Microsoft has released the beta for the newest version 9.0 of their ever-so-popular Internet Explorer browser. The beta has all the features that will be seen come release, but does not however have the updated version 9 UI.

Version 9 has some important new things about it. For starters, there is support for HTML 5 and CSS 3, and a new JavaScript engine. IE9 also has an "Acid Test" feature that will let you test the compatibility and compliance of a website with IE9.

Additionally, this new browser is programmed to use your GPU much better: IE9 uses your computer's GPU to enhance hardware scalable vector graphics (SVG), JavaScript performance, and HTML5 performance. Which is a great thing, considering the natural, slow development of more and more graphic intensive websites as the WWW matures.

You can download the beta here.

Microsoft announced the technology behind their new browser ‘Internet Explorer 9’ on Tuesday. IE 9, far more advanced than its previous versions, is expected to increase the performance parameters to the graphics processing unit (GPU).

IE General Manager Dean Hachamovitch said, “When we started looking deeply at HTML 5, we saw that it enabled a whole new class of applications. These applications will stress the browser runtime and hardware, as today's sites just don't. We quickly realized that doing HTML 5 right -- our intent -- was more about designing around what HTML 5 applications will need, rather than a particular set of features.”

“Done right, HTML 5 applications will feel more like real apps than Web pages, and our approach to HTML 5 is to make standard Web patterns that developers already know and use, just run faster and better by taking advantage of PC hardware through Windows,” he added at the MIX10, Microsoft’s conference for Web developers and designers in Las Vegas.

Internet Explorer 9
IE has seen a drop in its market share since rivals like Mozilla, Google, Opera etc. came into picture, and to thwart competition, Microsoft wants IE 9 to be made with latest technology.

The Internet Explorer, started in 1995, has been a web browser since 1999. Currently, its usage share is approximately 50 percent to 60 percent. Microsoft spent over $100 million a year on IE in the late 1990s.

IE 9 comes with CSS3 features, having rounded corners and opacity. It also supports Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG).

The version is well adhered to speed and high standards, and includes a good JavaScript engine. This is expected to boost performance limits and put IE 9 in line with Google’s Chrome.

“It's interesting to note that the gap between IE9 and some of the other browsers to its right is about an eye-blink -- it's about 300 ms. And it took 70 seconds to identify that 300 ms difference,” said Hachamovitch.

Hachamovitch also added that new IE supports markups used by websites, which will improve performance and interoperability.

More on IE
The Internet Explorer, launched in 1995, has been a web browser since 1999.

Currently, its usage share is approximately 50 percent to 60 percent. Microsoft spent over $100 million on IE in the late 1990s.

The last release by the company was its IE 8 version, which works on Windows XP and Windows server 2003.