I was lucky enough to talk to an anonymous Microsoft Beta Test on IRC over the weekend, and he shared quite a few interesting details regarding IE 4.0 & Memphis with me. Again, please don't email me looking for Memphis or IE 4.0, I have to wait along with the rest of you, but I can whet your appetite with the following information...
For a complete run-down on the nitty-gritty details, be sure to check out the details on the "Un-verified Scoop" page...
(source: David Mealo on msnews.microsoft.com)
Outlook Express, the latest incarnation of Internet Mail & News has shown up, and presents quite a few new features. Selective filtering is now part of the news component, but this is not a full-fledged killfile feature as only headers can be filtered a la Internet Mail. It was also noted that the spell checker has not yet been implemented, however it may be likely that this may be left out of the final release in an effort to reinforce the value of the full version of Outlook.
Javascript support is much improved, a far cry from the earlier releases wherein Javascript enhanced pages brought IE 4.0 to a crashing halt. JavaScript Support is now to the point where very few Navigator 3 enhanced pages cause problems.
Another excellent move forward for Microsoft is definitely in this releas's stability. When IE 4.0 does crash, which is apparently rare, it no longer brings the desktop down as well, allowing for a more graceful recovery.
(source: Freddy on msnews.microsoft.com)
It is arguable that even though the breach was created inadvertently, the software has now been "officially" release to the public. As a result, it is conceivable that if one looks hard enough, copies of this software are likely to be found through various FTP archives or the web.
Interestingly enough, these beta offerings do not require a beta password and ID that is traditionally required during the install phase. It sounds like Redmond is trying to up the hype concerning their next release.
(source: Shaya Roudafshan on msnews.microsoft.com)
"The biggest deal about Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 browser may be its much-ballyhooed Active Desktop, giving a Web-like HTML interface to the Windows 95/NT desktop. However, that feature won't be available until the end of the month.
"Microsoft had planned to release a public beta of IE 4.0 March 17 but held off to address the concerns raised by a security flaw uncovered in Version 3.0.Any security fixes to IE 3.0 will be incorporated into the Version 4.0 code, officials said. The company plans to ship Internet Explorer 4.0 by midsummer."
Similar stories were printed at news.com and winntmag.com as well...
(source: PCWeek On The Web)
In his own words on msnews...
"As we all are, I am bored waiting for IE4. So I wrote a little funny bit on my Homepage. Check it out! I think you'll like it."
(source: Barista Bill on msnews.microsoft.com)
If you have some serious time on your hands and a lot of patience, keep checking back with the template outlines for the IE 4.0 download pages.
(source: Almost Everybody on msnews.microsoft.com)