On July 31, Microsoft released a service pack upgrade (dubbed SP2) to Internet Explorer 5.5. This ostensibly routine security upgrade has the effect of disabling QuickTime for all Internet Explorer users, and while Apple says it's working on a fix, CNET News.com quotes at least once source who says the service pack "is designed to remove non-Microsoft product compatibility."

That SP2 disables QuickTime is not in doubt and has left many IE 5.5 users [Note: Windows users] who dilligently installed the service pack wondering what they should do. Here are some reports:

1. Some users said they "had difficulties undoing the installation to switch back to a version of IE that supports QuickTime."

2. "Limore Shur, president and creative director at New York-based design company Eyeball, said that Microsoft software support waived its usual fee after conceding there was no fix for the problem short of reinstalling IE from the original CD-ROM."

Comments: For all we know Microsoft is telling the truth: no sabotage intended, etc. And Apple is supposedly working with Microsoft on a solution that will be announced very soon. But this is what we've come to after observing Microsoft over the years, that it's much easier to believe the worst about Redmond. Drip, drip, drip...