Microsoft Ships Final Release of Internet Explorer 3.0 for Macintosh With Just-in-Time Java Compiler and Native ActiveX Support

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 8, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. officials at MacWorld Expo today announced the immediate, worldwide availability of Microsoft(r) Internet Explorer version 3.0 software for Macintosh. This release of Microsoft’s acclaimed Web browser offers Macintosh users the fastest access to the widest selection of Internet content while running in as little as 4 MB of memory.

“The Macintosh is a great platform for Web clients and servers,” said Heidi Roizen, vice president of developer relations at Apple Computer Inc. “Working closely with Apple, the Microsoft Internet Explorer team has delivered what Macintosh users demand from the best Mac applications – power, ease of use and integrated support for the leading Apple technologies.” Built for Macintosh from the ground up, Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Macintosh takes advantage of native Macintosh multimedia and networking technologies and offers these key features not found in other browsers for the

Macintosh: * Extensive Java(tm) support. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 provides the fastest implementation of Java for the Macintosh. Native support for Apple’s JManager interface gives users the choice of Java virtual machines (VM); this release includes the Microsoft and Metrowerks Java Virtual Machine as well as the first beta version of the Metrowerks just-in-time compiler. Because of dynamic memory handling, users get this powerful, flexible Java support without a big memory hit; Java components take up memory only when they are needed to run a Java Applet and unload automatically when the applet is finished.

* ActiveX(tm) Controls. Native support for ActiveX Controls in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 lets users view interactive ActiveX-based content designed for Macintosh without the need to install helper applications or plug-ins. ActiveX Controls are small, lightweight software components that can download automatically and run on users’ machines.

* HTML enhancements. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 offers the broadest support for HTML standards of any Macintosh browser, including full support for HTML 3.2, tables, frames and enhanced frames (borderless and floating). In addition, Microsoft Internet Explorer is the first browser to allow Macintosh users to view Web pages created using the HTML standard Cascading Style Sheets. Web developers use Cascading Style Sheets to create advanced type effects and provide consistent formatting of Web pages, all using native HTML.

* Cross-platform multimedia support. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Macintosh now further extends access to all the Internet offers by supporting the widest selection of native Macintosh and cross-platform multimedia content, including QuickTime, QuickTime VR, VRML, AVI digital video formats, and AU, AIFF, MIDI and .WAV audio formats. Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 also offers support for VRML via Apple QuickDraw 3D.

* Customizable toolbar. Macintosh users can now choose from three toolbar styles. All the toolbars can be moved, turned off or resized as needed. The easy-to-use interface includes the customizable Favorites bar, which offers single-click access to frequently visited sites.

* Security. New security features in Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 give more control to Macintosh users surfing the Web. For the first time, parents, schools and organizations can control access to Web content through Microsoft Internet Explorer’s support for the Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS) standard and the RSACi ratings system. The latest secure communications standards are also supported, including secure sockets layer (SSL) 2.0 and 3.0 and Microsoft Windows NT(r) Authentication.

* Easy communication. Internet Mail and News 1.1, included with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0, offers integrated access to Internet e-mail and newsgroups. Internet Mail and News fully supports Internet communication standards, with POP3 and SMTP mail and NNTP for newsgroup access. The new version 1.1 offers multiple user support, making it easy for many users to share one Macintosh, each accessing his or her own settings. It also offers easy scheduling and automatic download of e-mail.

“The Microsoft Internet Explorer for Macintosh development team had a single vision – to make the best browser for the Macintosh,” said Brad Silverberg, senior vice president of the applications and Internet client group at Microsoft. “Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 delivers on that vision, providing more features and supporting more native Macintosh technologies than any other browser. It’s the browser Macintosh users have been waiting for.” Great Upgrade for Netscape Navigator Users Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Macintosh is an easy switch for Navigator users. It’s compatible with content designed for Navigator and offers significantly faster Java performance. It also gives users access to ActiveX Controls and works with plug-ins. Users can ease the transition by selecting the Netscape Navigator-compatible toolbar, and they can easily import bookmarks from Navigator for use as Microsoft Internet Explorer Favorites.

Microsoft’s Personal Web Server Beta Now Available The first beta version of Microsoft’s Personal Web Server (PWS) for Macintosh is also available today. Microsoft Internet Explorer is the only browser for the Macintosh that includes a free personal Web server. It allows intranet users to turn any Macintosh (68030 and higher) into a Web server, letting them share information and monitor site activity, all without having to know HTML or use complex set-up processes. PWS is also ideal for developing, testing and staging Web applications, as well as for peer-to-peer publishing. The Personal Web Server is designed to run on only 1 MB of RAM, permitting users to run the server continuously, even on mainstream Macintosh machines. While requiring little memory, PWS is a powerful Web server that offers integrated support for image maps, Active Server Pages, automatic forms processing, CGI scripts and directory browsing.

Administration of the Personal Web Server is conducted directly through the Macintosh Control Panel. Configuration, management and restriction of access to the server are simple to set and maintain by selecting Microsoft Personal Web Server in the Control Panels folder.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 is available immediately for Power Macintosh machines. Microsoft is working closely with Apple to deliver Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for users of 68K Macintosh machines. “In shipping Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Macintosh, Microsoft has clearly demonstrated its strong commitment to Macintosh users,” said Jim Gable, vice president of marketing for AppleSoft. “Apple and Microsoft are working together to deliver Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for 68K. This requires the CFM68K Runtime Enabler, which Apple currently recomends customers disable due to known problems. Apple has a team of engineers assigned specifically to fixing this problem and looks forward to delivering a fix as soon as possible.”

AT & T WorldNet Service will offer its Macintosh-based customers the chance to browse the World Wide Web with an AT & T-branded version of Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0. CD-ROMs and diskettes of the customized dial-up access software will be shipped by the end of the first quarter of 1997, and a preview version of the browser will be made available for members to download from the AT & T WorldNet Service home page (http://www.att.com/worldnet/) by the end of January.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Power Macintosh, Internet Mail and News 1.1, and the Microsoft Personal Web Server beta version for Macintosh are available for download without charge (except for connect-time charges, if any) from the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/mac/ .

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