11 also features autocorrect; apparently spellchecking regularly makes the top 10 of wish lists for browsers.
(Mis-)
Note 1: As a webmaster, I was thwarted when I discovered that IE 11 was not going to correct typos in my published text. The spell checker only operates on stuff readers’ type in input boxes!
Tip 1: Control Your IE 11 Font Size
You can easily increase or decrease the font size; press Ctrl + (plus key) for larger sizes, or Ctrl – (minus key) to get more text per line.
Tip 2: If you want to scroll down quickly, tap the spacebar.
Microsoft’s IE 11 Performance
Microsoft has designed IE 11 to be free of plug-ins, which could sap battery life, or compromise security. Indeed, I haven’t found a way of introducing my favourite add-ons to this Metro UI view of Microsoft’s browser.
Microsoft describes IE 11 as ‘Fast and fluid’, and their developers have designed a browser for touch as well as mouse use. I must admit, it’s not easy to remember that the address bar is at the bottom of the screen rather than at eye-line as in other browsers.
The Metro version of IE 11 places the emphasis on the websites themselves; by default, Microsoft has removed all the tabs and Window management menus and buttons, and it’s rather like being fitted with blinkers to make you concentrate on the website information.
Ensure Your Tabs and Address Bar Are Visible in IE 11
Our mission is to change the default minimalist browser Window, so that it shows the Address Bar.
- Make sure that you launch IE 11 from the Start Screen.
- Once IE 11 opens, press WinKey +c. From the charms, click on Settings.
- Click on Options [Key point].
- Flick the Appearance slider to: 'Always show address bar and tabs' to 'On'.
- See the result below.
When you need the controls to navigate, then right-click with mouse and use the ‘+’ at the top, or one of the tools such as ‘Pin’ at the bottom. You can see in the screenshot how IE displays frequently visited sites next to those that you have pinned to the Start screen.
If you want to print from the Metro UI, then try the old keyboard favourite: Ctrl +p. Alternatively, call for the faithful ‘Charms’ with WinKey +c and click on ‘Devices’.
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IE 11 Metro – Pin to Start
The Metro version of IE 11 has a more interesting outcome for 'Pin to Start', namely "Live Tiles" that give previews of the website.
I see Pin to Start as an alternative to 'Add to favorites', talking of which, IE 11 has a new Favorites Center where you can edit and prioritize bookmarks. I also appreciated being able to "Highlight" bookmarks with customized photos, thus being able to remember what was underneath the bookmark.
Browser Statistics
I was shocked to see how far Internet Explorer has slipped down the popularity chart. It was also a minor surprise to see that Chrome has overtaken Mozilla Firefox.
In the last millennium at the dawn of the internet it seemed everyone was using IE 3 or one of it's later variants. The browser wars between IE 5,6 and 7 with Netscape caused many techies to defect to Mozilla and later Firefox.
Competition has been good for browsers and in 2008 Google launched Chrome. Microsoft's share of the browser market has steadily declined and if the trend continues by IE 15 I will be the only one using Internet Explorer!
Seven More Improvements in IE 11
- I appreciated the ability to Sync my favorites and history between devices; this works thanks to my Microsoft account. It seemed to me that favourites have returned to prominence in Windows Blue.
- When swiping on a tablet, 'Go Back', no longer reloads the whole, page, instead it uses the cache.
- Better security: in IE 11 Enhanced Protected Mode (EPM) is turned on by default. Also, be reassured, ActiveX files are scanned with antimalware.
Worse security? in IE 11 users can selectively turn off the DNT setting for websites they don't mind tracking their activities. - There is native support for Adobe Flash.
- One of the hyped new features of IE 11 is support for multiple windows. This is a classic case of one man's meat is another man's poison, in my case, I cannot cope with more than Window at a time.
- Tab limit: Increased from 10 to 100.
- Multi-Snapping and App-Snapping for side-by-side viewing, say emails and stock prices.
How to Disable the Enhanced Security in Windows Server
To prevent malicious server attacks, browsers are discouraged on servers. Yet there are situations when I find it useful to troubleshoot a server problem by consulting my favourite websites. See how to disable the Windows Server 2010 ESC.
More Windows 8.1 Articles
- Windows 8.1 New Features
- Windows 8.1 "Blue"
- How to Close a Metro Style App
- How to Setup a Virtual Keyboard
- How to Join Windows 8 to a Domain
- How to Create an Image
See more on the Windows 8 Metro UI »
Summary: IE 11 in Windows 'Blue'
In Windows 8.1, also known as 'Blue' has two versions of the IE 11 browser; when you click on the IE tile on the start screen you get the default Metro browser. However, if you prefer the traditional desktop version of Internet Explorer, then it’s possible to change the behaviour of the tile on the (Metro) start screen.
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Microsoft Windows 8 Features
• Windows 8.1 Blue • Features for Windows 8.1 'Blue' • Windows 8.1 Install
• Windows 8 Overview • Windows 8.1 IE 11 • Windows App Store • Windows 8 PDF Reader
• Windows 8 Configuration • Windows 8 Remote Desktop • Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts
