Microsoft has declared that its next generation browser Internet Explorer 9 is faster than current builds of Firefox and Safari 5, with the final platform preview also posting an impressive Acid 3 test score of 95.
IE9 is already causing a stir, with Microsoft throwing its significant weight behind the browser as it faces mounting competition from the likes of Google Chrome, Apple Safari and Mozilla's popular Firefox.
And changes under the bonnet have made Platform Preview 4, the final preview before the browser arrives in beta, a score of 95 in the industry-respected Acid 3 test and a significant hoik in the SunSpider benchmark as well.
Although Microsoft will not be chasing the extra five points – which would involve implementing two minor features that the software giant has already ruled out – Internet Explorer chief Ryan Gavin told TechRadar that IE9 was likely to offer stiff competition, pointing to its latest SunSpider chart.
Faster than Safari 5
"In addition to being faster than all current shipping versions of Firefox we are now faster than Safari 5," said Gavin, who is not a fan of using 'micro benchmarks'.
"Optimising for any one test causes unnatural outcomes," he added.
"People over-generalise around one single test that is not reflective of what web patterns developers are building.
"We have to get out of micro benchmarks and individual tests."
The latest chart, released by Microsoft, of the SunSpider scores show Chrome and Opera ahead of Explorer but only fractionally, with IE9 set to be 11 times faster than its predecessor.
Microsoft has given TechRadar a detailed brief on how the IE9 improvements were made.
Your comments (4) Click to add a new comment
marybranscombe
August 6th 2010
4. details of the features for the 5 points they won't got for at http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/how-ie9-is-passing-the-acid-test-707801
@bradavon - the IE team compares to a larger range of shipping and non shipping competition if you go through their site and look at all the tests, but they do it with the default configuration.
Alert a moderator
bradavon
August 6th 2010
3. It's odd that comparison doesn't include the Firefox 4 betas. Firefox 3.x and Internet Explorer 8 are old browsers, based on old engines. Just like Opera 9 and Safari 4 are old, those aren't being included. Firefox 3.6 is the latest release but it won't be for too much longer.
"Although Microsoft will not be chasing the extra five points – which would involve implementing two minor features that the software giant has already ruled out."
Which are what? 95% is significantly better than IE8, which is around 60%.
Alert a moderator
romi
August 5th 2010
2. The strategic direction of browser development is to be able to run stand alone software in the browser , faster than running it stand alone. For example to be able to run Far Crysis or Office 2010 in the browser.
Alert a moderator
si_smith
August 5th 2010
1. In Peacekeeper, Opera 10.61 is nearly 2x faster than the latest IE9 snapshot. I think Microsoft have cherrypicked the one that shows IE9 in the best light.
Why ANYONE would bother with IE is beyond me, when Opera is so damn good.
Alert a moderator
Tell us what you think
You need to Log in or register to post comments