Microsoft’s upcoming major Windows update is already available to users looking to test-drive it, but existing Windows 10 Technical Preview versions lack several of the features the company has in the works. In addition to the recently leaked Cortana for Windows 10 app, Microsoft may have one other exciting feature for the operating system, ZDNet has discovered.
FROM EARLIER: New Windows 10 build leaks, revealing new consumer features
Microsoft is apparently looking to ditch Internet Explorer, a browser that had to face plenty of criticism in the past, and replace it with a brand new browser specifically created for Windows 10 that will look to rival competing apps including Google’s Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox.
Of note, ZDNet has a fantastic track record when reporting on unannounced Microsoft plans.
Codenamed Spartan, the new browser isn’t an updated IE 12 version, as some people would have expected. Instead, the program is a “new, light-weight browser” that might also support extensions in the future.
Even so, Windows 10 will not completely ditch IE when its launches, letting users choose between IE 11 and Spartan, which is yet to receive a commercial name. In addition to desktops, Spartan will also be available on Windows 10 phones and tablets, according to ZDNet’s sources.
It’s not clear at this time whether Spartan will be unveiled during Microsoft’s special January 21st Windows 10 event, as the new browser might not be functional enough for a demo. Furthermore, it’s not known whether Microsoft will also bring its new browser to competing operating systems, including iOS and Android, once Windows 10 launches.
