Memphis & IE 4.0
(Что ждать от Memphis Beta 2)

Steve Rigney

According to Microsoft, beta 1 of Memphis is nearly feature-complete. The three components that didn't make it into beta 1 are expected in beta 2: all of the Broadcast Services and elements of the Internet Explorer Suite, the FrontPad page editor, and the NetShow streaming multimedia player. The multiple-monitor feature will also support up to eight monitors in beta 2.

Microsoft is looking to turn your PC into a TV with its array of support for broadcast services. The Broadcast Services include two components: the TV Viewer and TV Tuner. While the TV Viewer is included in this beta, it is missing some of its planned functionality. The current version lets you only connect to a Web site, enter your ZIP code, and, if your cable company participates, view a listing of the shows playing on TV. The shipping version of the TV Viewer will let you watch videos in a window on your desktop. An enhanced TV utility will also enable you to view additional information about the video and even interact with the programming.

The TV Tuner utility will let you install an analog, cable TV, or satellite card in your PC to accept multicast information from a provider. This push technology will let you view sports scores and other information over the same medium that you use to watch TV. Note that this feature requires a special tuner adapter in your PC, and your local cable operator, satellite service, or TV station must offer multicast IP services.

FrontPad and NetShow are elements of the Internet Explorer Suite. Although the IE 4.0 browser in Memphis beta 1 is the same as the one in beta 2 of the IE 4.0 Suite, not all the additional utilities bundled in the IE 4.0 Suite made it into the beta 1 build of Memphis. Both FrontPad and NetShow will be included in the shipping version of IE 4.0 and will be integrated into beta 2 of Memphis. If you are running beta 1 of Memphis and you want FrontPad and NetShow, you can install beta 2 of IE 4.0 on top of Memphis to get these additional utilities.