Say goodbye to IE

[Megaman]

Exactly what we need, a new browser.

It appears Microsoft has now confirmed long running rumours that it will ditch the browser for its successor, which has been codenamed Project Spartan.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/on...-1227267589335

[Lupine]

Just Microsoft killing off one of their best known brand names. Its what they do best, apparently.

[CurrentlyPissed]

On one hand, for the younger crowd it makes sense. Something fresh, new, spiffy to draw people back away from Chrome/Firefox/Opera. Something to go more in-sync with Cortana maybe?

I'd imagine it's to get rid of the IE is full of virus' stigma.

But the older side of things >40 years of age this is probably going to confuse, annoy, and cost them.

[Lazy8s]

Isn't Spartan already available in the 10 preview?

[0091/2]

Just Microsoft killing off one of their best known brand names. Its what they do best, apparently.

Today IE wasn't really known for great things. They're trying distant themselves from it. IE is only good for downloading another browser. That should change.

[Lupine]

I know - its a good change. While mindshare is important, the IE brand certainly carries with it a lot of negative baggage. And, since Spartan will still be bundled with the OS, the move probably isn't going to hurt much.

That said, its always interesting to watch Microsoft cycle through their brands at hyper speed ...

MSN Hotmail - Windows Live Mail - Windows Live Hotmail - Outlook.com
MSN Messenger - Windows Live Messenger - Skype
Windows Live Folders - Windows Live SkyDrive - SkyDrive - OneDrive
Microsoft Internet Explorer - Windows Internet Explorer - Internet Explorer - Spartan

Companies spend time and money developing brand recognition, so its always interesting to see companies starting from scratch periodically.

[daPhoenix]

IE still has one amazingly horrible feature; the Metro version doesn't support plugins. Wonder if Spartan will fix this.. 'feature'.

Trying to implement an ad blocker without using 3rd party tools (such as a proxy adblock) is pretty hopeless, the blocklists you can use in the Metro version don't really work all that well.

[t3hl33td4rg0n]

Isn't Spartan already available in the 10 preview?

Nope. Still has IE. When it's beta, it should be available. It will probably be removed when its RTM.

IE will still be available, but as a separate download. Can't imagine why anyone would want to except businesses so they can keep using their ActiveX crap and shoddy front-ends.... And old people.

[Lazy8s]

Nope. Still has IE. When it's beta, it should be available. It will probably be removed when its RTM.

IE will still be available, but as a separate download. Can't imagine why anyone would want to except businesses so they can keep using their ActiveX crap and shoddy front-ends.... And old people.

Ah gotcha - I had to look up what I read, and it's the rendering engine that can be toggled on IE.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2875279/how-to-enable-the-spartan-browsers-speedy-new-edge-engine-in-windows-10-today.html

Microsoft’s new Project Spartan browser (pictured above) isn’t available just yet, but Windows Insiders can already reap some of the benefits through Internet Explorer.

In the latest Windows 10 Technical Preview build, users can toggle a hidden flag in Internet Explorer to enable Spartan’s new Edge rendering engine. Though it’s still experimental—and is mainly aimed at developers—it should bring significant performance improvements over IE11’s existing engine.

To enable the new engine, just type “about:flags” in IE11’s address bar, select “Enabled” under “Enable Experimental Web Platform Features,” and restart the browser. Enabling the "Custom User Agent" option will trick sites that nerf IE specifically into using the Spartan Edge rendering engine.

[HAL10000]

Today IE wasn't really known for great things. They're trying distant themselves from it. IE is only good for downloading another browser. That should change.

Indeed.

[Sazar]

Isn't Spartan already available in the 10 preview?

No, not the one that has been publically released. There is another build which has it but not the latest one we have on our systems

Unless it's in the code and I haven't looked

[Lazy8s]

No, not the one that has been publically released. There is another build which has it but not the latest one we have on our systems

Unless it's in the code and I haven't looked

See posts 8 & 9

[Greasy]

MS has stated that it should be included in the new insider build. It wasn't ready for build 10041 that just came out this week.

[Lazy8s]

MS has stated that it should be included in the new insider build. It wasn't ready for build 10041 that just came out this week.

I just hope it rolls out fully featured, stable and ready to use.

[Silent-Runner]

it's been so many years since i used ie the last time i really dunno how it looks nowadays, so no real loss for me. on a sidenote, still not a big fan of the look of spartan.

[gamefoo21]

it's been so many years since i used ie the last time i really dunno how it looks nowadays, so no real loss for me. on a sidenote, still not a big fan of the look of spartan.

IE has come a very long ways from the old days. The problem lays with backwards compatibility, they can't move the rendering engine too far, without breaking all sorts of old and or shitty coded corporate websites.

I know people who still use FrontPage, because there is no way for them to migrate to something newer.

[Hyrax]

I used to use this CAD software called NX 3 (by Unigraphics). I updated to IE7. It broke the program. I needed to backtrack back to IE6. Those were the days. So I am sure IE will still be around in one form or another.

I always avoided IE because using it was like getting a BJ from a $5 hooker. Sure it is easy, convenient and gets the job the done. But afterwards you are usually left with a nasty surprise.

[KAC]

Still use IE. Will be difficult to change this shizzle ma nizzle.

[Galmok]

IE11 64 bit still has the javascript engine that supports the most memory usage. No other browser offer to use the available memory for javascript. So in this aspect, IE11 is the best of the best.

[t3hl33td4rg0n]

It looks like yet another minimalist abortion like Chrome. Is it too much to ask for a browser with the customization of Firefox and the speed/support for newer tech of Chrome? I really hope I am wrong about Spartan but even IE11 has more options out of the box compared to Chrome so I REALLY hope they don't try to copy Google with their crap on this.

What functionality/customization options are you looking for, exactly. I'm curious.

[dmanna]

The Spartan browser is still buggy, all of your favorite web sites along the top of the browser are half way covered up by the over all web page. Before they put away IE which I don't have a problem with personally, as long as you don't get any weird add ons that crash your browser IE ask.com or something like that.. , I use both chrome and IE. Spartan is still broken. So far I don't see the point and it seems kind of weird that MS is pushing the Halo universe so hard on there windows platform. Might seem sort of tacky to some people, then again the people who would think that, would probably have no idea where the names even originate from.

[t3hl33td4rg0n]

Project Spartan now has a name.....

Microsoft Edge


I like the name

[Lazy8s]

I finally got to spend some time with Spartan. I liked the general feel of it, but even if it weren't a bit buggy I wouldn't use it for my primary browser. until more features and configuration options are worked in anyway.

[t3hl33td4rg0n]

I don't think I will use it either. This day in age, browsers need extensions/add-ons in my book.

[Lazy8s]

I don't think I will use it either. This day in age, browsers need extensions/add-ons in my book.

My thoughts as well. I'm hoping MS shows that they realize this before the final product is out in force...

[@md_Guy]

I don't think I will use it either. This day in age, browsers need extensions/add-ons in my book.

My thoughts as well. I'm hoping MS shows that they realize this before the final product is out in force...

That is true.. except in the corporate world (banking, finance, healthcare etc), nearly all of which rely on IE 8-9. Most all of which are in for a big surprise in 7 months when MS stops support for anything earlier than IE10.

[Lazy8s]

That is true.. except in the corporate world (banking, finance, healthcare etc), nearly all of which rely on IE 8-9. Most all of which are in for a big surprise in 7 months when MS stops support for anything earlier than IE10.

That's a good point. I'm keeping an open mind about it myself. They're brought IE into the present day in a reasonably nice package, so hopefully a fully featured Spartan won't disappoint.

[Lupine]

Project Spartan now has a name.....

Microsoft Edge


I like the name

I don't. Another "E" browser, with a similar logo to Explorer. More differentiation would have been nice.

[Progression]

I don't. Another "E" browser, with a similar logo to Explorer. More differentiation would have been nice.

The logo being so similar has to be on purpose, come on!? I thought 50% of the idea of making a new browser was leaving behind the IE brand and lack of consumer trust.

[nutcrackr]

IE11 is decent enough, but I cannot see myself switching from Firefox anytime soon.

[GTwannabe]

I don't think I will use it either. This day in age, browsers need extensions/add-ons in my book.

IE users are usually too computer illiterate to be trusted with browser extensions/add-ons.

[Voithi]

So it's basically the same thing just different name. May as well just kept the name as all we see is an update

[Belcher]

I don't know why shall people not like the IE as it is much compatible and safe browser so far i have tested with my browsing. Other browsers somehow sometime shall do crash or create a problem but with this browser i have never found any issues.

[Cyko]

I don't know why shall people not like the IE as it is much compatible and safe browser so far i have tested with my browsing. Other browsers somehow sometime shall do crash or create a problem but with this browser i have never found any issues.

GTFO

[Ford Freak]

Personally, I can't stand any of the new browsers. I don't care for Firefox. Chrome uses too much RAM and will usually won't load GIFs unless I restart the computer every few days. IE isn't customizable. I'd probably use IE if they still had the "favorites" button located on the left side where it should belong. It was very easy to add and access your favorites when it was there. I tried IE 11 for a few months. Even after that amount of time I still tried moving the cursor to the left to access it. It was aggravating.