REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 4, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate availability of a beta version of Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5 for technical evaluation. The beta release builds on award-winning innovations of Internet Explorer from versions 3.0 and 4.0 such as componentization and integration of the Web and the PC, and brings Microsoft IntelliSense® technology to the Web. IntelliSense is a collection of Microsoft technologies architected throughout the browser to simplify complex tasks and automate routine browsing tasks, saving customers time on the things they do most often on the Web.
“Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 will deliver a breakthrough in ease of use for anyone that surfs the Web,”
said Yusuf Mehdi, director of Windows marketing at Microsoft.
“By using Microsoft IntelliSense technology to dramatically simplify and automate common Web tasks, from detecting network status to simplifying basic navigation, Internet Explorer 5 allows users to reap the full benefits of the Web.”
Today’s release of the Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 beta is designed to give IT managers and PC enthusiasts an opportunity to evaluate the technology, provide feedback and become familiar with the technologies early in the development process.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Brings IntelliSense to the Web
For the first time, Internet Explorer 5 brings IntelliSense to the Web to save users time on the things they do most often. Hundreds of common tasks such as searching, navigating, organizing and accessing information anywhere have been simplified and automated to dramatically improve the overall browsing experience. First introduced in Microsoft Office, IntelliSense is a collection of Microsoft technologies that have been incorporated into Internet Explorer 5 to provide unmatched levels of simplicity, automation and flexibility throughout the browsing experience.
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Simplicity. Internet Explorer 5 simplifies the most complex browsing tasks so users can spend less time worrying about their browser and more time being productive on the Web. For example, the new Search Assistant enables users to cut through the complexity of finding information on the Web by harnessing the power of different search engines to conduct quick, optimized searches for the information they are looking for, whether it is a Web site, company, map, address or more. In addition, popular browser features such as Adding and Organizing Favorites, and viewing History have been refined to provide even greater ease of use.
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Automation. The built-in intelligence of Internet Explorer 5 automates the most common Web tasks by eliminating unnecessary clicks and keystrokes. The AutoComplete feature, first introduced in Internet Explorer 4.0 has been enhanced to save users time when filling out Web-based forms. In addition, common typing mistakes with URLs are automatically corrected in Internet Explorer 5 with the new AutoCorrect feature.
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Flexibility. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 offers key enhancements to enable users to use the Web the way they want it, including the ability to access information from anywhere, integrate the portals and applications they want and install the software components of their choice. For example, with Windows Synchronization Manager, users can easily synchronize Web pages for offline use, as well as information from any application such as e-mail. Users can also now designate Web-based e-mail providers such as MSN
™
Hotmail as their default mail client, providing easy access to their preferred e-mail throughout the browser.
Internet Explorer 5 also extends Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to providing Web developers and corporate administrators with a premier development platform as well as reduced cost of ownership.
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Web application and content developers. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 improves the ease and speed with which developers can create powerful Web-based applications and content because of new technologies such as Dynamic HTML behaviors as well as support for open Internet standards including XML 1.0, XSL, HTML 4.0, CSS 1.0 and 2.0, Document Object Model and ECMA-262 compliant scripting. In addition, the componentized architecture of Internet Explorer enables developers to easily take advantage of portions of the Internet Explorer 5 browsing code to incorporate Web-related functionality into their own products.
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Corporate administrators. By automating the most common and complex Web tasks for users, Internet Explorer 5 provides improved simplicity and reduced cost of ownership for corporations. For example, tasks that users traditionally would have contacted their administrator for, such as finding mobile proxy settings, are seamlessly performed. This streamlined approach offers improved productivity. In addition, corporations will enjoy easier Web-based application development and integration.
Internet Explorer 5 Is Available Now for Corporate Evaluation
Corporations can now not only begin evaluating the Internet Explorer 5 beta, but make optimal use of the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 5, which was also released in beta today. Administrators using the Administration Kit will enjoy enhanced control and flexibility in the customization, deployment and manageability of the browser in their environment. A streamlined wizard-based user interface assists administrators in quickly customizing the specific features they want. Administrators can also add their own toolbar buttons and menu items to the Internet Explorer 5 interface to further customize the browser for their corporate environment.
The Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 beta is also available for multiple platforms, including 32-bit Windows® operating systems, Windows 3.1 and Sun Solaris (UNIX), to enable simultaneous evaluation across corporate desktops. Updated versions of Internet Explorer are also planned to be available for the Macintosh and HP-UX (UNIX) platforms in the months ahead.
Pricing and Availability
The beta of Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 for the Windows 95, Windows 98,
Windows NT® 4.0, Windows 3.1 and UNIX Solaris operating systems is free (connect-time charges may apply) and available now from the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ and from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/ . The Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit 5 beta is available for downloading free of charge at http://ieak.microsoft.com/default.asp (connect-time charges may apply).
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, IntelliSense, MSN, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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