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The latest test builds of Windows 7, Microsoft’s successor to its Vista operating system, allows users to completely delete Internet Explorer from their systems. While previous versions of Windows allowed you to disable IE, it appears the Windows 7 will be the first to allow you to get rid of the actual IE 8 executable.

There are a couple of important caveats though. First off deleting the executable isn’t going to remove the underlying rendering tools, which are used in other parts of the OS. The other catch is that disabling IE 8 in Windows 7 requires two reboots before your system is IE-free.

The end result is Windows 7 and IE 8 work almost exactly the same as Mac OS X and Safari. In both cases it’s possible to deleting the web browser application, but underlying frameworks remain so that other applications which rely on them continue to work properly.

According to those who have access to it, build 7048 of Windows 7 adds IE 8 to the control panel’s list of customizable options. Uncheck it, reboot twice and Internet Explorer is history. For the full details on how to get rid of IE 8, check out the AeroXperience blog, but the larger question is why Microsoft is bothering to make IE 8 disposable.

Some are speculating that the move is part of Microsoft’s ongoing dispute with the European Union regarding embedding IE in Windows. Earlier this year the European Union issued preliminary findings in which it claimed that Microsoft has violated European competition laws by including Internet Explorer with Windows. Microsoft was unable to comment in time for this post.

Still, for those of you who loath Internet Explorer (should make the IE-hating Norwegian websites happy), it looks like your day is just around the corner.

Windows 7 still does not have a final release date, but it would appear that Microsoft is aiming for early summer, 2009.

See Also:

• Windows 7 to Stick With Vista’s Confusing Array of Editions …
• Microsoft Shows Off More Windows 7 Improvements
• Why IE 8 Won’t Save Microsoft’s Dwindling Browser Market Share …
• Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate 1 Ready for the Masses …
• More Details About IE8, Web Standards and Performance
• Windows 7’s Subtleties Give Internet Explorer a Competitive Edge …
• Norwegian Websites Declare War on IE 6

Source: Scott Gilbertson

Software maker Microsoft and TomTom, manufacturer of in-vehicle GPS navigation systems, have settled their patent licensing dispute.

Microsoft filed suit against TomTom in February, alleging the company violated eight of its patents — five of them proprietary and three of them relating to TomTom’s implementation of the Linux kernel. TomTom filed a counter-suit a few days later.

“We reject the claim and will vigorously defend ourselves,” TomTom spokesman Taco Titulaer told Reuters at the time of the counter-suit.

Financial terms of Monday’s licensing agreement were not disclosed, but Reuters has some details:

Under the terms of a five-year agreement, Microsoft said TomTom will pay Microsoft for use of the eight car navigation and file management system patents in the case Microsoft brought against TomTom, while Microsoft will be able to use the four patents included in the TomTom counter-suit without any payment to TomTom.

The original suit marked the first time Microsoft has ever sued over patents relating to the Linux kernel. Microsoft denied the suit had anything to do with Linux specifically, and so the Linux community didn’t panic, but several of the guardians of free software did stand up straight and let it be known they’d be ready for a fight if Microsoft wanted one.

In May of 2007, Microsoft made the now-famous claim that Linux violated 235 of its software patents.

See Also:

• Microsoft Sues TomTom Over Linux Patents, No Biggie
• TomTom To Contest Microsoft Patent Lawsuit
• Microsoft: Linux Violates 235 of our Patents

Source: Michael Calore