Tech notes

Nov 16 2006 By Lewis Harrison, The Journal

The two most popular web browsers have released major updates in recent weeks, as Microsoft launched Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) and Mozilla unleashed Firefox 2.0 - the David to Microsoft's Goliath.

But in this case, David is growing, with around 15% of internet users now opting for Firefox.

It's a great result for Mozilla. When it launched Firefox in 2004, the browser provided a breath of fresh air for millions of web users who'd grown tired of Internet Explorer, which then had a 90%+ market share.

There are other browsers such as Opera and Sahara, but the real contender to the IE crown is Firefox.

So, does IE7 do enough to swat away the young pretender? Or is Mozilla's fox cunning enough to build upon its initial growth?

My advice is take a look for yourself - download them both and try them out (neither download should trouble a broadband connection).

Also, remember that since 15% of surfers use Firefox, you should ensure your company's website is compatible with both programmes. In terms of functionality, probably the biggest change users of IE6 will notice is that Microsoft has integrated the use of `tabs' into the browser window.

Tabbed browsing is an advanced way of managing your surfing by enabling you to open multiple websites within a single window - which is slicker, quicker and saves screen space. It's a welcome addition to IE7, but users of Firefox have seen it all before: Mozilla introduced tabbed browsing some two years ago, and has improved the functionality in its new version.

A major concern for web users has got to be security and, unsurprisingly, it's an issue both Microsoft and Mozilla have taken very seriously.

To that end, both browsers now include systems that warn users when they're about to visit a website that's known to be used by `phishing gangs' trying to steal sensitive user details by masquerading as trustworthy people / organisations.

It's an important inclusion for today's more security-conscious web users - especially so for Internet Explorer, which had a reputation for being less secure than some other browsers such as Firefox.

As well as the tabs and improved security, both browsers have a range of neat features - such as Firefox's live spell-checker that works as you type text into any data field on any web page - and both can support a wide array of useful plug-ins.

Prior to IE7's launch, I heard many people predicting that Microsoft's updated version would spell the death of Firefox. But I don't think that's going to happen. IE7 is certainly a leap forward from the previous version but it's one which draws Microsoft level with Mozilla, rather than taking it into the lead.