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Oct 10, 2001, 5:51pm

Hello,

I was reading the paper today, and they had an article about one of the
newest features of WindowsXP (Microsoft's newest creation) which are called
'Smart Tags'. They allow Microsoft to add or override tags on ANY page on
the internet. MS can choose any word for a Smart Tag, and each time it
finds that word on the web, it automatically makes that word a link to a
page they want you to see. This happens even if the creator of the page has
it linked somewhere else. I personally don't think that Microsoft should
have the right to censor what I am viewing from my own computer!

Does anyone have any extra information on this?

Thanks,
BCG

Oct 10, 2001, 6:23pm

don't get XP... it's the sequel to Win ME (ME doesn't REALLY mean "Millenium
Edition", it means Microsoft Evil), even friends of mine that used to be
defending it when I went about how much it sucked got so many problems they
went back to Win 98 (Win 98 SE is the best MS OS -besides DOS- I know
of...). XP probably means eXpansion Pack for ME...

KAH

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Oct 10, 2001, 7:07pm

Uhh... adding links to an HTML page isn't censorship. That said, I still don't like the idea of Smart Tags. I'm also fairly certain that Microsoft removed them from (at least the beta of) XP.

-Agent1

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Oct 10, 2001, 7:12pm

Best description of the "Smart tags" I read is http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2772297,00.html

Anyway seriously, after it scared the hell out of a lot of web designers "Smart tags" have been removed from XP (IE6) since Beta 2 (June 2001 I think), according to Microsoft they will reconsider the whole approach and implement them some time in the future. Btw (not directed to bcg, a general observation) for all those who love to bash MS...you don't *have* to use IE or any other Microsoft products, there are plenty of alternatives {Linux, Staroffice, NS to name a few). Microsoft IMO is a company that makes top quality software, that's why you *all* use it, legally or not. When you have an alternative that even comes close to what MS does for the home user, please let the rest of us know.

Baron


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Oct 10, 2001, 8:55pm

Uhh...not really. Have you read ANY of the reviews on XP? It is by far one
of the best OSs to come out of Microsoft to date. It is in no way an
"expansion pack" for ME. There is a corporate edition, professional, and
home.

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Oct 10, 2001, 9:57pm

so basicly they are adding in links to microsoft owned sites saying "it
gives the viewers links to more information related to the subject" or
whatever... LOL!..ok ya adding ads to their won sits isn axactly information
we need.

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Oct 10, 2001, 11:15pm

For once, IA is right.
--
SW Chris
Eagle Scout, Philosopher, Peacemaker, and... Kung Fu Master?
http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/flame1.html

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Oct 10, 2001, 11:15pm

Yes. They will be removed in the final version as well because (lo and
behold) Microsoft actually listened to its customers who said they didn't
like the feature.
--
SW Chris
Eagle Scout, Philosopher, Peacemaker, and... Kung Fu Master?
http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/flame1.html

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Oct 10, 2001, 11:21pm

They are not adding links here... they are actually editing the HTML and
changing it.

BCG

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Oct 11, 2001, 11:23am

By adding links to other pages. It is not changing the content in any way. Think of it like this - Would you call it censorship if they had a little list pop up with sites related to keywords on the page? Where did you find your information? The part about it changing even existing links seems a little bit ... well, wrong, to me.

-Agent1

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Oct 11, 2001, 4:53pm

uhm... I can remember quite a few good reviews for ME as well... don't say
anything before you know it for sure... some of the writers of those puter
mags can't be trusted...

KAH

[View Quote]

Oct 12, 2001, 8:08pm

What do you mean? I'm always right.

[View Quote]

Oct 16, 2001, 9:14pm

XP is based on NT code base, ME was based on 9x. They are entirely different
OS's.

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