Microsoft Edge: Internet Explorer replacement revealed
Details of Microsoft’s replacement for Internet Explorer, formerly dubbed Project Spartan, have been revealed
Microsoft has finally unveiled the next-generation browser set to replace Internet Explorer (IE).
Dubbed Microsoft Edge, the faster, more streamlined browser was formerly referred to as Project Spartan.
Details of Edge were revealed at Microsoft’s annual developers’ conference, Build, alongside a brand new logo to accompany the announcement. Though still using the familiar ‘E’ symbol, the design and colouring has changed slightly.
A key feature is the integration of Microsoft’s virtual assistant, Cortana, which can be used as part of the search function.
Furthermore, users can draw on and annotate web pages. This feature works across both desktop and mobile devices, with touch-enabled phones and tablets allowing users to draw using their finger or a stylus and PC users using their mouse and keyboard
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It was revealed in March that Microsoft was planning to drop Internet Explorer (IE) in favour of the new browser. The old IE will still be temporarily available for Windows 10 users, however.
Microsoft confirmed these short-term plans for the aged browser on an IE blog. “We recognise some enterprises have legacy web sites that use older technologies designed only for Internet Explorer, such as custom ActiveX controls and Browser Helper Objects,” the company said.
“For these users, Internet Explorer will also be available on Windows 10.”
Previous reports suggested the browser would use EdgeHTML, a revamped engine replacing long-serving engine Trident, used for IE over the last couple of decades.
“To date, we’ve fixed over 3000 interoperability issues (some dating back to code written in the 90’s) on top of the over 40 new web standards we’re working on. For example, longstanding innerHTML issues are now fixed,” Jacob Rossi, senior engineer at Microsoft’s web platform team, said.