Microsoft will soon be introducing a new web browser. It is to be called Spartan and shall be launched soon along with several consumer features of the Windows 10.
The Redmond-based company says that Spartan is not meant to replace its Internet Explorer, which once held sway as the king of web browsers before Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome dislodged it from its lofty spot.
The Hindustan Times reports that the new Microsoft web browser will not be putting the Internet Explorer to the backburner but will serve as a more lightweight and user-friendly alternative.
In attribution of the strength of its competitor browsers, the Spartan is reportedly similar to Chrome and Firefox. It’s initial advantage thus far, just like the Internet Explorer was, is that it is built in to the Windows 10, Microsoft’s upcoming and latest desktop operating system.
The browser would soon be available on PCs and other mobile devices that would be running on Windows 10. It will bank heavily on the Chakra JavaScript engine and the Trident rendering engine, which are Microsoft’s in-house tech support.
IE would be phased out?
While no pronouncements have been made by Microsoft about it, the Times of India reported that the American software company is indeed planning to phase out the Internet Explorer once the Spartan officially takes off.
Both the reports of Hindustan Times and the Times of India may be correct as there is notion that Microsoft will be launching the Spartan as an alternative to Internet Explorer. Once the new browser is already up and about, and is starting to gain headway on Chrome and Firefox, Microsoft will eventually pull the plug on Internet Explorer.
Microsoft just wanted to make sure that users know first that Spartan is different from Internet Explorer. Phasing out the Internet Explorer and subsequently launching the Spartan would give some of the techno-weenies the idea that Microsoft may have simply changed the name of the browser but it may be the same banana.
But maintaining both browsers at the same time would give consumers the opportunity to compare and eventually know that Spartan is several notches better than Internet Explorer.
Spartan marches onto possible launching
It is expected that Spartan would be officially announced by Microsoft during a special event in Redmond slated on January 21, 2015 where the company plans to present and explain the latest consumer features of the Windows 10.
The Windows 10 shall also feature the latest Internet Explorer 12 version along with Spartan, according to the Times of India.
At present, Windows 10 is available only in technical preview. Apart from the PC, Microsoft’s latest operating system will also be compatible with other devices including the Xbox gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets, and even appliances hooked up to a computer.
Windows 10 shall also mark the return of the much-missed “Start” menu for easier access and navigation to frequently-used programs. The “Start” menu was present in earlier versions of Windows.
Microsoft’s latest operating system is expected to officially roll out in the early fall of 2015.