Katherine, While I tend to agree with all of the answers given to your question, I don't believe you were on this list when IE 9 first came out. Internet Explorer 9 changed the way that data is displayed in such a way that the traditional off-screen model can't pick it up. For many people, this won't matter that much. If one has to look at a web page or interact with it using the mouse, though, this can have a great impact. Every now and then, there is a new version of something that is particularly problematic with screen readers. There are some updates such as general Windows updates that I will generally install automatically because I think solving the security gaps is probably of more importance than the liklihood that something will be made worse in the process. However, I have been stung with Windows updates, too. I would not want to update something that is so central to so much of what I do such as a web browser without either being able to block out the time to check it out right away or until after I've heard that others have had good experiences. For example, I remember upgrading from IE 6 to IE 8 and not giving it a second thought on my laptop until one of my kids left to go shopping and asked if I could add some money to her debit card. After she was out the door, I went to add the money and found that a security setting had changed that kept me from being able to transfer the money. Fortunately I had been down that road on another computer and was reasonably sure of where the general problem was. I managed to correct the problem and make the transfer before she tried using her card, but I had to drop what I was doing at the time to deal with it. In that case, it was not even a bug, just a change in behavior I had not expected. It didn't even have to do with my screen reader. I would want to make such an update when I knew I was going to have time to make sure everything was running smoothly and when I could learn about the changes.
The point is that there is more than just resisting change that makes me not want to update certain software automatically. However, it seems to me that Microsoft is providing for that so this seems like something we should be aware of but not stampeeding over. <smile> Best regards, Steve Jacobson On Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:56:13 +0000, Katherine Moss wrote: >What's wrong with staying up-to-date with the latest technology? >-----Original Message----- >From: Russ Kiehne [mailto:[email protected]] >Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 11:39 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: FYI: Microsoft WillAuto-Update Internet Explorer Users. >I saw this on another list? Does anyone know anything about it? >We believe this is important enough that you need to be made aware of it. >This is all we currently know about this. >In Major Shift, Microsoft Will Auto-Update Internet Explorer Users. >Microsoft announced this morning that it will begin auto-updating Internet >Explorer users' PCs to the latest versions of the browser, a situation that will vary somewhat according to which Windows version they're using. This is similar to how Google's Chrome browser works, though Microsoft is of course also providing corporations and end users with workarounds should they wish to remain on their current IE version. >"In an evolution to our update model for Internet Explorer, we will be >instituting auto updates for IE users across Windows XP, Vista, and 7 using Windows Update," Internet Explorer senior director Ryan Gavin told me earlier this week. "We'll start this process in January in Australia and Brazil and then gradually scale up and roll it out worldwide." >Microsoft says that this change is good for all of its core browser audiences, >including consumers, developers, and the enterprise. It's good for consumers because it lets them stay up to date and secure automatically; all they need to do is enable Automatic Updates and the browser will be updated as needed, with no prompts. It's good for developers, because it lets them focus on the latest web technologies like HTML 5 without worrying whether most users are accessing the web with a modern browser. >And it's good for the enterprise because they can continue to use tools like >Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and the IE Automatic Update Blocker toolkits to ensure that they can override this functionality and update on their own schedules. >The experience will vary a bit depending on which version of Windows users are >running. >Those with Windows XP and Internet Explorer 6 will be updated to IE 8, Gavin >told me, because that's the most recent IE version supported on XP. But users with Windows Vista or Windows 7 will be updated to IE 9. >Looking ahead, Microsoft will rollout Internet Explorer 10 along the same >lines as previous IE versions, first via several months of manual user downloads only, followed by the addition of IE 10 to Windows Update. At that point, it would be downloaded automatically to all supported Windows versions. >Today, IE 8 and 9 are offered through Windows Update as an Important update, >Gavin noted, but the install process requires user interaction and, often, a PC reboot. So many users skip the install or forget about it. With this coming change, IE installs will now be automatic and will occur with no user interaction. This ensures that they are always up to date, as is the case with security updates and other fixes. >"IE is how millions of Windows customers connect to the Web, so keeping that >part of Windows updated at all times is critical to keeping them safe online," >a Microsoft blog post reads. "With Automatic Updates enabled through Windows >Update, customers can receive IE 9 and future versions of Internet Explorer seamlessly without any 'update fatigue' issues." >Customers who have declined previous installs of IE 8 or 9 through Windows >Update will not be automatically updated, Microsoft added. And consumers who wish to block any IE automatic updates can do so via an IE Blocker Toolkit. >Versions are available today for IE 8 and 9, and Gavin told me one would be >made available for IE 10 in the future as well. >If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. >If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. >GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage >your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. >If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. >If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. >GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage >your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv. If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
