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Windows 7 will let you turn most apps on or off
The other day we saw a leaked screenshot of a build of Windows 7 that lets you turn off Internet Explorer. Now Microsoft is not only confirming that Windows 7 will be the first version of Windows in years to let you disable the built in web browser -- but you'll be able to turn most major components on or off. That list includes, but is not limited to:
- Windows Media Player
- Windows Media Center
- Windows DVD Maker
- Internet Explorer 8
- Windows Search
- Handwriting Recognition
- Windows Gadgets
Comments
14
Subscribe to commentsSchwinnMar 6th 2009 4:00PM
IE turned off? I'll believe it when I see it. I imagine all they'll do is remove the front-end of IE, while the engine still sits on the drive somewhere. Or, worse yet, only remove the icon from the desktop. After all, much of MS's other software uses the IE engine... as does windows (as we were told so many years ago)... so I doubt it's actually turning anything "off".
intellerMar 6th 2009 9:08PM
well considering that a LOT of third party apps rely on the IE engine and other dlls to do stuff I hope they leave the engine on there.
master811Mar 8th 2009 7:55PM
They would be stupid to remove the IE engine as too many other programs (either part of windows or 3rd part software depend on it).
All that will happen is it will remove the front end, that's it. Anyone who thinks otherwise is spouting rubbish.
JamesMar 19th 2009 8:11AM
Well they did switch Outlook 2007's email rendering image from IE to Word's HTML renderer. Maybe they saw the writing on the wall.
But that would break sooo many applications if they removed the engine. Ex. Weatherbug
mkoMar 6th 2009 4:21PM
I wonder if you can turn off UAC completely in latest build
Jash SayaniMar 6th 2009 4:21PM
Go Dig-up Windows XP and you'll find the same stuff. Windows Messenger, Internet Explorer, Win Media Player, it can all be removed. Except for individual games, coz thats lame! You can just delete them...
KeegdnaBMar 6th 2009 4:21PM
Another step towards a truly modular Windows.
Maybe by Windows 8, the true promise of MinWin and WinFS will come to fruition and I can die a happy man.
PeterMar 6th 2009 4:43PM
This is a nice feature and all, but it's not going to really save any system resources except disk space. Most (but not all) of these applications use zero resources until you launch them.
The bigger advantage to this is with vulnerabilities. If there is a vulnerability in Windows Media Player and I don't even have it installed, then I don't have to worry about it. That is more beneficial than saving a few processor cycles or megs of disk space.
MalteserrMar 6th 2009 4:43PM
Actually Peter, this is to make the EU and all those people who complain about IE, WIndows Media Player etc shut up once and for all.
hazardMar 6th 2009 6:30PM
Improvements to security will be minimal because all the functionality of IE, WMP et al is spread across numerous system resources and iexplorer.exe is just a wrapper to them. It's like playing with a baby where if you hide your face behind your hands .. OMG you've disappeared ;)
bambooMar 6th 2009 6:02PM
This may end up being HUGE for us gamers. I'm thinking use some imageing software to have 2 OS setups on your primary disk. One has a normal boot, the other is the same with games installed and everything extra you don't need turned off. You choose which one to boot into when you first start up, like when you are running a dual boot XP/Vista setup.
Then again, it would be even better if MS would just give us an actual game mode.
blahMar 6th 2009 11:23PM
Since when are windows programs called apps? seriously this is a new buzz word and I find it annoying.
bigsoftyMar 7th 2009 8:44AM
'Turn Off' is not the same as uninstall, mainly its just disabling the shortcut to the 'windows feature'... like Ive said all along, this is all smoke and tricks to make Windows 7 not look like it its, Vista with a few interface tweaks...
LizMar 16th 2009 1:52PM
And Again, "Turn Off" is not uninstall. These are programs I don't need or want on my comp. Turning Off is not addressing the issue at all. The programs I need can be installed by me. Bloat will not pay my bills, only take up space and resources that should be allocated elsewhere