Microsoft confirms optional IE 8 in Windows 7
Microsoft’s Windows 7 development team yesterday confirmed that users will be able to remove Internet Explorer 8, as well as several other Microsoft applications, from Windows 7. This appears to be a major step by the company in addressing the long standing anti-trust complaints of bundling their applications with Windows, and may account in part for the recent scaling back by the European Union in its monitoring of the software giant.
Following the recent findings by Chris Holmes and Bryant Zadegan that IE8 can be removed from Windows 7 build 7048, Jack Mayo, group program manager at Microsoft, confirmed that Windows 7 has expanded the number of Microsoft applications which can be turned off. In a post on the Engineering Windows 7 blog Friday, Mayo explained: “In addition to the features that were already available to turn on or off in Windows Vista, we’ve added the following features to the list in Windows 7:”
- Windows Media Player
- Windows Media Center
- Windows DVD Maker
- Internet Explorer 8
- Windows Search
- Handwriting Recognition (through the Tablet PC Components option)
- Windows Gadget Platform
- Fax and Scan
- XPS Viewer and Services (including the Virtual Print Driver)
Important to recognize is that while these applications can be turned off, meaning they are not loaded by the operating system or available for use, the files remain present on the hard disk in a staging area so that they can be easily turned back on again without the need to use installation media. This ability to turn applications on and off is available at both setup and post setup.
Source: ReadWriteWeb
Comments(28)
SWEET! Can't wait for the new Windows
This must mean they are relaxing having to use Internet Explorer for windows update.
Windows update via firefox
IE 8 can be removed in the latest leaked build 7048
I think it is cool but prefer to use vlite
Windows suck and will suck no matter what the version is.
at least they are going in the right direction.
It's nice how they much time they put into windows7 and give Vista users a big stick in the ass, the same stick they gave to Windows ME users.
thats because they got sued for it, thats why their doing this now.
Windows is becoming perfect OS. Windows 7 is the first OS that I really like. I'm using beta and I am completely satisfied.
7048 x64 is 100% better than previous builds
I love ,no probs at all in the last 4 days
ByeBye Vista never again ( i loved vista once upon a time)
i just wish someone would release the 32 bit version of 7048 ..
or the RC would hurry up and get here ..
this is cool
the best thing about this is that if enough people stop using it, people will start writing expoits for firefox users and then we'll all be able to laugh at them and their "more secure" browser.
Go M$! We love you! Without your OS selections this world would suck ass! @Cr4sh Bro couldn't have said it better! bravo
Windows suck, I only use it because I play games. I hate the pig M$ capitalism. Bin & Hugo, forward!
@thithi: Computers are not for people like you, buy console and play games. Stupid haters, they don't know anything about software development, all they do is complain…
@9 32bit 7048 is already out
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4754543/Windows_7_Beta_%287048-0-090219-1845%29_Ultimate_32_bit_DVD_Interim
@ 14
lets then scrap all people who only mail and surf the web too and give them a smartphone instead. you dont need a 2+gb OS for that.
only thing i know is that there is only two major OS for the general public. windows and mac, windows having by far the best software support. its as if there would be only two car brands, A and B in the whole world. and for B there hardly are any garages for maintainence cause every time a B-garage opens, brand A jumps in with dirty business plans and makes sure itll run as a A-garage.
on top of that you are expected to use the newest model cause they just refuse to support the old model. remembered how MS tried to push xp out of the market.
@15 .. dude .. you officially rule
)
Windows update via firefox
IE is the first thing i uninstall after setting up windows
@14 U are right
@16 Yea scrap them all. I think it is easy, or it will be very soon, to implement software for mail, communication and surf on modern consoles, and to add a keyboard or speech recognition software or some other i/o device. As that day approaches, it will be also the day that will change the PC form and usage as we know it.
this is great!!!!! They should just can IE and be done with it, don't even give us the option LOL
@5Fury , yeah those english sheep-shaggers saying Vista was the best OS out have been given a big hit up the ass. MS will now dump Vista like WinME and those ass bandits who bought Vista look dumb.
@ Reliabe "Windows is becoming perfect OS"
windows has always been a great OS no matter what version. People dogged vista(and still do) but why? There are 0 REAL reasons to support anyone's claim that it was or is a bad OS. It had bugs at first, big deal what product doesn't ~especially a program/os?
The truth is people don't like change and just wanted something to complain about. Now a few have realized how dumb it was to knock vista (having actually USED the OS) and are giving Windows 7 a chance.
As usual MS does not get a simple request: the problem is not about removing IE after install but about the fact that IE comes bundled with Windows… so most users won't even think another browser exists…
The sad thing is I was expecting some clever way to avoid the CE issue without really complying.. go ahead MS, feeds yourself on the lobotomized people – I am sure PR will do great on W7 and make this trainy looks like a bimbo – On my side, I will continue to date penguins.
@24
users who don't know the existence of firefox should deserve to know whats coming. Not having a browser in the system by uninstalling the basic IE 8? you gotta be kidding, a child needs its first step to discover the more beautiful things in life (in the web)…
what should we expect? MS promoting firefox? this is an impossible low and the Redmond team is actually trying to change the MS image around. Stop dissing them or stop using Office applications…..
I dont get why people moan about IE coming with windows, Every linux distro i've used has come with firefox, and you don't see people whinging and moaning about that.
For general use, IE is completely fine, if you want to go look at porn and other stupid sites, then get another browser. Its common sense at the end of the day. If your PC gets screwed because of your browser, then you've only yourself to blame.
@25
Simply since IE8 is not following std or adding "custom stuff"…rendering this software as a Trojan horse to keep market shares… I know you don't care since this is way over your head, but enterprises will care a lot – Tools written for IE will keep Windows in the place…
@26
a) You can install Firefox, a 9 year old can but 70% of the userbase cannot… You never get out do you ?
b) Looks like you didn't really go far on the tubes either… or it's cultural maybe…
c) I expect MS to follow the law by not "SWAG'ing" IE8 – if you are not able to understand why it's bad, then you probably should stop using a computer like you already did with your brain.
d) I don't use MS Office – so I guess I am quite fine…
And why I don't bash Apple? Since they actually give the source of the browser and don't use to keep your balls in their hands…
Holy cow…