With the launch of Internet Explorer 4.0 today, Microsoft has taken its first significant steps toward merging its Web browser with future iterations of the Windows OS.
Described as "shell integration" and "true Web integration," Microsoft has tried to make Internet Explorer an all-in-one interface for browsing the Web, intranets, and PC hard drives using familiar features like "back" and "forward" navigation buttons, and drag and drop to organize folders on desktops.
Microsoft's integration of IE with the Windows OS will be made more complete when the next version of Windows arrives in the summer. But for now, the new Explorer bars - search, favorites, history, and channel - can be used to access Web pages, search local files, and subscribe to Active Desktop channels, which can be customized to deliver different types of information at specified intervals.
Most of the notable features in Internet Explorer were outlined during a briefing last June, but the company has made some interface changes since then and added support for new technologies like "scriptlets" as well.
And although Microsoft has added substantially to Internet Explorer since version 3, users will still have the option of sticking to the basics. The three download choices on the Microsoft site will include: minimal, which is the browser only; standard, which includes the Outlook Express email program; and full, which includes workgroup applications like NetMeeting, and additional integration with the Windows platform.
Security was one of the primary areas where Microsoft beefed up IE 4.0. Users and network managers will be able to create restricted "security zones" where the browser will have limited access to internal and external sites, as well as specific browser capabilities. The browser will also support digital certificates, which companies like VeriSign and AT&T are promoting for online identification and security purposes.
Microsoft also changed its mind on some of the features it was considering. With its last beta version, Microsoft said trial users liked having single-click access to files, applications, Web pages, and the like. Now, however, single-click will be available only as an option, and double click will remain the default.
