Report: Microsoft May Launch a New Browser Along With Windows 10
According to unconfirmed reports, Microsoft might have finally given up on Internet Explorer. It seems that Windows 10 won't come with an overhauled version of IE but instead will bring a completely new browser codenamed Spartan. The rumor originated from a Microsoft Student Partner named Thomas Nigro who is also the lead and developer of the modern version of VLC.
Since there are a whole lot of people who are still using Internet Explorer and many websites that only work on the aforementioned browser, IE 11 will still be a part of Windows 10, but the company's focus may shift towards Spartan. As far as speculations go, this new web browser will be lighter and more flexible than its predecessor. Furthermore, this new product may also be the IT giant's way of taking down Internet Explorer's legacy.
If you're into technical details, it seems that Spartan will use the Chakra JavaScript engine and Trident rendering engine, so it will still rely on Microsoft technology instead of going with WebKit. However, reports say that it will look and feel a lot more like Chrome and Firefox than Internet Explorer. Moreover, Spartan will be available on multiple platforms so it will work on your desktop computers, laptops as well as all your mobile devices (phones / tablets) that are equipped with Windows 10.
From a personal standpoint, this rumor surprised but also gladdened me. As far as I know, Internet Explorer is still the most popular browser in the world so I didn't expect Microsoft to take any kind of risks when it came to it. However, after so many failed (more or less) versions of IE, the brand may be beyond saving, so coming up with a whole new product is exactly what the Redmond-based company needed to do.