IE update for ActiveX Controls activation
After multimillion-dollar patent spat with Chicago-based Eolas Technologies, Microsoft updated IE introducing new ActiveX controls activation. This affects all plug-ins available in IE as Adobe Reader, Apple QuickTime Player, Macromedia Flash, Microsoft Windows Media Player, Real Networks RealPlayer, Sun Java Virtual Machine and more. Read more about this process from CNET News, PC Mag, BetaNews and some other places.
Microsoft published this update in MSDN (Activating ActiveX Controls) and Support KB (Internet Explorer ActiveX update).
Basically, all ActiveX Controls must be activated before using their visual interface (mouse click, use keyboard, etc.). They are working at page load but user interface actions are blocked until is activated. See this image:
Once activated, they are working normally. There is a workaround: when loading plugin from an external file it works just fine, with no activation necessary.
Surely, this will affect all web developers in near future, forcing them to find solutions for rich media websites.
Regarding this subject but also regarding these new solutions for 2006 websites and web applications I read an interesting post by Jon Gallaway: IE Update disables Flash. Flash navigation is stupid. If you have to embed Flash, use FlashObject. He suggests to get rid of Macromedia Flash navigation and start using FlashObject, a JavaScript solution for embedding Flash in XHTML valid documents with correct Macromedia Flash plug-in detection. He also points new published workarounds for this IE update by Apple, Macromedia and Real.