User:SKCro/Articles/Web Home: Difference between revisions

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The home page has differed in layout over the years, mainly undergoing changes during the years of 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.
The home page has differed in layout over the years, mainly undergoing changes during the years of 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.


== History ==
= History =
The Web Home page underwent several design changes over the years.
The Web Home page underwent several design changes over the years.


=== Early 1996 ===
== Early 1996 ==
[[File:Web_Home_Prealpha.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa early 1996. Taken from HackTV.]]
[[File:Web_Home_Prealpha.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa early 1996. Taken from HackTV.]]
The initial design had a more blocky layout, with 6 side buttons and a large promo image in the center, along with the WebTV logo embossed at the top. It contained links to Favorites, Directory (later Explore), Search, Mail, Setup, and Instructions (later Help).
The initial design had a more blocky layout, with 6 side buttons and a large promo image in the center, along with the WebTV logo embossed at the top. It contained links to Favorites, Directory (later Explore), Search, Mail, Setup, and Instructions (later Help).
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


=== Mid 1996? ===
== Mid 1996? ==
[[File:Web_Home_Prealpha_Alternate.png|thumb|160px|A recreation of the prealpha page by [[User:SKCro|SKCro]].]]
[[File:Web_Home_Prealpha_Alternate.png|thumb|160px|A recreation of the prealpha page by [[User:SKCro|SKCro]].]]
An alternate design for the home page that seems to be from mid-1996. This one has the precursor to the top bar design used on later pages up until 2001.
An alternate design for the home page that seems to be from mid-1996. This one has the precursor to the top bar design used on later pages up until 2001.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


=== Late 1996 ===
== Late 1996 ==
[[File:Web_Home_96.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa late 1996.]]
[[File:Web_Home_96.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa late 1996.]]
This is the first public version of the Web Home page. It features a sidebar with links to Setup and Instructions (later Using WebTV), as well as a top bar with Mail, Favorites, Explore, and Search. The center of the page contains promotional content.
This is the first public version of the Web Home page. It features a sidebar with links to Setup and Instructions (later Using WebTV), as well as a top bar with Mail, Favorites, Explore, and Search. The center of the page contains promotional content.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


=== 1997 ===
== 1997 ==
[[File:Web_Home_97.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa 1997. Image from Matt's site.]]
[[File:Web_Home_97.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa 1997. Image from Matt's site.]]
Nearly identical to the Late '96 Home page, with the addition of an "Update Available!" button for users on out-of-date versions of the software and some links at the bottom.
Nearly identical to the Late '96 Home page, with the addition of an "Update Available!" button for users on out-of-date versions of the software and some links at the bottom.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


=== 1998 ===
== 1998 ==
[[File:Web_Home_98.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa 1998. Image from Matt's site.]]
[[File:Web_Home_98.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa 1998. Image from Matt's site.]]
A minor update to the previous design, with the addition of more sidebar links and an Around Town bar below the top bar.
A minor update to the previous design, with the addition of more sidebar links and an Around Town bar below the top bar.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


=== 1999 ===
== 1999 ==
[[File:Web_Home_Redialed.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa 1999. Taken from WebTV Redialed.]]
[[File:Web_Home_Redialed.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa 1999. Taken from WebTV Redialed.]]
A major overhaul of the Web Home page, removing the sidebar and adding WebTV Today (replacing My WebTV). The center of the page is divided into two sections: one for a WebTV Today container that rotates between WebTV Today, news, weather, stocks, etc, and one for advertisements. This update also removed Explore in favor of Centers and renamed Using WebTV to Help.
A major overhaul of the Web Home page, removing the sidebar and adding WebTV Today (replacing My WebTV). The center of the page is divided into two sections: one for a WebTV Today container that rotates between WebTV Today, news, weather, stocks, etc, and one for advertisements. This update also removed Explore in favor of Centers and renamed Using WebTV to Help.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


=== 2000 ===
== 2000 ==
[[File:Web_Home_00.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa 2000. Image from Matt's site.]]
[[File:Web_Home_00.png|thumb|160px|The Web Home page, circa 2000. Image from Matt's site.]]
A minor update to the previous design, adding a messenger button to the top bar (but slightly squishing the WebTV logo as a result). This update also added more centers to the bottom of the page.
A minor update to the previous design, adding a messenger button to the top bar (but slightly squishing the WebTV logo as a result). This update also added more centers to the bottom of the page.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


=== 2001 ===
== 2001 ==
[[File:Web_Home_MSN.png|thumb|160px]]
[[File:Web_Home_MSN.png|thumb|160px]]
Another major overhaul of the Web Home page, reflecting the rebrand to MSN TV. The new layout has a design reflecting MSN Explorer. The top has links to email, search, favorites, and Chat. The side has links to popular areas and centers. The main section has a "Today on MSN" section, showing news stories, as well as weather and an ad.
Another major overhaul of the Web Home page, reflecting the rebrand to MSN TV. The new layout has a design reflecting MSN Explorer. The top has links to email, search, favorites, and Chat. The side has links to popular areas and centers. The main section has a "Today on MSN" section, showing news stories, as well as weather and an ad.
<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>


== a ==
== a ==

Revision as of 21:50, 16 November 2023

The Web Home page, circa 1999. Taken from WebTV Redialed.

Web Home, occasionally referred to as Web World, is the main home page of the WebTV service. It contains links to other WebTV services, such as Mail, Favorites, Community, and Search.

The home page has differed in layout over the years, mainly undergoing changes during the years of 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.

History

The Web Home page underwent several design changes over the years.

Early 1996

The Web Home page, circa early 1996. Taken from HackTV.

The initial design had a more blocky layout, with 6 side buttons and a large promo image in the center, along with the WebTV logo embossed at the top. It contained links to Favorites, Directory (later Explore), Search, Mail, Setup, and Instructions (later Help).






Mid 1996?

A recreation of the prealpha page by SKCro.

An alternate design for the home page that seems to be from mid-1996. This one has the precursor to the top bar design used on later pages up until 2001.






Late 1996

File:Web Home 96.png
The Web Home page, circa late 1996.

This is the first public version of the Web Home page. It features a sidebar with links to Setup and Instructions (later Using WebTV), as well as a top bar with Mail, Favorites, Explore, and Search. The center of the page contains promotional content.






1997

File:Web Home 97.png
The Web Home page, circa 1997. Image from Matt's site.

Nearly identical to the Late '96 Home page, with the addition of an "Update Available!" button for users on out-of-date versions of the software and some links at the bottom.






1998

File:Web Home 98.png
The Web Home page, circa 1998. Image from Matt's site.

A minor update to the previous design, with the addition of more sidebar links and an Around Town bar below the top bar.






1999

The Web Home page, circa 1999. Taken from WebTV Redialed.

A major overhaul of the Web Home page, removing the sidebar and adding WebTV Today (replacing My WebTV). The center of the page is divided into two sections: one for a WebTV Today container that rotates between WebTV Today, news, weather, stocks, etc, and one for advertisements. This update also removed Explore in favor of Centers and renamed Using WebTV to Help.






2000

File:Web Home 00.png
The Web Home page, circa 2000. Image from Matt's site.

A minor update to the previous design, adding a messenger button to the top bar (but slightly squishing the WebTV logo as a result). This update also added more centers to the bottom of the page.






2001

Another major overhaul of the Web Home page, reflecting the rebrand to MSN TV. The new layout has a design reflecting MSN Explorer. The top has links to email, search, favorites, and Chat. The side has links to popular areas and centers. The main section has a "Today on MSN" section, showing news stories, as well as weather and an ad.






a

placeholder stuff

Gallery