Survey Reveals Fresh Insights on Web Surfing Habits in NZ

Microsoft launches Internet Explorer 9 to enhance web experiences.

Internet speed is the most important feature for Kiwi web surfers, according to the latest Microsoft survey on browsing habits.

The survey, designed to mark the launch of Microsoft’s latest browser, Internet Explorer 9 (IE9), was conducted across Asia Pacific and Europe, with more than 20,000 respondents from 31 countries participating. It sought to discover and understand consumer preferences when surfing the web.

Dean Edwards, Technical Audience Marketing Manager for Microsoft New Zealand, says 83 percent of Kiwi internet users named speed as the most important feature of their web browser, followed by security and ease of use.

“More than 36 million users globally have downloaded the beta version of IE9, and feedback shows they are excited about the faster, safer, cleaner browsing experience it offers. IE9’s technically superior platform has enabled collaboration with more than 200 partners globally, resulting in a more beautiful web experience for our users.”

“Today’s websites and browsers only use about 10 percent of the processing power PCs have to offer. IE9 is 11 times faster than its predecessor, and uses hardware acceleration through Windows to harness the full potential of the PC," says Dean.

Other survey findings included:

• Sixty five percent of respondents said they struggled with loading video content on the web

• Users in New Zealand had the greatest discipline when it comes to downloading content they are unsure about, with 68 percent claiming they do not download it

• Forty three percent of Kiwis claim not to be worried about someone else seeing what websites they visit – this was the highest percentage in the region

• Kiwi users appear to be significantly more worried about online banking security (88 percent) than they are about others knowing they visit adult-only websites (53 percent)

• More than 50 percent of users spend more time choosing their toothpaste brands than they do their Web browsers

There are a number of innovative and unique features in IE9 that improve web users' and developers' experiences. In particular, the new browser has been designed to help web developers create rich, innovative, standards-compliant web applications which can enhance the internet surfing experience for end users. InGame, a games consultancy, has noticed a significant improvement in graphics performance for their games with the new support for HTML5 in IE9.

“The hardware acceleration for HTML5 graphics in IE9 means we can get the smooth graphics performance we need to write commercial games in HTML5,” says Stephen Knightly, Director of games consultancy InGame and the Auckland Game Developers Meetup.

“The number of gamers playing through a web browser is booming, and online games are the fastest growing part of New Zealand’s games industry at the moment. We’ve already begun designing games in HTML5 knowing that the latest generation of browsers will support it. Very soon a sizeable online audience will be able to play them. It’s great to have another viable and open platform to write online games with, rather than just Flash.”

An online martial arts game, Master of The Web, has been specifically designed to allow users to experience first-hand the remarkable speed and performance of IE9 compared to other browsers.

For your chance to get your hands on the prize money and your name on the leader board visit: www.masterofthewebgame.com.

IE9 is available from today and can be downloaded at www.beautyoftheweb.co.nz.

ENDS

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