Like Apple Safari, Microsoft IE 8 now provides a way to temporarily suspend automatic browser caching functions and surf. The scenarios for using InPrivate include when you're using someone else's computer, when you need to buy a gift for a loved one without ruining the surprise, or when you're at an Internet kiosk and don't want the next person to know which Web site you visited. While you can currently clear the browser cache with a mouse click, it's an all-or-nothing action. InPrivate temporarily suspends the automatic caching functions, allowing you to keep the rest of your browsing history intact.
Photo credit: Microsoft
Yes, on the one hand it is great to see M$ adding comparable functionality to its browser.
But on the other hand, you have to ask yourself, if it is right or good to reward such plagiarism.
You'll remember that Netscape was virtually wiped out financially, by M$ copying the functionality of Netscape, and offering the equivalent M$ IE product for free (the first browser war).
Then the competition watchpuppies of the US and EU had problems with M$' plan to 'tightly bundle' the browser within the OS offering to prevent other 'upstarts'.... Plus the Halloween Documents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_Documents
) made it clear that standards subversion was the intent.
So you are left with the philosophical choice of supporting these practices, or supporting the newer Open Source competition (eg Firefox) to keep browsing of the web an open-standards environment... With good support for Open Source and standards, browsers can be tested for standards-compliance, and developers will never again be forced to 'customise' a web site for a particular intended browser... or be duped into utilising proprietary protocols.