Microsoft has officially announced that Internet Explorer will be phased out of use. The web browser has been battling a negative image and the growing popularity of browser competitors like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox for many years.
Internet Explorer was first introduced in 1995 as part of the add-on package for Windows 95. In 2002 and 2003, IE held 95% of the usage share among browsers, but has since declined significantly. The last version to be released was Internet Explorer 11 in 2013, which works with both desktop computers and Windows 8 touch screen interfaces.
Codename: Project Spartan
Moving forward, Windows 10 will include two browsers, Internet Explorer and the new codenamed Project Spartan. IE will just be installed strictly for compatibility, or legacy support. Chances are you will really have to hunt to find it on newer systems.
Project Spartan is a browser that is meant to more easily streamline your apps across all Microsoft devices. This means that from smart phones to Surface Hub, Cortana can be used seamlessly across all devices. Project Spartan “will co-exist with Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft will have two engines in Spartan, one will be used for rendering modern websites and the other engine for legacy enterprise web sites,” says Microsoft News.
It’s still unclear whether Project Spartan will finally shake the negative image that Internet Explorer has obtained over the last few years. Microsoft has done plenty of research on consumer perception of new names, and signs point to the new browser being named “Microsoft ___”, with the brand name bringing about the most positive reaction among Google Chrome users.
What Does This Mean for You?
Support for older versions of Internet Explorer will be discontinued, and using the older version may cause websites to display incorrectly. To make sure you are getting the most out of your internet experience, upgrade today to either the latest version of Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox. We are excited to see what Microsoft will bring to the table with a newly redesigned browser!
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