Internet Explorer drops WGA

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...-7-update.aspx

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Almost a year ago, we released Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP. Since then, IE7 is well on its way to becoming the most used browser in the world, and we’ve seen lots of evidence that IE7 makes it safer and easier to accomplish everyday tasks online. For example, the built-in Phishing Filter has protected consumers from known phishing web sites an average of 900,000 times per week. IE7 is the first – and still the only – browser with native support for Extended Validation SSL Certificates that help prevent online fraud. (Of course, tabbed browsing, QuickTabs, shrink-to-fit printing, an easily customizable search box, CSS improvements, and some add-ons are all good things too.)

Because Microsoft takes its commitment to help protect the entire Windows ecosystem seriously, we’re updating the IE7 installation experience to make it available as broadly as possible to all Windows users. With today’s “Installation and Availability Update,” Internet Explorer 7 installation will no longer require Windows Genuine Advantage validation and will be available to all Windows XP users. If you are not already running IE7, you can get it now from the Internet Explorer home page on Microsoft.com, get a customized version from a third-party site, or, if you haven’t already received it via Automatic Updates, this version will be delivered to you as we described previously. If you are already running IE7, you will not be offered IE7 again by Automatic Updates.

Additionally, we’ve made minor changes to IE7 for Windows XP based on customer feedback:

* The menu bar is now visible by default.
* The Internet Explorer 7 online tour has updated how-to’s. Also, the “first-run” experience includes a new overview.
* We’ve included a new MSI installer that simplifies deployment for IT administrators in enterprises. Learn more about it here.

Thanks,

Steve Reynolds
Program Manager
Published Thursday, October 04, 2007 9:00 AM by ieblog
Filed under: IE Announcements

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Internet Explorer 7 installation will no longer require Windows Genuine Advantage validation and will be available to all Windows XP users.

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Err...isn't that the same thing as saying "users of pirated Windows versions can use it too" or am I missing something about WGA?

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Originally Posted by Merlock

Err...isn't that the same thing as saying "users of pirated Windows versions can use it too" or am I missing something about WGA?

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Yep,
"we will no longer lock out the pirates, as it hurts us too much"

But how does it hurt them? Just missing the thought behind it.
Do they...lose general popularity because of it or...?

well, there's many reasons
and it's different from home to corporate users

but essentially, the more applications that are cross platform, the easier it is for people to switch platforms

For home users, Firefox is already the "gateway" application for life outside of Windows

the more "familiar applications" are available increases the "ease of use" of other OS's
(most people don't care what OS they use - what matters to them is what applications are available, and whether these applications are familiar to them)

Thunderbird & Open Office are other upcoming gateway apps

As for corporate users, there's plenty of company intranets that can't migrate servers from IIS to Apache, and client browsers have to be IE, due to webapps reliant on ActiveX

You misquoted. The actual announcement was:

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Almost a year ago, we released Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP. Since then, users have discovered that IE7 is shit and has an atrocious UI. They also discovered that Firefox is also a bit rank. So from now on download links for Internet Explorer will redirect to www.opera.com, for the good of humanity.

Thanks,

Steve Reynolds
Program Manager
Published Thursday, October 04, 2007 9:00 AM by ieblog
Filed under: IE Announcements

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but alas, no 64bit Opera
such is life