The novel features include the ability to send highlighted text directly to a lexicon or mapping service using a context menu; and webslices, a service to keep users informed about changes to subscribed sites like weather and auction portals.

Microsoft has also introduced a private mode which can be activated prior to a web surfing session and which leaves no traces of a user's activity on the computer. When using the integrated search engine, Internet Explorer 8 is also reported to provide relevant suggestions while the terms are still being entered. The search results are also presented topically, with images. The browser utilizes multiple search engines to draw its results.