Industry News
By Mike Menkedick
Microsoft Releases IE Beta, Slips Memphis OS, WIN 3.11 On The Way Out
Microsoft has recently released the second beta version of the Internet Explorer 4.0 Web browser. IE 4.0, scheduled to be released in late summer, allows users to move seamlessly from the Web to their hard disk
Microsoft has conceded the release of the next version of Windows 95 will slip into 1998. Memphis, as it is code-named, features tighter integration to the Internet and Web browsers. In an early beta version reviewed by Mirad Computers, most noticeable to the end user is that the "favorites" folder is part of the main user interface.
It is also reported Microsoft is telling OEMs to be moving to WIN95 because Microsoft does not want to support three operating systems. In related news, Compaq has stopped shipping the Windows 3.11 option on new machines, but will continue to support it through 1998. IBM plans to phase out WIN 3.11 this fall, but will support it through the end of 1998.
Lotus Developing SmartSuite 98
Lotus announced it will be using technology from IBM in the next release of SmartSuite. Users will be able to create hybrid suite programs by integrating IBM’s Kona applets into the SmartSuite desktop.
SmartSuite will also use IBM’s speech recognition technology to provide continuous speech recognition in the Word Pro word processor and 123 spreadsheet.
Smartsuite 98 will be in beta testing the fourth quarter of this year, and plans are to ship product the first half of next year.
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