Microsoft Announces Internet Explorer 4.0 and Outlook Express For Macintosh
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6, 1998 — Today at the MacWorld Expo, Microsoft Corp. publicly unveiled and announced the immediate, worldwide availability of Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh. To meet the needs of Internet users worldwide, Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh will be offered in 10 languages, including Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Swedish.
Internet Explorer 4.0 combines Microsoft’s premier browser, communication and collaboration tools with innovative Active Channel
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content to offer a complete Internet client solution designed specifically for Macintosh users. Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh builds upon Microsoft’s acclaimed best-of-breed Internet Explorer 3.01 for Macintosh and adds new features that improve performance and offer greater functionality and ease of use.
Microsoft Outlook
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Express, the new e-mail client and news reader included in Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh, was developed specifically for the unique needs of Macintosh users and the capabilities of the Macintosh platform. Outlook Express for the Macintosh is available to Macintosh users in Office 98 for the Macintosh and as a standalone e-mail client.
“Our primary goal was to provide the smallest, best-of-breed browser technology for the Macintosh,” said Don Bradford, general manager, applications and Internet client group at Microsoft. “Now, not only have we achieved our goal of improving the online experience for users, but we’ve added unprecedented offline features into Internet Explorer.”
These other new features are included in Internet Explorer 4.0 for the Macintosh:
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Easier setup and configuration. Internet Explorer has always been easy to set up and use, but new Active Setup technology provides seamless downloading over slow-speed connections.
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Better offline support. Internet Explorer now allows users to download their favorite Internet or intranet sites and view those pages later, even while traveling or when they’re not connected to the network, minimizing connection time. Once offline, Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh provides users quick and seamless access to single pages or entire sites that can be easily accessed from within the browser. With a simple mouse click, users can easily save Web pages or entire sites into a single file that can be moved from Macintosh to Macintosh easily for offline viewing.
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New support for Dynamic HTML and Active Channel content. Internet Explorer 4.0 features the latest HTML standards from the W3C, including core Dynamic HTML support, enabling developers to create the most interactive, exciting content available on the Internet today. Internet Explorer 4.0 also includes a Channel Guide, where users can find premium channel content optimized for the Macintosh.
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New Java implementation. Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh once again provides the fastest Java on the Macintosh, with Application Foundation Classes, new, robust class libraries that allow developers to create GUI interfaces in Java.
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Security Zones. The enhanced Security Zones ensure a safe experience by allowing Macintosh users and corporate administrators to control or disable technologies (such as the Internet or intranet) by location or by site.
Internet Explorer 4.0 Delivers “The Web the Way You Want It” to Macintosh Users
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for the Macintosh was designed from the ground up as a native application to deliver the superior ease of use and innovative interface features that Macintosh users expect from their applications. This optimization delivers users the look of applications for the Macintosh, while allowing Internet Explorer to run in a 5MB memory space.
Internet Explorer 4.0 makes Web browsing fast, easy and secure. Unique features such as Explorer bars allow users to easily search the Web, as well as browse and manage Web sites, giving them information they need quickly. Users can view the latest and most exciting content on the Web today with broad support for standards-based Internet technologies including Dynamic HTML, LDAP, ECMAScript (JavaScript), channel definition format (CDF), and SSL 2.0 and 3.0 in Internet Explorer 4.0.
Internet Explorer 4.0 provides Java support on all Macintosh platforms with support for multiple virtual machines, and JDK 1.1.4 on 68K and PowerPC machines. Users can also take the Web with them wherever they go with offline browsing, which offers them the ability to view Internet content even when they’re not connected to the Internet or an intranet.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh offers a complete set of tools to make communicating with friends, family and business associates on the Web fast and easy. Outlook Express for the Macintosh has an intuitive user interface, rich e-mail capabilities, and support for multiple accounts and users, and is built on open Internet standards such as POP3, SMTP, IMAP4, LDAP, MIME HTML and NNTP. Outlook Express also has premier import tools for a simple migration from other mail clients like Eudora Pro and Messenger. In addition, the Outlook Express focus on ease of use, multiple accounts and rich functionality makes it an ideal e-mail client for both home and business users.
Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh includes two more components that give users a complete Internet experience. First, Microsoft NetShow
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server networked multimedia software gives users the most dynamic audio and video broadcasts over the Web for on-demand or streaming content. And, Microsoft Personal Web Server 4.0 provides Macintosh users with an easy way to publish Web content and host Web pages.
Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh Provides Premier Active Channel Content
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Active Channel technology is a key component of the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 vision of delivering “the Web the way you want it” to Macintosh users. Active Channel-based content offers a leap beyond today’s static Web pages, providing personalized delivery of exciting interactive content.
Active Channel providers have designed their content and Web sites to take advantage of innovative standards-based functionality in Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, including Dynamic HTML and webcasting based on the channel definition format (CDF), a proposed industry standard. With Dynamic HTML, publishers of Active Channel content can create more interactive Web pages that can change and animate quickly based on user interaction. Corporations can also build Active Channel content for use on corporate intranets or extranets. Active Channel content is optimized for delivery using CDF, enabling developers flexible and easy ways to develop “push” technology. Users can get the latest information from their favorite channels directly inside the browser, whether they’re on the network or reading content offline.
“In the last quarter we’ve started a new direction for Apple on the Web – with the addition of The Apple Store and with improvements across our Web site,” said Dan Marusich, group manager of electronic communications at Apple Computer Inc. “Now our challenge is to improve the experience and give our Web customers more flexibility with new features like subscriptions to the Apple Channel. We’re thrilled to add breakthrough technologies such as CDF and Dynamic HTML to give our audience more focused and dynamic content.”
Active Channel content announced today that is preconfigured with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh includes content from Aladdin Systems Inc., Apple Computer, Fortune Online, Hollywood Online, MacAddict, MacHome Interactive, MacWEEK, MacWorld , NeTProfessional Magazine, People, Poppybank Software, TidBITS, Time Online and Wired Digital.
Along with Office 98 Macintosh Edition, Internet Explorer 4.0 successfully delivers best-of-breed technology and never-before-seen enhancements for the Macintosh. This release comes after the August 1997 announcement from Microsoft and Apple, when Microsoft committed to developing Macintosh applications for the next five years.
Pricing and Availability
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh is available free of charge for immediate download (connect-time charges may apply) at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/mac/ . It is also included with Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition.
Users can also order a special Commemorative Edition Internet Explorer 4.0 for Macintosh CD, which contains software trials, coupons and rebates, for $4.95 directly from http://www.microsoft.com/ie/mac/ or (800) 485-2248.
Microsoft Outlook Express for the Macintosh is included with Internet Explorer 4.0 for the Macintosh and Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition. It is also available free of charge for immediate download (connect-time charges may apply) at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ie40/oe/ .
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 for business and personal use, 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, Active Channel, Outlook and NetShow 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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