Microsoft Corp.
today said that it made a mistake when it tagged one of its own
programs as incompatible with Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2, the browser
preview it unveiled Wednesday.
In the release notes that accompanied IE8 Beta 2, Microsoft initially
listed Windows Live Mail as problematic on PCs running the new browser.
"If you install Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2, Windows Live Mail will
crash when you create or reply to an e-mail message," Microsoft warned
in the release notes.
Windows Live Mail, formerly Windows Live
Desktop, is the desktop mail client meant to replace Outlook Express
and Windows Mail. It is different from the similarly named Windows Live Hotmail, which is the nameplate for Microsoft's Web-based e-mail service.
"This was actually an inaccuracy on our end that has since been fixed,"
said a Microsoft spokeswoman today via e-mail. "Live Mail will work
just fine for IE8 Beta 2 users."
The release notes have since been modified to read: "Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is compatible with Windows Live Mail."
Computerworld confirmed that Windows Live Mail did not crash when it runs on a Windows XP system equipped with IE8 Beta 2.
The other incompatibility warnings in the release notes are, however, correct, said the spokeswoman. Among the problems:
- Hotmail,
Microsoft's online e-mail service. Apparently, IE8 Beta 2 will not
always completely log off Hotmail after the user clicks the "Sign out"
button, leaving the account active and making it possible for others
using that computer to view the account's messages and use it to send
mail. "To make sure that Internet Explorer logs off Hotmail, click the
Hotmail Sign-In link after you log off Hotmail," Microsoft recommended
in the release notes. - Netflix, the DVD subscription mail service. Users with IE8 Beta 2 cannot view Netflix's "On Demand" movies.
- Skype,
the popular voice-over-IP application. "IE8 Beta 2 displays a
compatibility warning when certain versions of the Skype add-in are
installed," said Microsoft. "When you disable this add-in, the main
functionality of the Skype product is unaffected." Version 2.2.0.193
and later of the Skype add-in are compatible.
Microsoft has also warned potential IE8 Beta 2 users running Windows XP Service Pack 3 that they won't be able to uninstall either the service pack or IE8 under some circumstances.
