Microsoft to let users throw IE out of Windows
Microsoft to let users throw IE out of Windows - News, Gadgets & Tech - The Independent
Monday, 9 March 2009
A single check box deep in the guts of the next version of Windows is giving Microsoft watchers a peek at how the software maker plans to keep European antitrust regulators from marring a crucial software launch.
Windows 7, the successor to the much-maligned Vista, isn't expected to reach consumers until next year, but more than a million people are already testing early versions. A pair of bloggers tinkering with settings stumbled upon one they hadn't seen before: The ability to "turn off" Microsoft's own Internet Explorer browser.
Microsoft lost a long-running battle with EU antitrust regulators in 2007 over the way it bundled media player software into the Windows operating system. The dust had barely settled when a similar claim was filed, this time over Internet Explorer's place inside Windows. Opera Software ASA, a Norwegian competitor, claimed the practice gives Microsoft's browser an unfair advantage.
In a preliminary decision in January, the EU agreed. Since then, makers of the open-source browser Firefox and Google, which entered the browser market six months ago, have offered to provide more evidence that Microsoft is stifling competition.
In the media player dispute, the EU heavily fined Microsoft and forced it to sell a version of Windows without the offending program installed. This time, Microsoft appears to be offering the check-box solution as a way to head off a similar ending.
The company declined to comment on the connection between the check boxes and the EU's preliminary decision. But in a recent quarterly filing, it said the European Commission may order PC makers to install multiple browsers on new PCs and force Microsoft to disable parts of its own Internet Explorer if people chose a competing browser.
The check boxes, which were described on Microsoft enthusiast blogs
AeroXperience and
Chris’ Repository of Knowledge, also give Windows 7 users a way to disable the media player and hard-drive search programs, among other components, both of which have drawn scrutiny from regulators.
After Windows Vista landed with a thud, Microsoft needs a hit, said Michael Cherry, an analyst for the research group Directions on Microsoft. Beyond appeasing the EU, he said he didn't see much use for the Internet Explorer check box.
"Windows 7 is becoming more and more important for Microsoft," he said in an interview. "You don't want anything that gives anyone even a doubt as to whether or not they should upgrade."
Modular Windows plan 'welcomed'
BBC NEWS | Technology | Modular Windows plan 'welcomed'
By Daniel Emery
Technology reporter, BBC News
Plans to introduce modular features in Windows 7 have been welcomed by the European Commission's former Microsoft monitoring trustee. Windows Features allows users to turn off applications such as Media Centre, Media Player and Internet Explorer.
Professor Neil Barrett said this would help promote effective competition.
EU regulators have ended full-time monitoring of Microsoft, which was started to ensure the firm complied with an anti-trust ruling. Speaking to the BBC, Professor Barrett said it was a welcome move on all fronts.
"Microsoft did this off their own bat. From their perspective, making the operating system modular is a good thing.
"For competitors, this will allow them to compete on all fronts.
Linear Mode
