There have long been rumours of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser getting a 360 degree overhaul with the release of new Windows 10 OS, but new reports suggest a brand new web browser could completely replace the age-old IE.
According to a report on ZDNet, which cites unnamed sources, Microsoft is working on a new, light-weight browser, codenamed Spartan, which is not ‘IE 12’, to take on Google’s Chrome and Firefox browsers.
The report claims that Spartan will be based on Microsoft’s Chakra JavaScript engine and Microsoft’s Trident rendering engine, meaning that it won’t be based on popular WebKit, which is the underlying rendering engine in Chrome and other browsers.
Apparently, there are two different versions of Trident in the work pipeline, supporting reports that the company is working on two different browsers. In addition, the new browser will be akin to its rivals Chrome and Firefox along with extension support.
As according to the report, the yet-to-be announced browser will be made available for both mobiles and desktop devices running Windows 10. The sources also say that IE 11 will continue to ship with Windows 10 devices, but will only be kept around “for backward-compatibility’s sake.”
It is expected that we might get to know about the new browser in detail at the January 21 Windows 10 event in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Windows execs Terry Myerson and Joe Belfiore, and Xbox chief Phil Spencer are expected to address the event which will focus on the ‘Windows 10 consumer experience.’
On being contacted, Microsoft said that it had “nothing to share” regarding any rumours of a new browser.
