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Google Releases Customized IE 7

Posted by Zonk on from the they-were-bored dept.

narramissic writes "Google has released a customized version of Internet Explorer 7 that uses Google as the default search engine and provides users with the Google Toolbar and a Google homepage they can personalize. Perhaps not exactly what Microsoft intended when they released the Internet Explorer Administration Kit, which allows developers to customize IE."

14 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. But... by TubeSteak · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What about http://www.google.com/firefox

    Did Google ever pick a side in the browser wars?

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    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
    1. Re:But... by NineNine · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Did Google ever pick a side in the browser wars?

      Smart businesspeople would never call it a "war" or choose to pick sides. Just support the big ones, whatever they are. The customers are important. Google could care less what browser their customers use. Only geeks care about "the browser war".

    2. Re:But... by alshithead · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Google only cares that your browser supports their site. As long as the browser functionality supports all Google options, they are happy.

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      I reserve the right to think for myself. Others' opinions are optional. Puppy on lap = typos...not illiteracy.
    3. Re:But... by Tetravus · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Only geeks care about "the browser war".

      Well, geeks and people who have to design two or three different implementations of a web page so it will show up correctly for all visitors. Oh, and the people who have to pay those developers who are now putting in overtime... and the content authors whose work is framed by the pages that the developers make (and want to appear equally professional to all visitors)... and maybe the investors in the company that hired the developers who want to get to IPO and get their money out as soon as possible.

      But yeah, mostly just geeks care about that stuff ;-)

  2. This is news? by MeanMF · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yeah I'm sure the Microsoft folks will be devastated if a lot of people download and use their software....

  3. Isnt this exactly what Microsoft intended.... by slashnar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is everyone here this dumb?? This is exactly what was intended when the Administration kit was made. Microsoft would want everyone out there(Amazon, eBay, Apple for gods sakes) to be pushing out a customized version of IE7. Dont u get it??

  4. Not really news... by compupc1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How is this news? The IE has been around for years and years. I remember using it to customize IE 5.5. It may have been around even earlier than that. And as to Microsoft somehow being upset, please look past the knee-jerk reaction and notice that the IE Blog, from Microsoft, actually praises the Google release, and links to their download page. This is what people are SUPPOSED to do with the IEAK. The article is really trying to make a big deal about something that's not...

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    -James
  5. Been doing this for years by DeadboltX · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Does no one remember all the branded versions of IE 5.5?
    Comcast had one, SBC DSL had one, I'm sure there were hundreds.

    I don't see why Microsoft would get upset at this; this is why they released the kit in the first place.
    A company is more likely to distribute a browser if they can brand it and what does Microsoft want? You got it, more people using IE7.
    Only a select few morons are going to mistake a Google branded IE7 as "Google's internet browser". Everyone else will continue to know that it is Microsoft's Internet Explorer but Google is happy to get its name in all the places it can.

  6. you missed it by kahrytan · · Score: 3, Insightful


      You people missed the point of Google doing this. I am sure Google still fully supports Firefox movement.

    Google released a customized IE7 for the sake of brand recognition. And it really doesn't help Microsoft either. It just gives MS bragging rights and no profit. This customized version of IE7 will get people using Google homepage and search engine. Which in return will boost revenue for Google. And with that boost, it will support Google's efforts in the Google Foundation and open source applications with the higher revenue.

    In the end, It is a win-win for the open source community. And a loosing situation for Microsoft. No one uses their precious Windows Live or MSN search. A small loss in revenue for Microsoft.

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  7. Re:They're not the first, are they? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Maybe it is a standard page generated by Microsoft's kit.

  8. Re:So Much For "Do No Evil" by Acid-Duck · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Although I don't usually agree with trying to pressure a monopoly on people, Google is the tweaker behind this customized IE which was created especially for the purpose of using Google services on an IE platform. Nothing wrong with what they did, if someone doesn't want to be forced using Google as a search engine then just use the standard IE that comes with every copy of Windows instead of downloading Google's customized version.

  9. Re:Activation? by SnprBoB86 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is an extremely unscientific measurement.

    1) The order in which you perform this test could influence which DLLs are loaded in which processes
    2) Some applications may allocate memory in chunks or do other funky memory management
    3) Which pages were used? Was it the same for each browser?
    4) Do these pages include Flash, Java, or similar content which may indicate fault of plug-in rather than browser
    5) prob a million more, it's late, I'm tired

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    http://brandonbloom.name
  10. It's *exactly* what Microsoft intended by joeykiller · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Perhaps not exactly what Microsoft intended when they released the Internet Explorer Administration Kit
    I'd say it is the other way around. This is exactly what Microsoft intended: Let companies and users make and distribute customized versions of Explorer, and by doing this help Microsoft regain market share. The fact that two out of the top ten internet sites now does this, must be great for the IE team (if not for the Windows Live Search team).
  11. Re:They're not the first, are they? by strider44 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually, I believe the argument was something like "We apologise for ripping off the page and have fixed this, but to Yahoo, please don't be such a hypocritical holier than thou arsehole when you've been consistantly ripping off our pages." For the record, I believe that ripping off the ad look is a lot worse than what's really is a simple and definitely minor page that would have taken half an hour (being conservative) to build. The ads are something that Google pretty much bases their entire business on.