Microsoft Windows XP SP2 Changes that affect web pages

If you use ActiveX, popups, Java, window JS functions or downloads, read on

[CritterNYC]

Microsoft has published a list of the changes made to IE in XP Service Pack 2 that may affect web pages that use certain features. The full article can be found here:
[msdn.microsoft.com...]

You should be concerned if you use:
- ActiveX controls: the modal dialog will no longer popup automatically. Users must specifically click on the pageholder to install controls
- Downloadable Files: The file download ability can only be initiated by a user click. Pages that say "your download will begin in 10 seconds" and have an ad before launching the file will now fail.
- Popup Windows: These may now only be initiated by a user action, not automatically, and only one popup will be created based on that user action... so a popup cannot spawn a popup, even if the original was spawned by a click.
- MS Java Virtual Machine: This is no longer distributed. You should direct your users to java.sun.com.
- Browser Windows Alterations: You can no longer do a fullscreen window, it will only launch a maximized window. You can no longer move the statusbar, titlebar or toolbar off of the visible screen.

All good changes to be sure, but some of us may be bitten by one of them (like the downloadable files one). So, it makes sense to start updating our pages now.

Regards,
John

[Leosghost]

What is there not to get?

[Leosghost]

I would be very interested to know what is in the data stream after one has installed this latest "service pack" and then connects to M$ at some time in the future ...

After all ..how many people are aware that they have their very own unique and trackable machine ID being broadcast each time they connect to the net ( unless diabled ..again like many goodies from Redmond its enabled by default and mentioned /explained nowhere in any help files ever ) ..

Ever seen your user.dat go by during "auto update" ...real quick ...Of course they said they don't collate and store such info ...they've said lots o stuff ..always the truth right ...

Tweaking the OS in order to stop the malware and hacks etc of "others" to their sloppy coding is hardly convincing from the company who intend to finally dot the I's and cross the Tee's in the intrusion / scumware business with palladium ...

What will they do next ..outsource the R and D to Murmansk ...

Sorry guys but I think you should feel more in need of protection from than by Microsoft ..unless there is genuine change of heart and ethics from Wintel and co ..

[ITarena]

I couldn't get:

What does he mean
You can no longer move the statusbar,titlebar or toolbar off of the visible screen.

[nobody]

ITarena : Press F11 (under Windows) for a sample of what they mean.

(press F11 to get it back to normal again)

[CritterNYC]

CritterNYC: You can no longer move the statusbar, titlebar or toolbar off of the visible screen...

ITarena: Would you please elaborate?

I haven't tried it myself, but I believe this refers to less-than-ethical sites that put an ad on the screen and then move the window up the screen until the titlebar, menu and toolbars are above the visible screen. This prevents folks that don't know shortcuts from being able to close the window.

[Leosghost]

you can also disable ( spelt it rite this time )F4 and all the shortcuts ..so actually escape from "all off screen" requires reboot...

whats unethical 'bout "reelly targeted ads" ...;)

[stcrim]

This is about as "Big Brother" as it gets. Microsoft is removing my choices in favor of what they think I want.

And think about the millions of websites out there that have to conform or die...

Just ain't right!

-s-

[vkaryl]

I think MS is probably listening to a fair percentage (perhaps even a MAJORITY) of IE users about this.... I would bet that there are far more of us out here who ABHOR the sort of stuff that this is designed to prevent that there are people who JUST LOVE the situation with the previously-obtaining status quo....

Not that I use IE any more. I don't. But I WILL get the SP when it's out....

[g1smd]

>> I don't think that technology is ever going to be able to solve the 'annoyance' problem of these practices. <<

Yeah, like when Mozilla / Netscape added the ability to block all (GIF and JPG) images from a server simply by right clicking the image, and then clicking "block images from this server". This was so that you could have a page show up sans banner adverts. Within weeks many of the advertisers started using other image formats, many of which actually slow my machine down a lot when I have multiple tabs open.

[scoreman]

PatrickDeese you mentioned "Pop unders and other naughty stuff still works in xp sp2 RC2."

All pop unders, flash getUrls, and ALL other naughty stuff is not working on XP SP2 RC2 on our end (0)_o