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Encarta

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description Encarta Overview

Encarta was a digital multimedia encyclopedia published by Microsoft, launched in 1993 on CD-ROM and later made available on DVD and through an online subscription service. It included articles, images, audio and video clips, interactive maps, and a world atlas, and was published in multiple languages including English, German, French, Spanish, and Japanese. Encarta competed with established print encyclopedias such as Encyclopædia Britannica by offering lower-cost, frequently updated digital content. Microsoft discontinued Encarta in 2009, citing changes in the digital reference market.

help Encarta FAQ

When did Microsoft release the Encarta encyclopedia?

Microsoft launched Encarta in 1993, initially releasing it on CD-ROM as a digital multimedia encyclopedia. It was an ambitious project designed to bring comprehensive reference materials to personal computers. Over the years, it expanded to include DVD formats and an online subscription service.

Why was Microsoft Encarta discontinued?

Microsoft announced the discontinuation of Encarta in 2009, largely due to the dominance of free, web-based encyclopedias like Wikipedia. The rise of collaborative, constantly updated internet platforms made the traditional, subscription-based CD-ROM model obsolete. By October 2009, Microsoft had shut down all Encarta websites and ceased sales of the software.

What kind of multimedia features did Encarta offer?

Encarta was revolutionary for its time because it included far more than just text articles. It featured thousands of photographs, illustrations, audio clips, and video files, alongside interactive maps and a world atlas. The software also included interactive timelines and educational games, making it highly engaging for students.

Did Microsoft Encarta include a dictionary and thesaurus?

Yes, in addition to the main encyclopedia, Encarta bundled several other reference tools, including the Encarta World English Dictionary. This dictionary was originally based on a dictionary published by Bloomsbury Publishing and was edited by renowned lexicographer Kathy Rooney. Later versions also included a book of quotations, an atlas, and foreign language translation tools.

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