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Will Internet Explorer 9 finally get a download manager?
Its features are fairly basic compared to the download managers you're already familiar with like DownThemAll, LeechGet, Orbit, and Free Download Manager. Microsoft's app currently only handles HTTP downloads, but it can pause and resume transfers, automatically retry, and it supports up to 16 simultaneous connections. Here's what the MS page has to say:
Sounds good... but not quite true. While it handled smaller downloads with aplomb, the 570MB Windows SDK 7.1 ISO download gave it fits. Downloading the file in IE 8 proved to be faster and far more hassle-free.The Microsoft Download Manager enables you to download files from the Internet in a more reliable and faster way than using a browser alone. Using the Download Manager makes it easier to download large files such as an application or multimedia files. The Download Manager has been specifically designed to manage file downloads from supporting Microsoft Web sites in a secure and reliable way.
As a standalone app, it's not too impressive. It would, however, make a nice feature addition to Internet Explorer 9. Internet Explorer has been able to resume downloads (at least in theory) for ages, but an actual download manager like the ones present in competing browsers would be a welcome improvement.
Microsoft has made it pretty clear that they want IE9 to compete with the browsers Like Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. A download manager would certainly help -- but this one needs a little more work before it's ready for prime time. IE9's release is still quite a ways off, so there's plenty of time for Microsoft to put a shine on Download Manager and bolt it on.
Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsAmitMay 22nd 2010 10:10AM
The Microsoft download manager does not resume downloads if you quite a download in the middle .
NickMay 22nd 2010 10:10AM
They will have to, if they don't want to lose their IE share.
RollinsMay 22nd 2010 11:04AM
So long as IE remains the default web browser for Windows (in the US), they'll keep significant market share.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt)May 23rd 2010 3:01PM
i agree with Rollins, as long as there are the non tech savvy and businesses buying PCs, MS doesn't have to seriously worry about their IE marketshare.
DavidMay 22nd 2010 11:05AM
As a previous member of Microsoft Connect (private beta testing) and a current subscriber to the download-only Action Pack, Microsoft have provided download managers (interestingly, different software for Connect and Action Pack, and both of these differ from the Download Manager in this article) to download software in a resumable manner. While it would make sense if the IE UI team took charge of adding a download manager to IE so that other MS departments don't have to write their own download managers to assist in downloading large files, I want the IE team to focus all of their development time on the rendering engine - download managers is something that can be tacked on to IE afterwards by third-parties or even in-house like PowerToys for Windows 95, but getting the rendering engine right isn't something that can be easily tweaked by third-parties.
GerryMay 22nd 2010 11:09PM
Microsoft download manager will never beat orbit downloader and IDM i think
XD
@Rollins: you can always change the default browser
my IE 8 is sucks when opening new tab
GerryMay 22nd 2010 11:13PM
plus it's very suck if IE 9 doesn't support Win XP
super sucks!
kevjohnMay 24th 2010 1:46PM
I haven't used or needed a download manager since the days of dial-up connections. It doesn't seem very necessary with today's broadband speeds, unless you're downloading something from a sketchy server. I've done some relentless downloading over the past 7 years or so and I can't think of a single attempt that failed, regardless of size.