Mar 30 2006
16:08 GMT
16:08 GMT
MS releases Need For Click thanks to the US Patent Office (think Eol) misc
Since losing the patent case filed by Eolas (U.S. Patent No. 5,838,906—known as the '906 patent), Microsoft has to change radically the way IE works with a lot of content, especially video and other ActiveX controls.
The patent owned by Eolas Technologies concerns "Distributed hypermedia method for automatically invoking external application providing interaction and display of embedded objects within a hypermedia document".
Yes, there is a moronic entity called "United States Patent and Trademark Office" who actually granted such a patent. (No, there is no such thing as "a free country". In the States, everything is bought, sold or patented. Except for the fake smiles you get from the shop assistants.)
Microsoft is now making changes for Internet Explorer. The changed IE handles active content, such as QuickTime, Macromedia Flash, Java and other ActiveX controls in a new way. Rather than automatically rendering and displaying active content, the updated browser prompts the user to confirm each active content item on a page.
Any embedded object (Flash, Media Player, whatever) will need to be clicked before you can interact with any of its controls!
eWeek reports that on March 28, Microsoft announced the plans for a one-time 60-day extension during a conference call wherein Redmond officials reiterated the need for Web pages to be completely re-authored to avoid possible disruptions.
The "updated" ActiveX functionality is already present in the new Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (March 20 Beta 2 release).
Also, as of 03/28, there are reports stating that updating Windows XP SP2 will give you the new ActiveX behavior even in IE6!
The "forced" changes will be included in a cumulative IE security update to ship on April 11.
The announced 60-day extension will only apply to a "small set of customers." MS offered to release a "patch update" on top of the April patch that disables the ActiveX changes through June 2006.
Beware that regardless of the "patch over the patch", the IE update scheduled for June will override all changes.
To find what you need to change in the way web pages are coded, so that your websites will continue to provide a similar experience for all visitors no matter what browser they are using, read the following documents:
I hope they're using MSIE for they will enjoy the need to click on everything before being able to do no matter what.
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The patent owned by Eolas Technologies concerns "Distributed hypermedia method for automatically invoking external application providing interaction and display of embedded objects within a hypermedia document".
Yes, there is a moronic entity called "United States Patent and Trademark Office" who actually granted such a patent. (No, there is no such thing as "a free country". In the States, everything is bought, sold or patented. Except for the fake smiles you get from the shop assistants.)
Microsoft is now making changes for Internet Explorer. The changed IE handles active content, such as QuickTime, Macromedia Flash, Java and other ActiveX controls in a new way. Rather than automatically rendering and displaying active content, the updated browser prompts the user to confirm each active content item on a page.
eWeek reports that on March 28, Microsoft announced the plans for a one-time 60-day extension during a conference call wherein Redmond officials reiterated the need for Web pages to be completely re-authored to avoid possible disruptions.
The "updated" ActiveX functionality is already present in the new Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (March 20 Beta 2 release).
Also, as of 03/28, there are reports stating that updating Windows XP SP2 will give you the new ActiveX behavior even in IE6!
The "forced" changes will be included in a cumulative IE security update to ship on April 11.
The announced 60-day extension will only apply to a "small set of customers." MS offered to release a "patch update" on top of the April patch that disables the ActiveX changes through June 2006.
Beware that regardless of the "patch over the patch", the IE update scheduled for June will override all changes.
To find what you need to change in the way web pages are coded, so that your websites will continue to provide a similar experience for all visitors no matter what browser they are using, read the following documents:
- MSDN: Activating ActiveX Controls
- Preparing Websites with Active Content for Upcoming Changes to Internet Explorer for Windows
- Thomas Baekdal: Microsoft IE ActiveX Update
I hope they're using MSIE for they will enjoy the need to click on everything before being able to do no matter what.
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