applied tips : march 2007

internet explorer 7 features

This article originally appeared in the Lodi Chamber of Commerce newsletter, February 2007.

One of the most significant upgrades in internet history happened not too long ago, and for most of us it was automatic and we may have barely noticed.

Internet Explorer 6, the software we all used to access websites, our intranets, and often our email, was upgraded to version 7 (IE 7) through a free online update. With over four years passed since we started using IE 6, the internet landscape has changed with more features and security threats. This article aims to demonstrate some of the new features of IE 7 that you might not yet be taking advantage of.

Tabs

Many of us “power users” like to have multiple web pages open at the same time. Perhaps we’re checking email in one, and reading the news in another, and catching up on a blog in a third.

With IE 7, web pages can be shown in “tabs” displayed across the top of the screen. This new method of organizing pages makes surfing the web much more manageable. Here’s a tip: To open a webpage in a new tab, hold down Control while clicking the link. This is a great way to view your headline new articles.

RSS Reader

If you use the web to read news, you’re going to love this feature. An “RSS feed” allows online news sources and blog writers to make their articles available with a headline, description, and direct webpage link.

You can tell IE 7 which RSS feeds to subscribe to, and it will monitor these feeds and alert you whenever there has been an update. If you are looking at a webpage with an RSS feed available, the RSS icon will light up so you can subscribe.

Improved Security

One of the most prevalent problems across the internet is “phishing”, tricking someone into visiting a fake website to get their private information. These sites are usually disguised as login pages for a bank, eBay, or even MySpace.

IE 7 can often detect such pages, as well as pages with viruses, spy ware, and other nasty things, and warn users before damage can happen.

Add-On Manager

Add-Ons are the little programs that enhance your browsing experience, usually through toolbars like the Google Toolbar, or multimedia like Apple QuickTime and the Adobe Flash Player. Sadly, a lot of the “spy ware” that infects computers also takes advantage of the browser by latching on as an add-on.

IE 7 has robust Add-On Manager which allows you to enable or disable add-ons by name. If a particular add-on is causing trouble or no longer needed, you can use the Add-On Manager to turn it off. You can access this useful feature through the Tools menu, and choosing “Manage Add-Ons”

If IE 7 has been rendered unusable because of add-ons or other settings, there is now an option to completely reset IE to its default configuration. You’ll find this option under Tools, then Internet Options, then the Advanced tab, then click “Reset”.

Enhanced Zoom

An extremely useful feature of the new IE 7, especially for those of us with difficulty reading small text, is the enhanced zoom menu you’ll find in the lower-right corner of the window. Choosing a larger size not only increase the size of text, but also zooms in on photos, buttons, and other images that previously remained their original size.

Tip: If you have a mouse with a scroll wheel, hold down the Control key while moving the wheel to quickly zoom in or out of your web page.

Intelligent Printing

If you have ever tried to print a website when using IE 6, you’ve no doubt experienced the right margin being cut off the side of your page. While a website can be properly written to prevent this, most web designers don’t take the time to make that happen.

IE 7 has a new feature that will automatically adjust the printout by shrinking the output just enough to make it fit. It’s called “Shrink to Fit”, and you can see it in action if you try a Print Preview.

So Have You Upgraded?

If you haven’t yet made the upgrade, hopefully this article gave you a handful of reasons why you should. Of course, if your computers are managed by an IT department you should definitely consult with them first before installing any software. And, if you use special applications that rely on Internet Explorer, check with your vendor before upgrading to make sure they have been tested for use on IE 7.

To upgrade, just visit www.microsoft.com/windows/ie