Microsoft and IE7
Sunday, 29. October 2006, 01:01:46
Microsoft has released a shipping version of IE 7 to run on WinXP (and pretty much any OS that emulates WinXP) with one minor flaw and one major screw up on Microsoft’s part.
The minor flaw is an annoyance that changes the default icon of all saved Internet shortcuts on some machines and does not allow the user to change them back. To most people it is more than an annoyance, it is a reason to trash the app and roll back to a previous version. Some have spent major time designing custom icons for their favorite apps… But this isn’t the major screw up. I’ll talk about that later.
It’s an annoyance because upon further investigation we found that it only affected users who had their desktop icons set to large (48 pts on most displays). This problem did not occur for users who did not use the “large” setting.
When you change it back by going to “control panel” >”Display”, >”Appearance”, >”Effects”, then uncheck the “Use Large Icons” box; Voila! All the previously stored, favorite, and familiar icons reappear. If you can’t deal with the smaller size (and who can after laboring for hours to edit the perfect icon for “Rollerblade Babes on the Net”, you want to see the sucker lol.), simply change the icon size to 47 or under by clicking “Advanced” and going to “icon” in the scrolling menu box.
(BTW, you can also reach all these settings by simply “right clicking” any open area on the WinXP desktop.
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The major screw up on Microsoft’s part wasn’t this annoyance. It was what this annoyance showed the world about its new OS, “Vista”. It showed us that all Internet shortcut properties on the computer can be changed from within IE7 globally…
Since IE7 will be included in “Vista”, all the security hoops that Vista makes the user jump through are futile when it’s possible for a random 13 year old with a napoleon complex to control your computer through your Internet connection.
I’m glad this came to light... Just when manufacturer’s of everyday appliances (including cell phones) are poised to select an OS that will control everything from how much ice your refrigerators make for an upcoming party planned on your PIM's calender to how your car parks itself in your garage, they needed to see that alternate OS’s should be deployed in order to prevent random acts of malice from creating chaos in our daily lives.
My advice;.. JAVA on a simple platform.
It can be secured by using purpose built applications that are developed “in house” so in the future, your neighbors 13 year old won’t be able to easily program the refrigerator to rule the world.
The minor flaw is an annoyance that changes the default icon of all saved Internet shortcuts on some machines and does not allow the user to change them back. To most people it is more than an annoyance, it is a reason to trash the app and roll back to a previous version. Some have spent major time designing custom icons for their favorite apps… But this isn’t the major screw up. I’ll talk about that later.
It’s an annoyance because upon further investigation we found that it only affected users who had their desktop icons set to large (48 pts on most displays). This problem did not occur for users who did not use the “large” setting.
When you change it back by going to “control panel” >”Display”, >”Appearance”, >”Effects”, then uncheck the “Use Large Icons” box; Voila! All the previously stored, favorite, and familiar icons reappear. If you can’t deal with the smaller size (and who can after laboring for hours to edit the perfect icon for “Rollerblade Babes on the Net”, you want to see the sucker lol.), simply change the icon size to 47 or under by clicking “Advanced” and going to “icon” in the scrolling menu box.
(BTW, you can also reach all these settings by simply “right clicking” any open area on the WinXP desktop.
)The major screw up on Microsoft’s part wasn’t this annoyance. It was what this annoyance showed the world about its new OS, “Vista”. It showed us that all Internet shortcut properties on the computer can be changed from within IE7 globally…
Since IE7 will be included in “Vista”, all the security hoops that Vista makes the user jump through are futile when it’s possible for a random 13 year old with a napoleon complex to control your computer through your Internet connection.
I’m glad this came to light... Just when manufacturer’s of everyday appliances (including cell phones) are poised to select an OS that will control everything from how much ice your refrigerators make for an upcoming party planned on your PIM's calender to how your car parks itself in your garage, they needed to see that alternate OS’s should be deployed in order to prevent random acts of malice from creating chaos in our daily lives.
My advice;.. JAVA on a simple platform.
It can be secured by using purpose built applications that are developed “in house” so in the future, your neighbors 13 year old won’t be able to easily program the refrigerator to rule the world.
WIDGETIZE