IE7 hits home stretch

By Tom Sanders on Aug 25, 2006 9:33 AM
Filed under Software

Microsoft leaves beta 3 behind with Release Candidate 1.

Microsoft has released a Release Candidate 1 version of its Internet Explorer 7 browser for Windows XP. It replaces the Beta 3 that was released in June.

A release candidate in Microsoft's vocabulary indicates the phase between a beta version and the final product release.

Microsoft encouraged web developers, computer enthusiasts and IT professionals to wrap up testing their application and prepare for the application's launch.

The RC1 version is available in English only for now. Additional languages will be launched in September, including the first Spanish and French versions.

The final product is slated for release later this year. It will be distributed as a 'high priority' update through the automatic update feature that's build into Windows. Enterprises will be able to prevent the tool from installing through a special 'Blocker Toolkit'.