Windows Nashville Explained

Nashville (Windows 96)
Version Of:	Windows 9x
Developer:	Microsoft
Source Model:	Closed source
License:	Commercial software
Kernel Type:	Windows 9x
Preview Version:	4.10.999
Preview Date:	1996
Support Status:	Cancelled in 1996
Working State:	Historic, never released
Preceded By:	Windows 95 (1995)
Succeeded By:	Windows 98 (1998)
Date:	July 2013

Nashville (previously Cleveland),^[1] popularly known as Windows 96 by contemporary press, was the codename for a cancelled release of Microsoft Windows scheduled to be released in 1996,^[2] between "Chicago" (Windows 95) and "Memphis" (Windows 98, at the time scheduled for release in 1996,^[3] later 1997).^[4] Nashville was intended to be a minor release^[5] focusing on a tighter integration between Windows and Internet Explorer, in order to better compete with Netscape Navigator.^[6]

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).^[7] 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 web pages directly on the desktop in place of the regular static wallpaper.

A leaked build had version number 4.10.999 (in comparison to Windows 95's 4.00.950, Windows 95 OSR2's 4.00.1111, Windows 98's 4.10.1998, Windows 98 Second Edition's 4.10.2222 A, and Windows ME's 4.90.3000). The project was eventually cancelled as a full release of Windows, with Windows 95 OSR2 being shipped as an interim release instead. The codename "Nashville" was then reused for the Windows Desktop Update that shipped with Internet Explorer 4.0^[8] and delivered most of the features promised for Nashville. The Athena PIM application would be released as Microsoft Internet Mail and News in 1996 along with IE3, which would later be renamed to Outlook Express in 1997 with IE4.

See also

• List of Microsoft codenames

Notes

1. Comes v. Microsoft 3208
2. Comes v. Microsoft 5648
3. Comes v. Microsoft 2013
4. Web site: Bauduin. Sven. C:\B_retro\Ausgabe_86\: Das Windows, das nie erscheinen sollte. 2021-08-07. ComputerBase. 27 June 2021 . de.
5. Comes v. Microsoft 2247
6. Comes v. Microsoft 5735
7. Web site: GUIdebook > Articles > "Beyond Windows 95". 2021-08-23. guidebookgallery.org.
8. Comes v. Microsoft 2667

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: (March 10, 1997)

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

• Windows Nashville (build 999) on the Internet Archive