Microsoft has made Internet Explorer 6.0 available for download, but the new browser software has already drawn criticism for its lack of Java support and limited interoperability.
The browser includes new features such as a media bar, allowing users to play music, video and mixed-media files without opening a separate window. However, Microsoft has removed support for Java and a range of media display applications. This will make the setup task more complex for administrators because they may have to find new plug-ins to ensure support.
Microsoft said the decision to drop Java support in IE 6.0 and the soon-to-be-released Windows XP operating system is the result of a legal battle with Sun Microsystems over the use of Java, begun in 1997.
Under a legal settlement reached earlier this year, Microsoft is restricted in its use of Java. Although Microsoft has the option of supporting Java in IE 6.0, it said that legal limits on exactly how it can be used prompted the decision not to include Java support in the updated browser software.
Neil Laver, Windows product marketing manager at Microsoft, accepted that the lack of Java support could limit the number of IE 6.0 users but argued that it was far more likely that Web designers and companies would think twice about using Java on their Web sites.
"Fewer and fewer solutions will be written in Java," Laver said.
Microsoft has also decided to end support for Netscape plug-in programs, citing security reasons, and has instead increased the use of ActiveX for linking external applications. But this has led to the firm being criticised for offering limited interoperability.
Users of applications such as Apple's QuickTime media player, RealNetwork's RealPlayer and Adobe Systems' Acrobat Reader will now need a special ActiveX plug-in for their software to work with IE 6.0, as existing plug-ins will no longer work.
Apple developed a solution to the new browser's lack of QuickTime compatibility after the shortcoming was discovered last month. The company now provides an ActiveX control for download.
For other software, Microsoft suggests that IE 6.0 users contact the manufacturer of the plug-in to see if there is an ActiveX version available, or "rewrite existing Netscape-style plug-ins using ActiveX, or dual author to support both Netscape-style plug-ins and ActiveX controls."
Microsoft's updated IE browser is compatible with Windows 98, 98 SE, Millennium Edition (Me), NT 4.0 Workstation, and Windows 2000 Professional.
