Internet Explorer 7 beta nukes Google and Yahoo toolbars

The Register reports the first beta version of Internet Explorer 7 has some mysterious problems. Search toolbars from Google and Yahoo suddenly stop working in IE7, while other third-party toolbars designed to block pop-ups still work perfect. Strange issue..

But it does raise ominous echoes of Microsoft's previous tactics of foreclosing competition by hiding the alternatives available to users. For anti-competitive reasons, Microsoft is unlikely to risk such a move in the finished product. We'll have to see.