[Intro]
Back in 1994, when the revolutionary Windows 95 in terms of interface was only in the process of development, Microsoft announced the Microsoft Plus! Package, which made it possible to improve the appearance of the system with various add-ons and added several games.
Add-ons from Microsoft Plus! usually developed by Microsoft itself.
Later, various versions of Plus! also included games and content from third parties such as Plus! for Windows XP, for example: HyperBowl game was developed by Hyper Entertainment company. So, in this video we are going to take a look at the Microsoft Plus package! and see how it developed.
After the package was announced, a year later, the first release version of Microsoft Plus! went on sale along with Windows 95 on August 24, 1995.
This add-on cost only 50 bucks
It was not sold in the post-soviet space.
This package included the game Pinball, which was borrowed from Windows NT 4.0
For the first time, the Internet Explorer browser appeared, which in Windows 95 OSR2 will already be built into the system
Disk space compression utility "DriveSpace 3"
The first versions of various desktop themes in the amount of 12 pieces
The "Task Scheduler" has appeared, which in Windows 95 had a different name - System Agent
Also, after installing this package, the boot screen of the system changed and some new settings for the desktop appeared.
It was possible to install anti-aliased fonts, enable smooth movement of windows, expand or center the background image to fit the entire desktop, new voluminous and colorful system icons appeared.
Two years after the release of the first version, in 1997 a special version for school children from 3 to 12 years old was released - Microsoft Plus! for Kids.
This package does not bring anything special to the system.
New desktop themes
Talk It! Application, which essentially serves as a speech synthesis
Electronic keyboard with music and sound effects Play It!
Adapted from the original Paint called Paint It!
And there was also a similarity of parental control called Protect It! Program allowed you to configure permissions for a specific user to perform any actions or launch certain programs
On April 29, 1998, Microsoft announced a new add-on package for Windows - Microsoft Plus! 98.
Among the innovations, we can note the appearance in the bundle of trial anti-virus protection from McAfee
The emergence of its "photoshop" Picture It! Express, with which you can superficially edit various photos and remove red-eye effect
New utility "Disk Cleanup"
The ability to view ZIP archives using Explorer which was called as "Compressed Folders"
There are also new themes and games like Solitaire and Golf
As you can see, programs from third-party manufacturers have appeared in the bundle this version of the package, even some desktop themes have, so to speak, advertisements for a company like Corbis Photography or an cartoon series like Garfield.
My favorite desktop theme is Geometry, the sound scheme alone is amazing :)
This version of the package, with a price of $45, went on sale on June 25, 1998, along with the release of Windows 98.
Also, in addition to the version of packages with a huge number of add-ons, there was a version of the package that only contained games
Arcades, 12 versions of card games, 10 game puzzles from the Microsoft Entertainment Pack and other.
This version was released on September 14, 2000, along with the release of Windows ME, which was recognized as one of the worst products of all time by PC World magazine.
The next version of the Plus package was released on October 25, 2001, as you can already understand, with the release of Windows XP.
That is, each new version of Windows was accompanied by the Microsoft Plus!, which could be purchased along with the boxed version of Windows for a small price.
This version of the package, in comparison with other past versions, already contained little interesting things
4 themes, 8 screensavers, various add-ons to Windows Media Player such as visualizations, skins and support for voice commands; CD creation software and several games.
This package mostly showed the advantages of DirectX 3D technology and the new Windows Media Player.
This a the first version of Plus!, to require online activation.
This version was sold under the name "The Ultimate Companion for Windows XP" with a price of $40
In 2003, after the release of Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft release update of this package called Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Center Edition, or "The Ultimate Photo, Music, and Movie Enhancement Pack for Windows XP", which was already focused only on multimedia programs such as editing and creating photos, videos and audio, and no traditional components such as themes, screensavers and backgrounds no longer contained.
And on October 19, 2004, Microsoft did not want to invent and create something new.
Simply put Microsoft Plus! XP and Digital Media Center Edition united in one package and Microsoft announced that this is the latest version of the Plus package! and the project is closed in favor of Windows Ultimate Extras.
And all the developments and functions from Plus! will move to the new, still in development, Windows Vista operating system.
Here's a story. By the way, Windows Ultimate Extras will also close two years after the release of Windows Vista.
In the latest versions, these add-ons no longer enjoyed any popularity and demand.
Microsoft realized this and decided not to make such add-on packages for systems anymore. And in 2009, Windows 7 comes out without any additions like Plus! or Ultimate Extras.
That's all. If you liked the video, leave a like it and subscribe to the channel. Daniel was with you, see you soon!