Internet Explorer 8 helps you save time with Accelerato

[z3r010]

There’s been a great deal of more talk lately about browser performance. You may have seen some previous discussion about page load performance as you saw here in a video and whitepaper in March. Page load ensures that you get to where you want to go quickly. But page load time differences actually measure about the length it takes for a person to blink their eye once, making a win for any browser pretty inconsequential as far as time savings go.

However, Internet Explorer 8 today offers a feature that saves you time and clicks and lets you get things done more quickly: Accelerators. Accelerators optimize the browser experience by removing repetitive, time consuming actions and give people easy access to the online services they use most. You can discover new Accelerators for Internet Explorer 8 at the Internet Explorer 8 Add-ons Gallery.

With all the talk about performance, we wanted to see what features like Accelerators really meant for time savings when people use the web, so we created another video looking at common tasks people actually do in four browsers: Safari 4.0, Chrome 2.0 beta, Firefox 3.5 beta 99 and Internet Explorer 8. Please note, all tests were performed using the default installation settings for each browser. No additional add-ons or extensions were added. 

Here is a video that shows off how Accelerators in Internet Explorer 8 make your browsing experience quicker and easier:


Accelerators in IE8 Help Save Time!

More...

 

[Legacy Code]

Shame its not an integral part of W7 RTM.... unless you want it to be .

To be honest i have not tried any accelerators at all with IE8, but after reading this i may well experiment.

Thanks for the Info Z3r010

 

[BCXtreme]

But page load time differences actually measure about the length it takes for a person to blink their eye once, making a win for any browser pretty inconsequential as far as time savings go.

When I load a certain webpage in Internet Explorer 8, it takes around 5-7 seconds, the latter few of which are spent watching each element of the page load individually. Loading the same webpage in Firefox 3.5, on the same broadband connection, is close to instantaneous. I notice similar differences on every website I've ever tested.

So the quoted statement is correct, IF it takes you around 5 seconds to complete a blink.

 

[OEM]

I'm finding accelerators to be a great tool that I'm using more all the time. Specially google's define. Very easy to use, highlight a word, click the blue arrow, all accelerators, define, a new tab opens with the definition of the word.

Just wish there was a way to organize its context menu. Can't seem to find any way to move items around so I can choose which are shown in the first menu so as not to have to go into "all accelerators".

 

[Firestrider]

When I load a certain webpage in Internet Explorer 8, it takes around 5-7 seconds, the latter few of which are spent watching each element of the page load individually. Loading the same webpage in Firefox 3.5, on the same broadband connection, is close to instantaneous. I notice similar differences on every website I've ever tested.

So the quoted statement is correct, IF it takes you around 5 seconds to complete a blink.

What sites are you going to? IE8 and FF3.5 are both near instantaneous to me.

 

[BCXtreme]

What sites are you going to? IE8 and FF3.5 are both near instantaneous to me.

I'm not going to disclose my entire browsing routine, but among the sites I've tested are WinCustomize, Weather.com, and these forums. Each one takes between 5-10 seconds on IE8, less than five seconds on FF 3.0, and almost instant on FF 3.5. The most drastic difference was on Weather.com, which went from about 7 seconds on IE8 to 1-2 on FF 3.5.

 

[srq2625]

I'm not going to disclose my entire browsing routine, but among the sites I've tested are WinCustomize, Weather.com, and these forums. Each one takes between 5-10 seconds on IE8, less than five seconds on FF 3.0, and almost instant on FF 3.5. The most drastic difference was on Weather.com, which went from about 7 seconds on IE8 to 1-2 on FF 3.5.

Is that with or without a cache dump and a page refresh? I can see where it would be quite quick if FF 3.5 were accessing a cache. The next question would be something along the lines of, "Why isn't IE also using cache?"

 

[BCXtreme]

Is that with or without a cache dump and a page refresh? I can see where it would be quite quick if FF 3.5 were accessing a cache. The next question would be something along the lines of, "Why isn't IE also using cache?"

It's not trying to pull the pages from a cache, and therefore does not require manual refresh. Every time I load a page in FF, it downloads it fresh from the server. I hate when you have it set to require a manual refresh to actually download the newest version of the webpage.

 

[retiredat44]

why would anyone even need these accelerators if the browser was made/created/coded correctly to begin with? I didn't try any accelerators because I need recommendations from people that try and use them, or are guinea pigs/beta testors.. so, are they safe? do they mess up anything?

Just asking..
:huh:

 

[OEM]

why would anyone even need these accelerators if the browser was made/created/coded correctly to begin with? I didn't try any accelerators because I need recommendations from people that try and use them, or are guinea pigs/beta testors.. so, are they safe? do they mess up anything?

Just asking..
:huh:

What???

It seems your under the impression that accelerators have to do with browsing performance, it doesn't. Its meant to speed up things you might want to do and save you time, by providing quick links, but nothing to do with the overall browser performance.

Web accelerators are more like tools, mainly in the form of links. If your using IE8 and left them on during setup, if you highlight a word or phrase on a webpage, clicking on the blue arrow box opens the accelerator context window. Theres a whole host of things to do like search, blog, define, maps, etc.

Check here for more info:
Internet Explorer 8: Features

Heres the gallery of accelerators:
Accelerators - Add-ons Gallery

Added:

Another place for more info:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-CA/help/fe9dd907-64c1-414e-8e51-0890dada5fde1033.mspx

 

[DJG]

PULEEZE! Accelerators are for wimps . We don't need no stinkin accelerators ...

The reason they had to add accelerators is because they don't let you drag-n-drop directly into the search bar, the little #&%#$ ...

 

[jblazea50]

just watched the video that shows how many steps it takes to find the map and it is completely BS

i can map the address on firefox (using 3.6a1pre) or chrome in less than five steps; i haven't installed any add-ons or extensions either

just go to the address bar, and type "map whatever address"

 

[Brand]

I don't know about you guys, but I don't see any real use for the so-called accelerators. Just no use and occupying space when right clicking when browsing pages.

 

[OEM]

I don't know about you guys, but I don't see any real use for the so-called accelerators. Just no use and occupying space when right clicking when browsing pages.

I politely disagree. Think they make short work of certain tasks.

For example, lets say you see a town name and you want to see where it is. All thats needed is to highlight the town name click the blue box (or right click) and choose "maps". It will open a new tab and show the location.

Same with the definition of a word and google define. You come across a word that your not sure what it means, you highlight it, right click and choose define. A new tab opens with the definition.

Lets say theres something that you want to check if its on You tube. With the you tube accelerator, you highlight and choose the you tube. With this, a thumbnail preview will open when you hover over the you tube link, then if you click it, it opens a new tab and goes to the search results on You tube.

Think because its new, one has to use them a bit to see there benefits. At first I didn't see the big deal with them, but now I use them all the time. It does reduce some steps and saves time. As much as MS claims, maybe not, but it does make it easier IMHO.

---

If you don't like them and never will use them, you can disable them to tidy up your right click menu. Although it appears that you must disable each one, one by one. Doesn't look like theres a all or nothing option to quickly remove them. Also, there is a post in that thread explaining how to get rid of the "blue icon box" from appearing.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1020-internet-explorer-enable-disable-accelerator-add-ons.html

Have you checked for others that you might find useful:

Add-ons Gallery

I'm all for options & features. I'm glad to see them, and if I didn't, the option to remove them, well most of them, is there. Its all about choice and every body is entitled to there opinion.


Update:
You can turn off accelerators completely in the local computer policy editor.

Go to Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Componets\Internet Explorer\Accelerators\ select "Turn off Accelerators" and Enable it.

View attachment 17312

 

[Mark]

Just installed some accelerators for Firefox, you can find them here.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7750

 

[DJG]

I politely disagree. Think they make short work of certain tasks.

.....

I'm all for options & features. I'm glad to see them, and if I didn't, the option to remove them, well most of them, is there. Its all about choice and every body is entitled to there opinion.


Update:
You can turn off accelerators completely in the local computer policy editor.

Go to Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Componets\Internet Explorer\Accelerators\ select "Turn off Accelerators" and Enable it.

View attachment 17312

Options are there as such, they work for some people and do not for others. You can also disable the accelerators in IE "Tools/Manage Add-Ons".