Surging 20: IE browser brilliant and lonely-IE browser, IE9,IE10-IT information

For IE, January 12, 2016, is a sad day. Microsoft announced at this one day technical support for IE 8/9/10 in three versions , the user will no longer receive any IE security updates from Microsoft official; as an alternative, Microsoft recommends that users upgrade to IE11 or use the Microsoft Edge browser.

Although Microsoft is also dedicated to relevant users push a patch upgrade prompt notification to alert the user to upgrade IE 11, they may prefer people use specifically for Windows10 Edge for the browser. In short, whether it is Microsoft′s wishes, and users use the objective circumstances, the IE browser has existed for nearly 20 years has basically become outcasts.

While IE 11 literally became a transitional product.

From nothing to unify

We have no interest in from a technical angle to explore the birth of IE in the extent to which the effects of the human experience on the browser, although this effect is unavoidable. Because by comparison, IE′s status is more important and Special Club and it is deeply involved in Microsoft′s Windows operating systems and the computer and the Internet to the whole process of ordinary users around the world, and over a long period of time, IE is almost synonymous with the Internet.

When the first version of the IE browser was born in August 1995, when already exist in the world--a popular browser Netscape browser (English name for Netscape Navigator). And just one week before the birth of IE, launch Netscape--Netscape the company of the same name already in the browser market by virtue of their unique position on the market and have achieved great success, and at one point the head of the company on the cover of time magazine.

However dominates the browser market with Netscape was in the ascendant and even when Web standards, as the operating system giant Microsoft to sit still. In response, Microsoft rushed to buy the Spyglass browser technology developed the first generation of IE, and then encapsulates the Windows 95 plus! Bundled in the operating system. Yes, Microsoft′s browser and operating system packages sale approach, IE from the first generation began.

However IE external help for success not only for Windows operating system, a more important reason is that developed by Microsoft for IE, and IE′s own good. IE the first three months after launch, Microsoft launched IE 2; after 9 months, the version number of Microsoft updates IE again, IE 3 birth; so fast iterations speed for pioneer period of browser market, it is very effective. But this was not enough, in order to lead the trend of technology and the development of technical standards, IE 3 also supports CSS and other technologies that enable over arch-rival Netscape′s thunder.

Of course, as soon as possible in order to improve IE′s market share, Microsoft adopted at that time did not seem very "ethical" business means to bully Netscape, these include packaged distribution, free, through the Commerce clause to compel cooperation partners by default, Web standards, monopolies, and so on. In short, IE with all the force and gradually their footing and began to compete with Netscape.

In 1997, Microsoft and Netscape have launched the 4th edition of its own Web browser, but IE perform better than Netscape. Combined with Netscape′s own mistake in business strategy, and the end of 1998, IE finally defeated Netscape, Netscape was United States online (AOL) acquired.

Since then, IE starting within a few years would lead and dominate the browser market. Due to the dominance of the Windows system and the lack of competitors, IE′s market share has risen. According to OneStat.com data shows that by April 2002, IE′s market share up to 96.6%, of course, had been dominated by IE 6.

The erosion of market share

In August 2001, the IE 6 came out in July 2005, Microsoft introduced the first preview version of IE 7. A four-year period, while Microsoft introduced a upgrade patch for IE 6, but in an era of rapid development of the Internet, a network so important 4 years without iterative updates, it seems destined to IE in four years to achieve prosperity and decline of the State. A simple proof is: has reached its peak in 2002, IE, at the beginning of 2004 showed a significant decline in market share; even in November 2004, below the 90%.

The reason, in addition to the dominance of IE as many malicious attacks the first object, IE′s own security is also facing many problems, and therefore be called into question. At the same time, based on open source code and is improved in many ways Firefox is beginning to emerge, and the gradual erosion of IE′s market share. The irony is, Firefox and Netscape has become history has some sort of "kinship"--Firefox is based on the open source program it is from before it was acquired by Netscape′s open source code development. Of course, in addition to Firefox, and Safari and Opera browsers, such as potential threats.

On February 15, 2005, Bill Gates has finally announced that it will launch a new version of the browser, and why is the IE market share gradually eroded by Firefox. In January 2006 when IE 7 only when the first public beta release, IE′s market share has fallen 85.62%, while Firefox′s market share had grown to 11.23%. Behind this decline trend is actually IE as monopolies in public opinion behind disgraced and the industry as a whole for slow Firefox′s encouragement. Forbes called Firefox the "best browser 2004" magazine also put Firefox on the PC World "best top products in 2005."

Firefox IE market share erosion has continued, but IE users powerful and strong in Web standards and other factors, Firefox did not achieve the disruptive effects of erosion. By the year 2008, IE′s market share fell below 80%,Firefox stay in 15% and 20%.

However, whether it is IE or Firefox, they did not anticipate that they will face another formidable opponent-Google Chrome browser market.

Field of the browser, "the three kingdoms"

At first in Google, the browser′s development was Google CEO Eric Schmidt was against, but he eventually followed the recommendations of the two founders. Then in September 2008, started to open beta Chrome browser, open download in more than 100 countries.

At that time, IE 8 Beta 2 version has just been released for a few days, Firefox 3.0 has been released almost 3 months, and the latter when it is published also in downloads regard won the Guinness Book of world records. All in all, compared with the volumes of the two, Chrome is still a baby; it can of course be brought up, but may also die.

However, from today, Chrome has almost reinvented the browser; many of the functions of nearly all current Web browsers from Chrome. For example, tab-top, search bar and address bar one, highly simple interface design, developer-oriented extension to store bookmarks via Google account in the cloud sync ... ... This landmark series features appear to enhance the Web browsing experience.

And what is more important is, for many months a newer iteration velocity at the same time, Google also designed a very effective development model, the Chrome was divided into stable and development versions, the former to satisfy the average user, which is easy for developers to update and test, so as to meet the needs of different types of users.

Therefore, in deep Google Internet gene and supported by a strong technical background, and Chrome popularity, especially for developers like pursuit of new technologies. The end of 2010, Chrome launched more than two years later captured the 10% of market share. Meanwhile, IE′s market share continued to fall, down from 60%, and Firefox will remain at around 20%. The entire browser market was initially formed by IE, Firefox and Chrome "monopolized" situation.

Certainly IE is not no efforts, in IE 8 official version and IE 9 of update in the, Microsoft also does is efforts to improved browser of using experience, in many aspects also to competition opponents especially Google of Chrome learning, but IE of abuses makes its hard in forward of pace Shang is slow and unable to, and Chrome on like is a young of running master, no what burden, just in fast forward.

As the winner, the user is the real judge.

Moving tide of IE

From the beginning of the end of 2010 to 2016 for 5 years, IE and Chrome development curve continues the situation before, IE′s market share continues to drop steadily, and the Chrome is based on the original steadily; as for Firefox, is hovering at between 10% and 20%, recently showing a downward trend. According to Net Applications data showed that in December 2015 the global browser market, Overlord IE shares fell to 48.57%;Chrome shares continued to rise, has reached 32.33%, while Firefox have dropped to 12.13%.

It is difficult to specify in this five-year period, the extent to which mobile Internet trend influenced the development of the Web browser market. But Microsoft in the spring tide of serious omission, but IE only in the desktop browser market were actually caused isolation and passivity. Is in stark contrast with it, Google′s Chrome continued with across the desktop, Tablet and Smartphone multi-terminal unified experience attracts more users.

IE 11 released in 2013 is also very good, but they are helpless; it can curl up in a corner of the desktop, watching people on the Smartphone with Chrome open page.

Another point worthy of reflection is the relationship between IE and Windows. It is by virtue of this relationship, IE will be able to quickly reach "from 0 to 1" disruptive situation, even if was repeatedly called into question and anti-monopoly measures from government agencies, but are not on IE in the early dominance. But in the last 5 years, because Windows failed restructuring in stimulating tide of mobile Internet, IE also has been snubbed and when Microsoft tried to when Windows gets itself changes, it has decided to completely replace IE with Microsoft Edge.

In other words, between the Windows and the "prosperity and harmed" gone are the associated State; it′s not Nirvana with Windows reborn, lonely became Microsoft′s abandoned child.

Perhaps Microsoft, Windows operating system was the most important thing, because in this world there is no replacement. While Subversion itself can only appear on those things that can be replaced, like IE, for example, used to be synonymous with the mobile phone Nokia.

But even if I lose, even abandoned, even if it is finally gone, we can still say: IE is great.

激荡20年：IE浏览器的辉煌与落寞 - IE浏览器,IE9,IE10 - IT资讯

2016年1月12日对于IE来说，是一个伤感的日子。微软公司宣布于这一天停止对IE 8/9/10三个版本的技术支持，用户将不会再收到任何来自微软官方的IE安全更新；作为替代方案，微软建议用户升级到IE11或者改用Microsoft Edge浏览器。

虽然微软还专门向相关用户推送了升级提示通知补丁来提醒用户升级IE 11，但也许它更希望人们直接用上专门为Windows10而生的Edge浏览器。总之，无论是微软方面的主观愿望，还是用户使用的客观情况，已经存在近20年的IE浏览器都已经基本上成为历史的弃儿。

而IE 11则完完全全地成为了一个过渡品。

从一无所有到一统天下

我们无意于从技术角度去探讨IE诞生以来究竟在多大程度上影响了人类的浏览器使用体验，尽管这种影响是客观存在的。因为相比而言，IE的地位更加重要和特殊：它和东家微软的Windows操作系统一起深度参与并见证了计算机与互联网走向全世界普通用户的整个过程；而且在很长一段时间里，IE几乎就是互联网的代名词。

当第一个版本的IE浏览器于1995年8月诞生的时候，这个世界上已经存在着一款备受欢迎的浏览器——网景浏览器（英文名为Netscape Navigator）。而且就在IE诞生的前一周，推出网景浏览器的同名公司——网景公司已经凭借自家在浏览器市场独一无二的地位上市并取得巨大成功，该公司的负责人还一度登上时代杂志的封面。

然而就在网景公司如日中天地主宰着浏览器市场甚至网页标准的时候，作为操作系统巨头的微软公司坐不住了。作为应对，微软匆忙购入了Spyglass的浏览器相关技术开发出第一代IE，然后将其封装到当时的Windows 95 Plus！操作系统中进行搭售。没错，微软这种将浏览器和操作系统打包出售的作法，从IE第一代就开始了。

然而IE的成功却不仅仅是因为Windows操作系统的外部提携，更重要的原因在于微软公司对于IE开发的重视以及IE自身的优秀。IE第一代推出三个月之后，微软就推出了IE 2；又过了9个月，微软再次更新了IE的版本号，IE 3诞生；如此迅捷的迭代速度，对于拓荒时期的浏览器市场来说，无疑是非常有效的。但这些还不够，为了引领技术潮流和制定技术标准，IE 3还率先支持了CSS等技术，凭此盖过了主要竞争对手网景浏览器的风头。

当然，为了尽快地提升IE的市场占有率，微软当时通过一些看起来并不十分“道德”的商业手段来打压网景浏览器，这些手段包括打包分发、免费提供、通过商业条款迫使合作伙伴默认采用、网页标准垄断等。总之，IE凭借种种力量逐步站稳脚跟，并开始与网景浏览器相抗衡。

1997年，微软公司和网景公司相继推出了自家浏览器的第4版，但这次IE比网景表现得更好。再加上网景公司自身在商业策略上的错误，1998年底，IE终于击败了网景，其后网景公司又被美国在线（AOL）收购。

从此，IE开始数年之内统领并主宰整个浏览器市场。由于Windows系统的主宰地位和竞争对手的匮乏，IE的市场份额节节攀升。根据OneStat.com的数据显示，到2002年4月份，IE的市场份额高达96.6%；当然，那时候已经是IE 6的天下了。

被侵蚀的市场份额

2001年8月，IE 6问世；2005年7月，微软推出了IE 7的第一个预览版本。中间有四年的时间，虽然微软为IE 6推出了过升级补丁，但是在互联网飞速发展的时代里，一款如此重要的网络产品竟然4年没有迭代更新，这似乎就注定了IE要在这四年之内达到盛极而衰的状态。一个简单的证据是：曾经在2002年达到顶峰的IE，在2004年开始出现明显的市场份额下滑；甚至到2004年11月，已经跌破了90%。

究其原因，除了占据统治地位的IE成为众多恶意攻击首当其冲的对象之外，IE自身的安全性也面临诸多问题，并因此受到人们的质疑。于此同时，基于开源程序并在多方面得到改进的Firefox却开始崭露头角，并逐步侵蚀IE的市场份额。讽刺的是，Firefox却与已经成为历史的网景有着某种“血缘关系”——Firefox所基于的开源程序正是从被收购之前的网景公司所开放的程序源代码发展而来。当然，除了Firefox，还有Safari和Opera等浏览器的潜在威胁。

2005年2月15日，比尔·盖茨终于宣布将会推出新版本的浏览器，并说明原因是IE的市场占有率逐渐被Firefox侵蚀。只不过当2006年1月IE 7第一个众测版本发布的时候，IE的市场份额已经跌倒了85.62%，而Firefox的市场份额已经增长到了11.23%。在此消彼长的发展态势背后，实际上是IE作为落后的垄断者在舆论上的失势和整个行业对于后进者Firefox的鼓励。福布斯称Firefox为“2004年最佳浏览器”，杂志《PC World》也将Firefox列入到“2005年最佳百大产品”。

Firefox对IE市场份额的侵蚀一直在持续中，但由于IE强大的用户体量和其在网页标准上的强势等因素，Firefox的侵蚀并没有达到颠覆性的效果。到了2008年，IE的市场份额跌破80%，Firefox则停留在15%到20%之间。

然而，无论是IE还是Firefox，它们都没有预料到自己将会在浏览器市场面临另外一个强大的对手——Google Chrome。

浏览器领域的“三国杀”

起初在Google内部，浏览器的开发是被当时的Google CEO施密特反对的，但他最终听从了两位创始人的建议。于是就在2008年9月，Chrome浏览器开始公测，在100多个国家开放下载。

当时，IE 8 Beta 2版本刚刚发布几天，Firefox 3.0也已经发布近3个月，而且后者发布时还在下载量方面获得了世界吉尼斯纪录。总之，与二者的体量相比，Chrome还只是一个婴儿；它当然有可能长大，但也有可能夭折。

但是，站在今天来看，Chrome几乎可以说是重新发明了浏览器；当下网页浏览器的许多人性化功能几乎都来自于Chrome。比如说标签栏置顶，将搜索栏和地址栏合二为一，高度简约的界面设计，面向开发者的扩展程序商店，书签可以通过Google账号在云端同步……这一系列功能的出现划时代地提升了人们的网页浏览体验。

而且更为重要的是，在保持数月个更新的迭代速度的同时，Google还设计出一种极为有效的开发模式，将Chrome分为稳定版和开发版，前者用来满足普通用户，后者方便开发者进行功能更新和测试，从而满足不同类型用户的需求。

因此，在Google深厚的互联网基因和强大的技术背景的支撑下，Chrome大受欢迎，尤其是对于喜欢追求新技术的开发者而言。2010年底，Chrome在推出两年多之后夺取了10%的市场份额。与此同时，IE的市场份额继续下跌，低于60%，而Firefox则维持在20%左右。整个浏览器市场初步形成了由IE、Firefox和Chrome“三分天下”的局面。

当然IE并非没有努力，在IE 8正式版和IE 9的更新中，微软也的确十分努力地改进浏览器的使用体验，在很多方面也向竞争对手尤其是Google的Chrome学习，但是IE的积弊使其很难在前进的步伐上显得迟缓而无力，而Chrome就像是一个年轻的跑步健将，没有什么包袱，只是在快速前行。

至于胜负，用户才是真正的裁判。

移动大潮下的IE

从2010年底到2016年初的5年时间里，IE和Chrome的发展曲线依然延续了之前的情况，IE的市场份额继续稳步下降，而Chrome则是在原有的基础之上稳步提升；至于Firefox，则是在10%和20%之间徘徊，近来又呈现出下降的趋势。根据Net Applications的数据显示，在2015年12月全球浏览器市场上，霸主IE份额跌至48.57%；Chrome份额持续上涨，已经达到了32.33%；而Firefox已经下降到了为12.13%。

很难具体阐明这五年时间里，移动互联网大潮究竟在何种程度上影响了网页浏览器市场的发展。但是微软在这场大潮中的严重缺位，却实实在在地造成了IE只能在桌面浏览器市场处于孤立无援的被动状态。与之形成鲜明对比的是，Google的Chrome却继续凭借跨越桌面、平板和智能手机等多终端的统一体验吸引着更多的用户。

2013年发布的IE 11也很优秀，但却是那么无助；它只能蜷缩于桌面的一角，眼睁睁地看着人们在智能手机上用Chrome打开网页。

另外一点值得反思的是IE和Windows的关系。当初正是凭借这种关系，IE才能够迅速达到“从0到1”的颠覆性局面；即使中间多次遭到人们的质疑和来自政府机构的反垄断措施，但都无损于IE在早期的统治性地位。但是在最近5年内，由于Windows在移动互联网大潮的刺激下的转型失败，IE也随之而遭到了冷遇；而就当微软试图通过Windows 10来实现自我变革的时候，它却已经决定用Microsoft Edge来彻底取代IE。

也就是说，当初与Windows之间的“一荣俱荣，一损俱损”的关联状态已经一去不复返了；它没能与Windows一起涅槃重生，落寞地沦为微软的弃子。

也许在微软那里，Windows操作系统才是最最重要的东西，因为目前这世界上没有任何一个替代者。而颠覆本身只能出现在可被取代的那些事物上，比如说IE，比如说曾经是手机代名词的诺基亚。

然而即使失败，即使被放弃，乃至于即使最终逝去，我们依然可以说：IE是伟大的。