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Internet Explorer 2

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Internet Explorer 2
Developer(s)Microsoft
Initial releaseNovember 1995/ 2.0 (Windows)
April 1996 / 2.0 (Mac)
Stable release
2.01 (Windows)
2.1 (Mac)
Operating systemWindows 3.1, 95, NT
Mac OS 7, 8
Platformx86 (16- and 32-bit), 68k, PowerPC
Available inUp to 24 different languages
TypeWeb Browser
LicenseMS-EULA
Template:Msieversions
Websitewww.microsoft.com/ie/IE.HTM Edit this on Wikidata

Template:Infobox Windows component Microsoft Internet Explorer 2 is a graphical web browser released on November 22, 1995 by Microsoft for Windows 95 and Windows NT and in April 1996 for Apple Macintosh[1] (see IE for Mac) and Windows 3.1. Version 2.0 featured support for SSL, cookies, VRML, and Internet newsgroups.

Version 2 was also included in Microsoft's Internet Starter Kit for Windows 95. In addition to being sold in the starter kit, Internet Explorer 2 was the first version to be included in OEM Service Release (OSR) versions of Windows; it was bundled with Windows 95 OSR 1. There were 16-bit and 32-bit versions depending on the OS. Version 2.1 came out for Macintosh in August 1996, the same month version 2 for Windows was superseded by Microsoft Internet Explorer 3, which was heavily changed from version 2.

Version 2 launched with twelve languages including English but this expanded to 24 for Windows 95, 20 for Windows 3.1, and 9 for the Macintosh by April 1996.[2] The 2.0i version supported double-byte character-set.[2] It lacked many features that became common in later IE versions, including the Blue 'e' logo, integration with Windows Explorer, and bundled programs. Its market share was also much lower than later versions. During its tenure, IE market share only went up to about roughly 3-9% by mid 1996, before IE3 came out.[3][4]

History

Internet Explorer version 2 was released in beta in October 1995, only 2 months after version 1 came out in Microsoft Plus! for 95 that August. It was released for Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.5 in November 1995 and was bundled with NT 4.0 in July 1996. The Beta for Mac on PowerPC came out in January, and the finalized version in April for 68k and PowerPC. Version 2 featured support for SSL, cookies, VRML, RSA, and Internet newsgroups. Version 2 was also the first release for Windows 3.1 and Macintosh System 7.0.1(PPC or 68k), although the Mac version was not released until January 1996 for PPC, and April for 68k.[1] Version 2.1 for the Mac came out in August of 1996. Version 2 was included in Windows 95 OSR 1 and Microsoft's Internet Starter Kit for Windows 95 in early 1996,[5] It launched with twelve languages including English but this expanded to 24, 20, and 9 for Win 95, Win 3.1 and Mac respectively by April 1996.[2] The 2.0i version supported double-byte character-set.[2]

The Mac version supported the embedding of a number of multimedia formats into web pages, including AVI and QuickTime formatted video and AIFF and WAV formatted audio. The non-beta final version was released three months later on April 23 1996. Version 2.1 fixed bugs and improving stability, but also added a few features such as support for the NPAPI (the first version of Internet Explorer on any platform to do so) and support for QuickTime VR. AOL 3.0 for Macintosh used the IE 2.1 rendering engine in its built-in web browser. The various 16 and 32 bit versions largely depended on the OS although Windows NT would use the 16 bit versions for Windows 3.1.

Netscape has enjoyed a virtual monopoly of the browser market (about 90% according to some estimates), and this has allowed it to consolidate its position still further by introducing unofficial or 'extended' HTML tags. As a result, the Web is littered with pages that only work effectively if viewed in Navigator. By the time other browsers catch up, Netscape has made even more additions.

— Jack Weber, MacUser 1996

IE replicated many of the quirks of Netscape Navigator, and allowed importing bookmarks from it.[6] In May 1996 FTP Software announced it was providing Microsoft with various technology for Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 3.1, including a PPP network, 16-bit email client, and other technology.[7]

Features

IE2 introduced new or improved features for its time period. Many soon became ubiquitous (such as cookies) while other features became obsolete.[8][9]

Versions

Overview

Windows

Major version Minor version Release date Significant changes Shipped with
Version 2 2.0 Beta October 1995 Support of HTML tables and other elements.
2.0 November 22, 1995 SSL, cookies, VRML, and Internet newsgroups. Windows NT 4.0
Windows 95 OSR1
Internet Starter Kit
2.01 Bug fix release.

Mac

Major version Minor version Release date Significant changes
Version 2 Version 2.0 Beta January 23 1996 Beta for PPC only
Version 2.0 April 23 1996 PPC and 68k Supported
Version 2.1 August 1996 Bug fixes; NPAPI support

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1996.htm Computer History
  2. ^ a b c d http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/1996/apr96/iemompr.mspx Microsoft Internet Explorer Web Browser Available on All Major Platforms, Offers Broadest International Suppor
  3. ^ Behind the numbers: Browser market share
  4. ^ http://www.ews.uiuc.edu/bstats/months/9606-month.html UIUC stats
  5. ^ Microsoft Internet Explorer Web Browser Available on All Major Platforms, Offers Broadest International Support
  6. ^ MacUser - Mac News, Reviews and Know-How
  7. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_May_1/ai_18237333 FTP Software to provide key technology for Microsoft's Internet Explorer Version 2.0 for Windows 3.1 Business Wire, May 1, 1996
  8. ^ a b c d e http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIE.mspx Windows History
  9. ^ a b c The History of Internet Explorer

Template:Earlybrowsers

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