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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Internet Explorer - 15 years old today

By | August 16, 2010, 9:25am PDT

Summary: Internet Explorer - 15 today!

Shesh, time sure flies!

The software giant launched the first version of the browser internet explorer 1 on August 16, 1995. It was a revised version of Spyglass Mosaic, which Microsoft had licensed from Spyglass Inc. The first version came with Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 and the original equipment manufacturer release of Windows 95.

Here’s a timeline for the different versions of Internet Explorer:

  • IE2: November 22, 1995
  • IE3: August 13, 1996
  • IE4: September 1997
  • IE5: March 18, 1999
  • IE6: August 27, 2001
  • IE7: October 18, 2006
  • IE8: March 19, 2009

It was IE3 that really propelled the browser into popularity, and usage share continued to grow to a peak in 2004, from which point it has been in devline ever since.

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Topics

Microsoft Internet Explorer, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Web Browsers, Internet

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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a celebration
opcom 17th Aug 2010
A year or so ago, I tried out a copy of "Mosaic for the IBM" that was lying around here for the last 15+ years. Wow was it fast! Man, did it seriously fail to understand web pages!
View in thread
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Congrats to MS for popularizing the web!
NonZealot 16th Aug 2010
MS popularized the personal computer, the GUI, and the web. Congrats!
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Popularized the web for the 2.0 masses only
klumper 16th Aug 2010
@NonZealot

Some of us still remember the seminal days (and impact) of Gopher and Voila and Mosaic, and thereafter Netscape Navigator from the Mosaic womb. IE was but a babe in loin cloths, until it was strategically "bestowed" upon the dawdling masses as a free download. The bolt on release of IE4 for NT4, and even more importantly, it's pre-packaged integration into Windows 98 and W95 OSR2.5, sealed the deal - and ultimately Netscape's fate.
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RE: Internet Explorer - 15 years old today
Loverock Davidson 16th Aug 2010
Happy Birthday IE!! What a difference it has made over the years. Now it comes standard on every PC.
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Sheesh
Cylon Centurion 16th Aug 2010
IE6: August 27, 2001
IE7: October 18, 2006
IE8: March 19, 2009

Microsoft sure likes sitting on it doesn't it? 3 years between IE7 and IE8...
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I am happy to say that
Economister 16th Aug 2010
I have NEVER used IE as my browser and have no plans to.
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It's okay, MS didn't need you to use IE
NonZealot 16th Aug 2010
@Economister
There were plenty of others who did. happy
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WELL PUT! nt
OneTwoc21 16th Aug 2010
NT
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RE: Internet Explorer - 15 years old today
Zc456 16th Aug 2010
@NonZealot By choice? Or just because it was the default browser?
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RE: Internet Explorer - 15 years old today
Playdrv4me Updated - 16th Aug 2010
IE is still JB. Lulz.
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RE: Internet Explorer - 15 years old today
Waheed.Haq 16th Aug 2010
MS never worked to upgrade/enhance IE after release of IE6. So its no more the browser of feature.
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RE: Internet Explorer - 15 years old today
kenift 17th Aug 2010
No, they licensed it from Spyglass, then forgot to pay the licensing fee. In other words, they stole it.

Spyglass sued and were awarded $8m. A small reward for providing another Microsoft innovation.
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a celebration
opcom 17th Aug 2010
A year or so ago, I tried out a copy of "Mosaic for the IBM" that was lying around here for the last 15+ years. Wow was it fast! Man, did it seriously fail to understand web pages!

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