Windows Nashville

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Windows "Nashville" 4.10.999 desktop.

Nashville was the codename for a cancelled release of Microsoft Windows scheduled to be released in 1996, between "Chicago" (Windows 95) and "Memphis" (Windows 98, at the time scheduled for release 1997),^[1] causing it to be refered to as Windows 96 by the public. The release intended to focus on a tighter integration between Windows and Internet Explorer, in order to better compete with Netscape Navigator.^[2]

Microsoft claimed that Nashville would add Internet integration features to the Windows 95 and NT 4.0 desktop, building on the new features in the Internet Explorer 3.0 web browser (due for release a few months before Nashville). Touted features included a combined file manager and web browser, the ability to seamlessly open Microsoft Office documents from within Internet Explorer using ActiveX technology and a way to place dynamic webpages directly on the desktop in place of the regular static computer wallpaper.

A leaked build had version number 4.10.999 (compare to Windows 95's 4.00.950, Windows 95 OSR2's 4.00.1111, and Windows 98's 4.10.1998). The project was eventually cancelled as a full release of Windows, Windows 95 OSR2 ("Detroit") being shipped as an interim release instead. The codename "Nashville" was reused for the Windows Desktop Update that shipped with Internet Explorer 4.0 and delivered most of the features promised for Nashville. The Athena PIM application would be released as Microsoft Internet Mail and News, later renamed to Outlook Express.

"Cleveland" was an earlier codename for "Nashville".^[3] Chicago is the largest city in Illinois, Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee. Nashville and Cleveland are both cities in Tennessee, as well as villages in Illinois. Cleveland is also the most populous city of Ohio. Detroit is the largest city of Michigan, as well as a village in Illinois.

See also

• Microsoft codenames

Notes

1. ^ Comes v. Microsoft 3208
2. ^ Comes v. Microsoft 5735
3. ^ Comes v. Microsoft 3208

References

Microsoft confidential

• Comes v. Microsoft. Plaintiff's Exhibit 2013: "Desktop Operating Systems Mission—Draft". Microsoft Confidential (February 4, 1994).
• Comes v. Microsoft. Plaintiff's Exhibit 3208: "Desktop Operating Systems Mission Memo". Microsoft Confidential.
• Comes v. Microsoft. Plaintiff's Exhibit 5648: "Systems Three Year Plan". Microsoft Confidential (April 1994).
• Comes v. Microsoft. Plaintiff's Exhibit 2247: "Personal Systems Division 3 Yr Outlook". Microsoft Confidential (February 28, 1995).
• Comes v. Microsoft. Plaintiff's Exhibit 5735. Microsoft Confidential (October 25, 1995).
• Comes v. Microsoft. Plaintiff's Exhibit 2667.

Articles

• Miller, Michael J. (24 October 1995). "Beyond Windows 95". PC Magazine. pp. 75-76.
• Honeyball, Jon (June 1996). "The Road to Cairo Goes Through Nashville". Windows IT Pro.

Other

• Schnoll, Scott. "The History of Microsoft Internet Explorer".

External links

• WIN96 FAQ
• Microsoft OS Checklist, printer friendly version
• Microsoft OS Checklist