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New IE Disables Netscape-style Plug-ins

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the antitrust-shields-holding-firm dept.

Snibor Eoj writes: "In his latest column, Robert Cringely takes a look at Microsoft's motivation for disabling Netscape API plug-ins in IE. As always with Cringely, it's an interesting take on things. We'll see how this one turns out..." Among other things, this will disable Quicktime plugins.

3 of 534 comments (clear)

  1. Re:hmm by Doomdark · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    Why does anyone complain about this? If Microsoft should be forced to support Netscape APIs, should Netscape be forced to support ActiveX?

    Apples and oranges. Microsoft _had_ the feature, and they are removing it; Netscape _doesn't have_ any such feature. Whether MS can/should remove it is a different issue, but annoyance is more understandable over a soon-to-be-removed feature some people found useful. And also, given MS's less than good image in regards to abuse of monopoly power, they'll be more readily accused of all kinds of nasty schemes behind any action they take.

    --
    I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization -- Oliver Wendell Holmes
  2. AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGH! by jmorse · · Score: 3, Flamebait

    This could go one of two ways:

    1. Since 80% of browsers will no longer support Quicktime, Applets, RealPlayer, or anything else, sites will start using standard HTML to convey content and stop trying to hog my processor's capacity with stupid Flash intro pages.
    2. Since 80% of browsers will no longer support the aforementioned, everyone will switch to ActiveX. The internet is now Windows-only. Thank you for playing.

    The latter is the more likely situation, as marketers won't soon give up on their pretty animated crap.

    Don't even get me started on all the ActiveX security holes we'll be able to exploit.

    Here's the recipe to remedy this:

    1. Load a squadron of F/A-18s with cluster bombs and bunker busters.
    2. Set course for Redmond, WA
    3. Drop said munitions on the Micro$oft complex
    4. Repeat as necessary
    Of course, we should make sure Gates and Ballmer are there.
    --

    "You done taken a wrong turn."
    -Bill McKinney, in Deliverance
  3. Re:Cringely got one thing backwards. by junkpunch · · Score: 3, Flamebait

    EVERYTHING that is happening in software engineering, everything new and bold and adventurous, is happening in Java

    That is really funny.

    Java is no longer Sun's alone. Java is the industry's

    No it isn't. It's Sun's. They refuse to let it go, refuse to let it be an open standard, and they never will allow it.

    By crippling XP so that it can't run Java

    Ugh, this is getting so tired. XP CAN run Java. In fact, in can run the MS JVM if you download and install it. It can run any JVM you want that you download and install.

    Why do people insist on writing long comments trying to look smart, without actually bothering to know what they are talking about?