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Microsoft Could Ditch IE For a New Browser Named "Spartan"

Bryan SmithBryan SmithOGR Forum Member

Rich Melvin, here is my Christmas to you: Microsoft to give a long overdue "Heave Ho" to Internet Exploder.

...however, will still use Javascript.  

A ground up new browser or lipstick on a pig?  Time will tell.  (keep your beloved Firefox close by)

 

http://gizmodo.com/report-micr...wser-name-1676038757

 

Windows 10 should bring lots of changes to Microsoft's operating system, including a possible overhaul of Internet Explorer.
Many believed the beleaguered browser would be getting an update with codename "Spartan," including much needed additions like extension support.

Now, ZDNet reports that Spartan may in fact be a new browser entirely.

 

So what's different?

Well, rumors say the underlying structure of IE/Spartan won't be changing that much.

According to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, IE will continue to use Microsoft's JavaScript and rendering engines.

However, the browser will be light-weight and akin to its rivals like Chrome and Firefox with extension support.

This also brings up the question if Spartan will be portable on non-Windows systems, such as Android, iOS, or OS X.

We don't know as of yet, but if it truly is mimicking Chrome and Firefox, the idea isn't too crazy.
Foley's undisclosed sources say Windows 10 will ship with both Spartan and IE11, though the latter may be for backwards compatibility only, and that Spartan will also be available on the Windows 10 mobile OS. The name Spartan could be a codename for Microsoft's new browser, but the company does have an affinity for using Halo references for its software (i.e. Cortana).

Whatever it will be called, this news seems more involved than just changing the name of the browser as the IE team suggested during a Reddit AMA earlier this year.
Spartan seems like it could be a "two birds, one stone" solution. Kill off the brand name that has become synonymous with poor browser performance, and create something new that addresses all the shortcomings of its forebears. Every new leak makes Windows 10 seem like the software savior Microsoft needs.

Hopefully we'll learn more about Spartan and everything else about Microsoft's new OS at the Windows 10 event in late January. [ZDNet]

 

 

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Bryan SmithBryan SmithOGR Forum Member

Rich, folks you and I would not use a Microsoft browser even Bill Gates paid me a million dollars in gold bricks  (gold bricks? well..maybe, but I would need to think about for a sec..)

The takeaway here is IF this new browser comes to pass and IF is even 10% as good as it is touted to be, then maybe some of the browser based questions you field from users here maybe reduced.
(I am trying to paint a positive picture here)

But keep your mantra handy, "Download, Install and Use Firefox!"

L LimaOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:

Interesting news, to be sure! For me, it's a classic case of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Firefox works...all the time. So I don't care what Microsoft calls it, I won't use it.

 

However, it is gratifying to see that even Microsoft has finally admitted what a load of crap Internet Exploder really is.

Is IE still tied to Windows where you are stuck with it even if you do not use it?

C ChessieMDOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Lima:
Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:

Interesting news, to be sure! For me, it's a classic case of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Firefox works...all the time. So I don't care what Microsoft calls it, I won't use it.

 

However, it is gratifying to see that even Microsoft has finally admitted what a load of crap Internet Exploder really is.

Is IE still tied to Windows where you are stuck with it even if you do not use it?

No.  The OS ships with a browser...like iOS, Mac OS X, Android, and you can use it OR you can download a plethora of other browsers out there and make that your default browser.  It has been like that for a very long time...since the Win 95 days.  Hell I used Netscape 3.x when it came out in 1996...never had an issue.

C ChessieMDOGR Forum Member

Again, bashing a piece of software not based on anything in reality, but simply perception is pretty shortsighted.  Chrome and Firefox, Safari are all built on the Webkit rendering engine, thus, one should have similar performance (but not really).  Microsoft has chosen to develop their own Trident rendering engine.  Big deal.  If you really want to view an independent analysis of the top five browsers, take a look at this study or here.  One of the studies found the top browser to be Chrome, followed by Opera then IE.  Bringing up the rear is Firefox and Safari.  Another found Firefox to be the best.  However, IE certainly isn't the hot pile of dung many on this forum would lead you to believe.  You can complain about IE, but how is this forum coded?  I remember in the early days many sites where coded specifically with IE in mind.  Now many web developers code for Webkit.  What they should be doing is to code to strict HTML 5 standards, thus, mitigating many issues regarding compatibility.  Regardless, these arguments make me laugh.  I hear people railing about Microsoft products in regards to online security then gleefully sign over their life to Google and don't hesitate for a second. I guess ignorance is indeed bliss. 

 

 

C ChessieMDOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by RoyBoy:

Don't ever use anything that is a first release from Microsoft. They use the customer for testing.

Don't ever use anything that is a first release from Microsoft, Apple, Google, Oracle, SAP.... They use the customer for testing.

 

Just wanted to add some other companies that also do this as well.  It just isn't a phenomenon exclusive to Microsoft.  Also IE was release 19 years ago.  It has been out there for awhile.   

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