The latest version of Microsoft's Web browser, Internet Explorer (IE) 9, brings numerous improvements such as full compatibility with Web standards like HTML5, a slimmed-down interface and support for hardware acceleration.

The IE9 also comes with better privacy controls. The software firm has introduced a new feature, called Tracking Protection Lists (TPLs), in the newest version of the Web browser to allow users to prevent certain ad networks as well as websites from tracking their online behavior.

Embrace of HTML 5 is expected to provide a big to the browser platform across the industry. Microsoft has suffered a fall in market share of its Web browser, but IE is still the most popular browser worldwide. Analysts believe that the IE9 will help the software company in regaining the lost Web browser market share.

According to Microsoft's claims, the IE9 reported 2.35 million downloads in just first 24 hours after its availability. The figure is very striking especially we take the fact into account that IE9 is compatible only with the Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Meanwhile, Software supplier Mozilla is all set to roll out the final version of its Firefox 4 Web browser on March 22.