MSN Explorer
Encyclopedia
MSN Explorer is a web browser
, developed by Microsoft
, that integrates MSN
and Windows Live
features such as Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger
with a web browser
. To make use of these services requires a Windows Live ID
(formerly known as a Microsoft Passport or .NET Passport). MSN Explorer is essentially a graphics-heavy version of Internet Explorer
, and could be termed an Internet Explorer shell
: this means it is a Trident
based browser.
. Version 7 was released at the same time on Windows XP. MSN 8 and 9 were released in 2002 and 2004 respectively.
Development of the free version of MSN Explorer was halted in favor of a version only available with MSN Internet Access, though the last free version (Version 7) for those without an MSN Service Provider is still available.
As of version 9, users must pay and subscribe to use MSN Explorer. It also requires a user to have a Windows Live ID
, though depending on the version may or may not require a subscription to other MSN Services. The interface also includes many Flash
animations. Versions later than 9.5 are compatible with Windows Vista. Version 9.6 was released in June 2008 and includes revisions necessary for a newer mailbox synchronization technology and to replace the MSN Parental Controls menu options with links to the new Windows Live Family Safety.
MSN version 10 was to begin rolling out November 2009, with a full rollout furnished to all paying subscribers by the end of 2009. Features include full Internet Explorer 8 compatibility, integrated spell checker, and the ability to exclude MSN Messenger from the installation.
With the advent of Windows Live, Microsoft later decided to discontinue upgrades for the MSN Explorer software package.
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
, developed by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, that integrates MSN
MSN
MSN is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. The Microsoft Network debuted as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system.The range of services offered by MSN has changed since its...
and Windows Live
Windows Live
Windows Live is the collective brand name for a set of services and software products from Microsoft, part of their software plus services platform. A majority of these services are Web applications, accessible from a browser, but there are also client-side binary applications that require...
features such as Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP , Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, Xbox 360, Blackberry OS, iOS, Java ME, S60 on Symbian OS 9.x and Zune HD...
with a web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
. To make use of these services requires a Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID is a single sign-on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account...
(formerly known as a Microsoft Passport or .NET Passport). MSN Explorer is essentially a graphics-heavy version of Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
, and could be termed an Internet Explorer shell
Internet Explorer shell
An Internet Explorer shell is any computer software that uses the Trident rendering engine of the Internet Explorer web browser. Although the term "Trident shell" is probably more accurate for describing these applications , the term "Internet Explorer shell", or "IE shell", is in common parlance...
: this means it is a Trident
Trident (layout engine)
Trident is the name of the layout engine for the Microsoft Windows version of Internet Explorer.It was first introduced with the release of Internet Explorer version 4.0 in October 1997; it has been steadily upgraded and remains in use today...
based browser.
History
Version 6 of MSN Explorer is built into Windows XPWindows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
. Version 7 was released at the same time on Windows XP. MSN 8 and 9 were released in 2002 and 2004 respectively.
Development of the free version of MSN Explorer was halted in favor of a version only available with MSN Internet Access, though the last free version (Version 7) for those without an MSN Service Provider is still available.
As of version 9, users must pay and subscribe to use MSN Explorer. It also requires a user to have a Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID is a single sign-on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account...
, though depending on the version may or may not require a subscription to other MSN Services. The interface also includes many Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
animations. Versions later than 9.5 are compatible with Windows Vista. Version 9.6 was released in June 2008 and includes revisions necessary for a newer mailbox synchronization technology and to replace the MSN Parental Controls menu options with links to the new Windows Live Family Safety.
MSN version 10 was to begin rolling out November 2009, with a full rollout furnished to all paying subscribers by the end of 2009. Features include full Internet Explorer 8 compatibility, integrated spell checker, and the ability to exclude MSN Messenger from the installation.
Hotmail synchronization
MSN Explorer, until the migration of Hotmail to the Windows Live brand, also provided a user interface for navigating one's @msn.com e-mail inbox and folders, also known as "MSN Mail". The user interface, much like the other user interface features of MSN Explorer, utilized relatively responsive animations which would not become commonplace until AJAX became a normal feature in webmail user interfaces. MSN Mail was only available to paid users.With the advent of Windows Live, Microsoft later decided to discontinue upgrades for the MSN Explorer software package.
Features
- Favorites
- Windows Live Hotmail
- Calendar
- Windows Live Address Book
- Windows Live Messenger
- MSN Photos
- Windows Live Spaces
- MSN Encarta
- MSN Entertainment
- MSN Money
- MSN Shopping
- Download Manager
- Windows Live Search