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.
I don't know about IE7. When using Firefox, try right-clicking your mouse on the link or bookmark and you should have a choice - Open In New Window or Open In New Tab. There are many extensions for tabbed browsing. I use Tabbrowser Preferences 1.2.8.9 just out of habit.
I don't mind one at a time, but I have probably reloaded XP about 6 times since I've had it. I build my own PC's and like to tinker and change things around a bit.
Get this, Vista only allows 2 installs, then its time to pony up more cash. Only one copy running at a time, but, you trash your drive more than once? Pay Bill.
Thats a Lie and FUD...
read this, if you dont like to read a lot read the last line
Cool, but I'll believe it when I see it!
Wonder how the pirates will crack Vista?
I'm an Apple Basher (but look how many MS bashers there are.... take a look at this thread... ) I like being the cool different guy :)
it will be done. easily? NO... but it will be done. will the average pc user be able to do it? probably not at first, if ever(i see maybe lots of images needed once you get "caught" then a reinstall of the image you know "acronis true image" or some other sort of deal... have your programs and games installed on another partition/drive... reinstall the image boom back in business.. something like that
I'd have to say that the jury is out as far as IE7 being as good as FF is concerned. I figure we'll know if it's as hole-ridden as IE6 within 6 months or so.
It is already known to break many sites (especially poorly written intranet sites that depend heavily upon MS-Specific IEisms). We've experienced this in my office already. Thank G-d I don't have to deal with that crap.
which version RC1 or final? that would be fast is final is already out. :)
..."all the legit copies i have ever seen have all worked flawlessly"... Oh boy, Where do I begin? I've downloaded(guilty, and ashamed as can be)every software product that mic. has offered. In the end, I have purchased every product(be it operating systems, or development software, like, Microsoft Visual Studio Team Suite 2005 With MSDN premium, and that cost me alot of money) that I have downloaded, illegally. When it comes to legits copies working flawlessly(I assume you mean operating systems), I'd like to know what your magic is. Please Freep mail me. I like your attitude, but the flawlessness, when it's Microsoft's "legit copies" operating systems, baffles my mind.
woeks great on all the MM sites i have visited lots better than FF actually(sometimes i have to open IE6 to watch some videos because FF refuses to play them no idea why weird sites like yahoo and stuff) I only tried IE7 RC1 for about 2 weeks but it worked ok, then i was messing around with something and had to reinstall my "disk image" ;) be carefull when you're messin in the registry! :P
I was refering to Windows Genuine Advantage(Validation Tool/Anti-Piracy) working flawlessly on the machines that i have seen(granted thats not that many about 100 but still no bad ones and they were on different keys and such. different companies.
Thankyou.
Will the new IE report back to Microsoft to make sure you aren't viewing any unapproved sites? I wouldn't be surprised. Go firefox.
That isn't accurate. Vista can be reinstalled on the same machine as often as necessary. It can only be uninstalled and installed on a different machine once.
Current OEM versions of XP can only be installed on one machine, but they can be reinstalled on that same machine whenever necessary.
Is VISTA out? I saw some lady on the plane using Vista Enterprise the whole flight....not sure if she was a MicroSerf or not
I like the thumbnail view of opened tabs and hope Mozilla includes that in the Firefox 2.0 final release.
And if you really want to know how I feel, well . . . . lol
PS Meekly, he says as he shamefully admits that he (ME) continues to use (and hates) Win XP and IE6, only because its "comfortable" like an old shoe or sweater, with a hole in it, but one hates to get rid of it.
Notice that the once ubiquitous phrase "blue screen of death" has just about disappeared from the geek lexicon. XP can claim credit for that.
The point is you can wait too long if your goal is to let others work the bugs out of a new piece of software. After all these years messing with these machines, I avoid the bleeding edge myself. But at a certain point - I can usually sniff out the proper moment through a combination of osmosis and rank spiritualism - I jump in. Otherwise you miss all those cool features and the sick whizbang stuff you can do.
Why? If what you have is working just fine, why upgrade? I've got 2 13-year-old minivans and they work fine and still look fine. Should I upgrade?
I am still using 98SE on this computer and it has about the same number of problems as my XP machine at work. It can run for days turned on without locking up. The XP machines do more strange things than my 98SE. They seem to change settings by themselves and then later put them back the way they were.
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