Internet Explorer 10 - Overview for IT Pros

Introduction

Internet Explorer 10 continues to provide key security and performance features from earlier versions of the browser. For example, tools like the SmartScreen filter help protect corporate customers from socially engineered malware. Hardware acceleration ensures that web apps are fast, and Internet Explorer 10 supports Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 7, and Quirks compatibility view.

In addition, Internet Explorer 10 supports modern standards like HTML5, CSS3, and SVG to give corporate developers the ability to build more powerful web apps. The underlying platform is fully interoperable across both browsing experiences available in Internet Explorer 10, enabling developers to write the same markup for both experiences. Internet Explorer is also plug-in free. Line-of-business applications that require legacy ActiveX controls can use Internet Explorer for the desktop.

IT pros continue to enjoy extensive management and configuration support in Internet Explorer 10, with over 1500 group policies available.

Note

For more information about customizing, deploying, maintaining, and troubleshooting issues for Internet Explorer 10, see the Internet Explorer 10 Deployment Guide.

Internet Explorer 10 naming

Internet Explorer 10 offers two browsing experiences in Windows 8. The following table outlines how we are referring to these experiences in Windows 8.

Name Description

Internet Explorer 10

The whole browser, which provides two browsing experiences: Internet Explorer and Internet Explorer for the desktop.

Internet Explorer

The browsing experience that's touch-centric and immersive, introduced with the new Windows 8 user interface. This terminology is also used to discuss Internet Explorer without reference to a specific version.

Internet Explorer for the desktop

The browsing experience that's available on the desktop, using a traditional tab layout. This is the only experience available when running Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 7 SP1.

Installation and customization details

Internet Explorer 10 can be deployed to computers running 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows 8, Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2012, or the 64-bit version of Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1. The installation and customization behavior of Internet Explorer 10 changes based on your installed operating system:

  • Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012. Internet Explorer 10 is included in the operating system automatically. As an administrator, you can create custom branding packages using the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 10 (IEAK 10) or Group Policy for deployment to your users.

  • Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1. As an administrator, you can download the Internet Explorer 10 installation package and deploy it to your users.