(standards) Microsoft disables automatic IE 8 downloads

Last week someone was saying that many current Windows-based, client-server, applications using a proprietary front-end called IE, might be forced to upgrade and actually become what they currently only claim to be -- proper "web applications".

And then along comes this, to dash all hopes:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/07/internet_explorer_8_blocker/

Especially note:

In a sign of the scale of the problem, Microsoft said the IE 8 Blocker does not have an expiration date. That means that until there's an official change of policy by Microsoft, users will not be getting IE 8 by default and will need to go on installing the software themselves.