Posted on 10/18/2006 9:32:00 PM PDT by Eagle9
Microsoft on Wednesday launched the first major update to Internet Explorer in five years, and posted the new browser for Windows XP to a download site.
IE 7, which has was announced in February 2005 by chairman Bill Gates, has been touted by the company as a significant update in the areas of security and usability. The interface has been streamlined and tabs have been added to compete with rivals such as Mozilla's Firefox and Opera's flagship browser. On the security front, IE 7 adds anti-phishing defenses as well as additional features to control ActiveX controls, which historically have been a pain point for Microsoft's browser.
IE 7 for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 can be downloaded from here.
"It's here, it's final, and we're excited," said Margaret Cobb, the group product manager for the browser.
The most controversial aspect of IE 7 has been Microsoft's decision to push the update to all users who have Automatic Updates enabled. Although users can reject IE 7 -- and continue using their current edition of Internet Explorer -- Microsoft will begin rolling out the browser as a "High priority" update next month. In July, when Microsoft offered up a toolkit to indefinitely postpone IE 7's installation, it justified using Automatic Updates, a mechanism for providing patches to Windows, because of the new browser's security implications.
"We've told enterprise customers to be ready [for IE 7] by Nov. 1," said Cobb. "It won't begin Nov. 1, but they should be ready."
The IE 7 update will also not add to the burden of Microsoft's monthly security patch delivery, scheduled for Nov. 14, promised Cobb. "We won't do it on Patch Tuesday."
Microsoft will also throttle back IE 7's delivery to keep the server load under control, she added. "We're starting with English, and then moving to the localized versions as they come available. At first we'll run it very slow, to a low percentage of users." After assessing the impact, Microsoft will increase the amount of traffic from the servers. "I'll have a 10 a.m. call every day to go over the impact on support or services," said Cobb, who can then order downloads to be scaled back or increased.
It will take as long as three months to deliver IE 7 to all users worldwide. "As each localized language comes online, we'll wait a few weeks after posting it for download before delivering it through Automatic Updates."
Microsoft has made one change late in the game. After IE 7 has installed, it will tell the user which search engine is the current default -- grabbed from IE 5 or IE 6 -- and then ask if they want to make a new choice. The process is similar to, but not identical, to the choice that Windows Vista users will face when they upgrade from Windows XP.
"We added this after RC3," said Cobb. "We're letting users know what engine is the default, and asking them if they want to keep it or do they want to switch. We're also going to be supporting IE 7."
Beginning Thursday, Microsoft will open a free, toll-free support line for IE 7. The help desk will be manned Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PDT, and on weekends from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT.
Internet Explorer's chief rival, Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox browser, is nearing the final release of version 2.0. Currently on Release Candidate 3 (RC3), Firefox 2.0 should make it out the door before the end of the month.
Users who want to block the download and installation of IE 7 through Automatic Updates, as well as the Windows Update and Microsoft Update sites should steer here, where they can retrieve the Internet Explorer 7 Blocker Toolkit.
And what happens when four and more cores happen with virtual machines?? How many copies do you buy then?
Quit BSing yourselves, Vista isnt that different that WinXP, Quit reading all the FUD and BS...
DAILYTECH: Despite the buzz on the Internet(s), Vista licensing will be similar to XP
I've been using 2.0RC3 for the last couple of days. It's nice! There's built in spell checking for forms (Though it doesn't recognize beeber or stune as real words by default) and the tab controls are more streamlined. I keep running across new features and improvements as I use it. MSFT has some more catching up to do.
no ideas, havent used that in YEARS.
Who besides you forced you to download and go through the on screen dialogs of pushing "OK" more than once to install it?
Ahhh... I see that you've discovered one of the new security features. If you can't get out, the Russian Mob can't get in!
BS, with Automatic Updates turned on, you still get to choose whether to install the updates or not.
better shader models and such, you will need a DirectX 10 compliant video card to properly utilize it obviously... currently NONE are on the market.
If you re-install it on multiple computers or a single computer 25 times, you'll be asked to get a new 52-digit number from Microsoft. The worst part of that is, even if you upgrade say a hard drive, install a new hard drive, install a new piece of hardware like a sound card or video card, those count against you too, and you will eventually have to "reauthorize" an already legitimate and genuine installation of Windows XP.
Acquiring the 52-digit number from MS is free, but it's a pain in the a$$.
I browse the threads in one tab and reply in another.
[Quit BSing yourselves, ]
From your article:
"Since you can't transfer a copy of Windows that comes with a new PC anyway, less than 10 percent of all Windows licenses are transferable at all. And of those, only a tiny percentage of users have ever tried to even transfer a Windows license once. The only people that really need to do this regularly are hardcore PC enthusiasts who change their machine configurations regularly.."
But wait, I am a hardcore PC professional who regularly reconfigures. So, I guess what you are saying is that anyone really into computing should blow off Microsoft. Thanks for the advice.
Downloaded / launched it yesterday.
It's OK. Alot like Firefox, so why bother?
I'll stick with Firefox, thanks.
you couldn't do it with XP anyhow(legally).
"no ideas, havent used that in YEARS."
While you keep buying licenses like popcorn, I haven't bought a license for three years cause I went Linux and just have a couple legal servers left. But glad to know you like to spend money to support the Bill Gates charity.
I do sometimes, depending on how fast it's moving.
I use Both... Linux(PCLinuxOS and MEPIS) and WindowsXP
If the average user wants Linux I say go for it but expect to spend lots of time in suupport forums.
True. It's a Godsend for "LIVE Threads".
The biggest hurdle for most will be dealing with "hardware compatibility issues".
I have had it for two weeks, and so far, so good. I was wondering what in the nell was going on with Microsoft when every other browser available was able to manage tabs!
true.. but they will experience more issues once they start actually using it and try to actually start doing things. I personally have found Multimedia Support to be the hardest thing to get perfected(what codecs to use, what player to use for certain codecs on certain browsers i.e. Mplayer, Kaffeine etc... ) depending on you hardware, I have an old T21 thinkpad and have a terrible time with streaming video with it on linux I will watch a video for like 2 minutes then all of a sudden the speakers will go "BRRRRRRRRRBBRRRRRRVBBRRR" really loud! LOL! and the only way to get it to stop is to shut it down(and when i mena shut it down I mean HOLD THE POWER BUTTON DOWN!) this only happens with MS encoded streams on embedded pages. like comedy central.(I dont usually go there just use it as a test)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.