Posted on 07/28/2005 5:01:48 PM PDT by rdb3
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/28/ie7_nukes_rival_search/
Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 went on a limited beta release today and contains a nasty surprise for some users.
Users with search toolbars from Yahoo! and Google have discovered that these vanish. Other third-party toolbars designed to block pop-ups or aid with form filling appear to be working normally, according to reports from Reg readers.
IE7 integrates search into the browser, but the only option is Microsoft's own MSN Search. There are sound compatibility reasons for Microsoft disabling third-party toolbars in an early cut of the software. The beta is only available to Vista beta testers, and is available either as part of Vista itself or as a download for Windows XP Service 2, and affects only a few thousand people.
But it does raise ominous echoes of Microsoft previous tactics of foreclosing competition by hiding the alternatives available to users. For anti-competive reasons Microsoft is unlikely to risk such a move in the finished product. We'll have to see.
Microsoft last updated its web browser in August 2001 - when cellphones still had monochrome screens and Ken Lay was in charge of the invicible Enron business empire.
What does IE7 do with your toolbars? Have your toolbars been shot down? Write and let us know (mailto:andrew.orlowski@theregister.co.uk?Subject=IE7). ®
Vista - searching for something fresh (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/28/_vista_beta1/)
Microsoft uses former exec as lawsuit springboard 'to stop' Google (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/28/microsoft_google/)
Google AutoLink: enemy of the people? (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/03/google_autolink/)
Dangers of the Google tool bar exposed (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/08/09/dangers_of_the_google_tool/)
© Copyright 2005
and THAT'S why I use FireFox :)
how are you doing?
I bet they back off limiting other search engines....if they are smart.
::continues using firefox::
who uses those stupid toolbars anyway.
So what? IIRC, IE7 was written from the ground up, meaning that older apps written for IE6 won't work anymore; they have to be written for a new piece of software.
I do, I find them very convenient.
Netscape. That's about it.
Glad to see you're back in action, rdb3.
I have no dog in this fight. I use Firefox, and I don't use toolbars. In fact, I resent the way they just 'end up' on my browser from time to time.
Hope things are well with you...
Ha ha! Google S**CKS! msn is no better... Just like to say Google su**s whenever I get a chance. :D
i dont use toolbars either.
Is this good news doing some nasty jobs against the liberal Google?
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