- From: Charles (Chuck) Oppermann <chuckop@MICROSOFT.com>
- Date: Tue, 2 Dec 1997 18:23:15 -0800
- To: "Charles (Chuck) Oppermann" <chuckop@MICROSOFT.com>
Microsoft is proud to announce the release of Internet Explorer 4.01! This release of Internet Explorer adds full support for Microsoft Active Accessibility(tm) and fixes many accessibility-related problems with the initial release of Internet Explorer 4.0. Microsoft has made this new release available on our web site, http://microsoft.com/ie/. Internet Explorer 4.01 replaces version 4.0 that has been available since September 30. The CD-ROM version will be updated as well. In addition to the already existing support for user authored style sheets, control over font color, size and type and the many accessibility features introduced with Internet Explorer 3.0 last year, Internet Explorer 4.01 adds the following: * Full support for Microsoft Active Accessibility, including the HTML document area, the Active Desktop, and new "Menu bands" * Active Desktop is keyboard accessible and the Microsoft Channel Bar includes keyboard access and MSAA support * The new HTML help system is accessible via the keyboard * Full-screen mode can be toggled with the F11 key to provide access to the menu band. * System Caret position updated when a screen reader is present or through an advanced option setting * ALT attribute information can be fully expanded when running a screen reader or through an advanced option setting and ALT attribute text is shown using the correct text colors, including link color * Advanced Options dialog now show "On" or "Off" when running a screen reader * High Contrast settings are now compatible with Internet Explorer 3.0 This release of Internet Explorer includes full support for Microsoft Active Accessibility. This support was planned for the 4.0 release, but was delayed due to quality and technical issues. Microsoft apologizes for the delay in fully supporting Active Accessibility in such an important product. The Active Accessibility support in Internet Explorer 4.01 is more complete that what was available with Internet Explorer 3.0. More information is available about the HTML document and new features of the HTML 4.0 specification are now exposed such as the LABEL and TITLE attributes. Included in the Internet Explorer 4.01 package is the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (VM) which includes full support for Microsoft Active Accessibility and the new Active Accessibility for Java. Internet Explorer 4.01 requires Microsoft Active Accessibility version 1.1. The Active Accessibility Redistribution Kit (RDK) is available from the Microsoft Accessibility and Disabilities FTP site at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/mscorp/enable/msaardk.exe or from your accessibility aid vendor. Your accessibility aid might also need to be updated to support the new features present in Internet Explorer 4.01. Please contact your vendor for details. There is a comprehensive Reference Guide to using Internet Explorer 4.01 by people with disabilities. You can download an electronic copy from our web site at http://microsoft.com/enable/products/ie4.htm. For more information on Internet Explorer 4.01, please go to http://microsoft.com/ie/. For a description of 4.01 accessibility features, go to http://microsoft.com/ie/ie40/features/?/ie/ie40/features/ie-acsbl.htm. For the official press release on Internet Explorer 4.01, read http://microsoft.com/corpinfo/press/1997/Dec97/IE401Pr.htm. To download Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, go to http://microsoft.com/ie/ie40/download/win95.htm. Microsoft is committed to making our products and services usable by everyone. Please help us accomplish that goal by sending us any comments on this or any other Microsoft product. You can write us at enable@microsoft.com or for more technical questions, abletech@microsoft.com. On behalf of the Microsoft Internet Explorer team and the Accessibility and Disabilities group, we hope you will enjoy Internet Explorer 4.01, the most accessible graphical web browser available! This message is being sent to several different email lists and to many individuals. Please do not cross-post without checking to see if the message has not already been copied. Charles Oppermann Program Manager, Active Accessibility, Microsoft Corporation mailto:chuckop@microsoft.com http://microsoft.com/enable/ "A computer on every desk and in every home, usable by everyone!"
Received on Tuesday, 2 December 1997 21:23:48 UTC