| Microsoft adds Java support | 21 June |
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More than three weeks after posting a beta version 3.0 of Internet Explorer, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has added support for Java, the Internet programming language which opens the Internet to more multimedia features. While the new plug-in works with Windows 95 and NT, Windows 3.1 and Macintosh versions are still in development. Like Explorer, the Java plug-in is free and can be downloaded from http://microsoft.com/ie/ today. Even though there are additional access lines to download Explorer, Microsoft asks users to be patient if they cannot get to the beta browser. The demand continues to exceed the company's expectations. This first plug-in does not contain the "just-in-time" (JIT) compiler which provides greater speed and better performance to Java-based content. The final version of Internet Explorer will integrate the advanced compiler. A number of media stories have suggested the Internet community was disappointed Java support was not included in the first beta posted at the end of May. "I am not sure why these stories are circulating," said Microsoft spokesperson, Kathy Gill. "When Microsoft first signed the Java licensing agreement with Sun, they said they did not have enough time to get it into the first beta. At that time, their plans called for Java to be in integrated into the second beta which is not due for a few weeks. Actually, the availability of the plug-in means they are ahead of schedule." According to Microsoft, the plug-in will allow users to access more active, multimedia Internet content. To see the full potential of using Java with Internet Explorer 3.0, users can view applets at sites such as Web Creations (http://www.jars.com/ and http://www.webwareonline.com/), NebuLEX InterNet Integrations (http://www.nebulex.com/URN/), Digital Focus (http://www.digitalfocus.com/faq/), The Java Centre (http://www.java.co.uk/javacentre.html) and EarthWeb (http://www.gamelan.com/ ). Java support also comes as good news to developers. Microsoft says its Internet Explorer's support for ActiveX Technologies enables the tight integration of Java Applets, ActiveX Controls, JavaScript and the Visual Basic programming system, Scripting Edition (Visual Basic Script). This means Web developers can choose from any of the latest Web development and scripting tools to create sophisticated, fully interactive and innovative Web sites. (Patrick McKenna/19960621/Press Contact: Kathy Gill, Waggener Edstrom, tel 503-245-0905; E-mail Address: kgill@wagged.com) |
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From the NEWSBYTES news service, 21 June |
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