Internet Explorer 4
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Internet Explorer 4
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| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Initial release |
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| Stable release |
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| Operating system |
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| Included with | Windows 95 OSR 2.5 and Windows 98 |
| Platform | x86, 68k (Up to 4.5), PPC, Alpha AXP, PA-RISC, and SPARC |
| Type | Web Browser |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | replay |
| Internet Explorer versions: | |
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Internet Explorer desktop market share
— January 2017 via Net Applications |
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| Internet Explorer 6 | 0.48% | |
| Internet Explorer 7 | 0.23% | |
| Internet Explorer 8 | 3.21% | |
| Internet Explorer 9 | 4.28% | |
| Internet Explorer 10 | 0.84% | |
| Internet Explorer 11 | 10.46% | |
| All variants | 19.5% | |
|---|---|---|
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Microsoft Edge excluded from the list. |
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Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 (IE4) is a graphical web browser released in October 1997 by Microsoft, primarily for Microsoft Windows, but also with versions available for the classic Mac OS, Solaris, and HP-UX and marketed as "The Web the Way You Want It".
It was one of the main participants of the first browser war. Its distribution methods and Windows integration were involved in United States v. Microsoft. It was superseded by Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 in March 1999. Version 4.0 was included with Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2.5 and 4.01 in Windows 98, in addition the Internet Explorer layout engine Trident was introduced. It attained just over 60% market share by March 1999 when IE5 was released. In August 2001 when Internet Explorer 6 was released, IE4.x had dropped to 7% market share and IE5 had increased to 80%. IE4 market share dropped under 1% by 2004.
The Internet Explorer 4.0 Platform Preview was released in April 1997, and Platform Preview 2.0 in July that year. Internet Explorer 4 was released to the public in September, 1997 and deepened the level of integration between the web browser and the underlying operating system. Installing version 4 on a Windows 95 or Windows NT 4 machine and choosing "Windows Desktop Update" would result in the traditional Windows Explorer being replaced by a version more akin to a web browser interface, as well as the Windows desktop itself being web-enabled via Active Desktop. The integration with Windows, however, was subject to numerous packaging criticisms (see United States v. Microsoft). This option was no longer available with the installers for later versions of Internet Explorer but was not removed from the system if already installed. Internet Explorer 4 introduced support for Group Policy, allowing companies to configure and lock down many aspects of the browser's configuration. Internet Mail and News was replaced with Outlook Express, and Microsoft Chat and an improved NetMeeting were also included. This version also was included with Windows 98. Version 4.5 (only for Mac) dropped support for 68k Macs, but offered new features such as easier 128-bit encryption. The last non-Mac version, was 4.0 Service Pack 2, however. Uninstalling IE4 became the subject of concern to some users and was a point of contention in later lawsuits (see Removal of Internet Explorer and United States v. Microsoft.)
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Wikipedia