Let's take a look at IE9

What is this? The above image is a test showing the speed that javascript is processed in. To the far left is IE8, at a disgraceful high. In the middle, green, a bit behind Safari and Chrome, is the IE9 Platform Preview. What you're seeing here is a major change, one that would provide a much faster browsing experience for those of us that honestly don't care if IE has yet to meet the other Browsers in speed yet.

I don't know about the readers, but I'd be glad to use IE more often if it stops being so... slow. For now, I'll be sticking with Chrome for the most part.

First, we showed IE9’s new script engine, internally known as “Chakra,” and the progress we’ve made on an industry benchmark for JavaScript performance. With the differences between script engines on benchmarks approaching the duration of an eye-blink, we described our approach for making real-world sites faster. Chakra compiles JavaScript in the background on a separate core of the CPU, parallel to IE.
We showed our progress in making the same standards-based HTML, script, and formatting markup work across different browsers. We shared the data and framework that informed our approach, and demonstrated better support for several standards: HTML5, DOM, and CSS3. We showed IE9’s latest Acid3 score (55); as we make progress on the industry goal of having the same markup that developers actually use working across browsers, our Acid3 score will continue to go up. As part of our commitment to the standards process, we submitted test cases to the standards bodies. We also made these tests available for everyone to try in any browser.

What this means, in short language that even someone like me that uses a browser rather casually, is that IE9 will be freaking awesome. HTML4 is what we've been using for the last...decade? That means it's time for an ugprade. HTML5 has it's sights on taking the throne from Flash, by providing some of the core things Flash is famous for such as videos in a much smoother, faster environment. All this while being integrated with the browser!

For those that aren't aware of exactly what Acid3 is, typing "define:Acid3" on a google search produces this simple definition.

Acid3 is a test page from the Web Standards Project that checks how well a web browser follows certain selected elements from web standards

In short, Acid3 is one of many tests on Browser functionality. The higher the score, the better. The maximum score is a 100. 55 isn't exactly beautiful, but IE8 got a 20. That being said, it's definitely an improvement.

HTML5 applications will need great script performance and consistent “same markup, same results” across browsers. Great HTML5 applications will build on that foundation and go further, providing game-like interactivity and movie-like graphical richness to the user experience.

HTML5 will also be allowing web designers to implement graphics not unlike those you'd expect in a video game into the browser. Basically, it's freaking sweet.

Today we also announced the availability of the first IE9 Platform Preview for developers, and our commitment to update it approximately every eight weeks. The Platform Preview, and the feedback loop it is part of, marks a major change from previous IE releases.

 This is what looks to me to be Microsoft's own way of providing a public demo of their upcoming browser. I've yet to test it, but seeing as how it's free I will probably wind up installing and testing it sooner or later.



My recommendation is to look forward to the future, for IE9 is looking good. There is no currently known release date for IE9.