Internet Explorer for Mac Sierra: A Brief History of Microsoft's Browser for Macintosh

In the late 1990s, Microsoft released Internet Explorer (IE) for Macintosh, a web browser that would go on to become a staple on Apple computers for several years. The first version of IE for Mac was based on Spyglass Mosaic, a web browser licensed from Spyglass. This beta version of Internet Explorer 2.0 for Macintosh was released in January as a free download from Microsoft's website.

The early versions of Internet Explorer for Mac were developed from the same codebase as Internet Explorer for Windows. However, despite being released on the same platform, IE for Mac typically lagged behind its Windows counterpart by several months or even a year. This delay was due to various reasons, including differences in the operating system and hardware between the two platforms.

Despite the delay, some unique features were added to the Mac version of Internet Explorer. One such feature was the Tasman layout engine, which was first introduced with version 5 of the browser. The Tasman engine provided improved performance and functionality compared to earlier versions of IE for Mac.

Microsoft continued to release updates for Internet Explorer for Mac, with the final update being released in July 2003. After this, Microsoft announced that it would no longer be developing further updates for the browser. This decision was likely due to the growing popularity of Apple's own web browser, Safari, which had become the default browser on Mac OS X.

Internet Explorer for Mac Sierra: The Default Browser

For several years, Internet Explorer was the default browser on both Mac OS and OS X. In 1998, it became the default browser on Mac OS 8.1, and it remained so until 2003 when Safari replaced it as the default browser with the release of Mac OS X 10.3 Panther.

During this time, Internet Explorer for Mac Sierra was widely used by both consumers and businesses alike. Its popularity was due in part to its ease of use and compatibility with a wide range of web pages and applications.

The Rise and Fall of Internet Explorer

Despite its popularity, Internet Explorer's market share began to decline as alternative browsers such as Firefox and Chrome gained popularity. Microsoft continued to release updates for IE, but these updates were often met with resistance by users who had grown tired of the browser's security vulnerabilities and lack of features.

In 2006, Microsoft discontinued support for Internet Explorer for Mac, and removed it from their Macintosh downloads site on January 31 of that year. This marked the end of an era for IE on the Mac platform.

Internet Explorer for Mac Sierra was a significant player in the early days of web browsing on Apple computers. Despite its limitations and security vulnerabilities, it remained widely used for several years before being replaced by Safari. Today, Internet Explorer is no longer supported or developed by Microsoft, but it remains an important part of the history of the internet and web browsing.

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