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The very first Internet Explorer was derived from Spyglass Mosaic. The browser
was modified and then release as Internet Explore by Microsoft. The original
source code for the development was initiated by Netscape. It was released on
August 1995 in 2 different packages, Microsoft Plus, the retail version and the
OEM release of Windows 95. Several months later version 1.5 was released for
Windows NT containing early web standards. Version 2.0 was release for
Windows 95 and Windows NT, November 1995. Internet Explorer 3.0 was
released free of charge in August 1996 by combining or bundling it with Windows
95. Microsoft was liable to pay Spyglass only the minimum quarterly fee. That
summer Microsoft released version 3.0 which seemed to cause some overnight
flocking of Netscape Users to Internet Explorer.
The internet was a buzz on the
issue of which web browser had the best feature's and the absolute most support
for all of the latest Internet technology. Though Internet Explorer integrated nicely
with Windows 95, not many people used it, preferring to use the vastly known
browser offered by Netscape Development Corporation, or other web browsers
such as Lynx, Mosaic, and Opera. Microsoft remained sovereign and never
flinched. They were insistent that Internet Explorer would become the web
browser of choice. The debate between Netscape and Internet Explorer became
moot almost immediately when it was realized Netscape charged almost 50.00 for
it's browser service and Windows Internet Explorer was free. Windows Internet
Explorer version 4 was released on September 1997 and was subsequently shipped
with the beta version of Windows 98 but was modified to integrate more similarly
to Microsoft Windows operating system.
It included an active desktop option
which allowed you to view web content directly on your desktop. Active Channel
technology was introduced so that you could automatically get updates from
websites you frequented. The release of Windows Internet Explorer 5 occurred in
3 steps. the first step was a developer preview in June of 1998. Followed by a
Public Preview that November. Then finally the full release occurred on March of
1999. That following September it was released with Windows 98. One of the
Internet Explorer, they would enjoy the same success. The final version for
Windows 3.1x and Windows NT 3.x was Version 5 however Windows Explorer
5.5 was released for Windows Me in July of 2000 which also included many bug
fixes as well as security patches. Version 5.5 was the final Internet Explorer to
have Compatibility Mode which gave Internet Explorer the ability to run side by
side of version 5.x.
Windows Internet Explorer Version 6 was released with
Windows XP in August 27, 2001. It's primary focus was on privacy and security
as they had become top priorities for many and most customers. Microsoft also
implemented tools by which P3P could be supported under developmental
standards of the W3C. Today Windows Internet Explorer still enjoys upgrades in
it's multimedia functions, e-mail abilities and other media. Microsoft has received
some harsh feedback from Competitors as well as the Anti-Microsoft lot. Many
feeling that IE sidelined Netscape and tried to produce a monopoly on web
browser technology. Interestingly it is yet to be seen how Internet Explorer will
fair in the future with the rise of Mozilla's Firefox browser which seems to be
collecting many a user. In fact many believe some of the functions in Internet
Explorer to be antiquated or at least on it's way to pasture.
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