Tuesday, December 30th 2014

Microsoft to Rebrand Internet Explorer

Despite some genuine increases in performance and reliability, Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) is turning into a relic. Once an unbeatable web-browser that attracted anti-competition lawsuits the world over, its market-share (usage) has dropped below 10 percent, according to W3Schools. With Windows 10, Microsoft plans to completely rebrand the bundled web-browser.

Codenamed "Project Spartan," the browser will feature a new UI, and a different branding from MSIE. It will also shed useless code, and will have a smaller memory footprint, much in the same way Firefox was a toned, peppy rebrand of Mozilla/Netscape Navigator. You could even expect a new icon. Microsoft could undertake a massive marketing campaign for the new browser, of a scale similar to Google's, for its Chrome browser. Microsoft could even delink the browser from Windows Update, to facilitate faster security and bug fixes. The browser could debut with beta releases of Windows 10, and its first stable version could come out with Windows 10 RTM.
Source: PC World
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41 Comments on Microsoft to Rebrand Internet Explorer

#1
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
the way is see it is IE has a bad reputation, everybody hates it, barely anyone or at least anyone under 60 uses it and Its time for microsoft to purge it just like they purged games for windows live. except IE will be coming back as something else.

as for firefox.... I honestly gave up on them a long long time ago and just shifted to using chrome as my primary.

I use Cyberfox 28.0 and i dont bother to update it because last time i did that it wiped out all my settings, all my bookmarks and tabs - EVERYTHING.
Posted on Reply
#2
micropage7
oh first its like Codenamed "Project Satan,"

i think they should keep the old one and release something new under new brand
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#3
Nordic
On another article I read it will have an interface similar to that of chrome and firefox. Better performance, better security, and hopefully it has better support for add ons... I think this might be a nice browser. IE 11 isn't that bad really, but IE just has a bad reputation.
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#4
micropage7
james888On another article I read it will have an interface similar to that of chrome and firefox. Better performance, better security, and hopefully it has better support for add ons... I think this might be a nice browser. IE 11 isn't that bad really, but IE just has a bad reputation.
i agree IE isnt too bad but they should boost its performance and make it more simple
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#5
AsRock
TPU addict
Change it all they want, i'll stay with Seamonkey thanks.

And OMG Chrome talk about junk and last time i tried it it phoned home.
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#6
KevinCobley
I can remember when Mozilla was Netscape, charging $85 a year for the browser, Opera was there too at $55, and how the world rejoiced when Microsoft gave us a Freebee, it's a wonder they are so hated.
No performance issues with IE at all, don't like the metro layout much always use the old IE
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#7
CrAsHnBuRnXp
Am I the only one that sees the codename "spartan" is named as such because of cortana and the connection to halo? I can see them keeping the code name or going with "Arbiter" when it is fully released.
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#8
R-T-B
Waterfox is really firefox like it used to be. You'll be hard pressed to convince me firefox is slow while running that. ;)
Am I the only one that sees the codename "spartan" is named as such because of cortana and the connection to halo
No. It's a trend lately. Microsoft thinks it can make anything cool by making Halo references.
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#9
CrAsHnBuRnXp
R-T-BWaterfox is really firefox like it used to be. You'll be hard pressed to convince me firefox is slow while running that. ;)
I run 64bit firefox. Found it somewhere on the internet but I cant remember where I got it and I have version 32 of it. It's not Waterfox either. Definitely isnt slow by any means.
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#10
R-T-B
CrAsHnBuRnXpI run 64bit firefox. Found it somewhere on the internet but I cant remember where I got it and I have version 32 of it. It's not Waterfox either. Definitely isnt slow by any means.
Yeah, basically what Waterfox is is just 64-bit firefox with a few intel specific extensions. Same beast different name really, still fast.
Posted on Reply
#11
CrAsHnBuRnXp
R-T-BYeah, basically what Waterfox is is just 64-bit firefox with a few intel specific extensions. Same beast different name really, still fast.
Agreed. I was running the 64bit Thunderbird there for a while too. Forget the name of that one off hand.
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#12
TheMailMan78
Big Member
People who trash IE11 really have no clue what they are talking about. Just internet lemmings.
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#13
NC37
Won't mean a blasted thing if its the unsecure mess it is now. I got relatives who keep getting viruses or malware trojans on their machine. The prime culprit of it all...their unhealthy dependence on IE. Keep telling them to seriously stop using it but they can't play MSN card games without it so they keep getting them.

Heres a tip M$: Don't tie your web browser into the core functions of the OS! Don't build the OS around the browser!
Posted on Reply
#14
TheMailMan78
Big Member
NC37Won't mean a blasted thing if its the unsecure mess it is now. I got relatives who keep getting viruses or malware trojans on their machine. The prime culprit of it all...their unhealthy dependence on IE. Keep telling them to seriously stop using it but they can't play MSN card games without it so they keep getting them.

Heres a tip M$: Don't tie your web browser into the core functions of the OS! Don't build the OS around the browser!
Yeah this is the kind of misinformation I'm talking about. IE11 is more secure than even Chrome at this point. If your family keeps getting infected it doesn't matter what browser they use.
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#15
Thefumigator
I primarly use firefox (latest version is really good), but I have respect for Internet Explorer, its the only browser that you can open in computer with less than 1GB of ram and still go to gmail without making the system sweat or reach the 1GB limit.

On the other hand, there's no support for XP/server 2003
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#16
remixedcat
I use waterfox here and I hope they have as good addons like



Note the screen shot one is easier then using snip tool due to it being one step to capture the whole page instead of: open snip tool>select>save>name>browse>ok. This has saved my butt on the router reviews and such. Also to save threads that might get deleted or archive discussions on Facebook, etc. Pretty handy. Chrome's variants are weaksauce or just redirect to a website or have adware/malware/redirects. One I used got hijacked and mucked with google results and I haven't had any of that crap with any my firefox addons. greasemonkey gives me video downloaders and stuff.
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#17
Prima.Vera
Where did you get that bellow 10% market share for IE11?? Why spreading lies? :) Common! :)
The combined gained from all versions of IE still use today is still almost 60% of the market!

www.netmarketshare.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=2&qpcustomd=0

Besides IE is still THE ONLY browser which can run ALL existing web pages and apps out there, and the only one who has no problems with ActiveX craps.

Personally I use Chrome, but at work I am forced to use IE because of security and compatibility issues with various apps and pages.
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#18
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
TheMailMan78Yeah this is the kind of misinformation I'm talking about. IE11 is more secure than even Chrome at this point. If your family keeps getting infected it doesn't matter what browser they use.
You're totally correct. Browsing habits, not web browser used is what picks up all that trash causing infections.

It really does amaze me how there is so much "common knowledge" that IE is insecure, when it is qhite the opposite!
Posted on Reply
#19
Nordic
Another issue I hoped is fixed in spartan is web compliance. I have a few websites I have on occasion visited that did not work properly with IE 10, I have not tried IE 11, that did not work. These were websites heavy in html 5.
According to htmltst.com is the worst browser in terms of html 5 compliance. In my previous comment I said better performance and better security, but both are not the areas IE falls behind in. If spartan increases performance, security, ads proper addon support, and finally is compliant it WILL be the best browser out there.
Prima.VeraBesides IE is still THE ONLY browser which can run ALL existing web pages and apps out there, and the only one who has no problems with ActiveX craps.
That statement is wrong by my own experience.
Posted on Reply
#20
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
This news isn't really a surprise, but what is a surprise is so many people still use Firefox. That browser has been garbage for a while now, they've fallen way behind. I know I just love when one tab crashes and all the tabs crash...serious firefox get your shit together. Even IE has switched to running each tab in its own individual process so one tab doesn't bring down the whole browser...
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#21
AsRock
TPU addict
newtekie1This news isn't really a surprise, but what is a surprise is so many people still use Firefox. That browser has been garbage for a while now, they've fallen way behind. I know I just love when one tab crashes and all the tabs crash...serious firefox get your shit together. Even IE has switched to running each tab in its own individual process so one tab doesn't bring down the whole browser...
How ever it should work like Seamonkey if it does crash the next restart of it will load all tabs unless you have it disabled of course.

And what you know you got all tabs back :).
Posted on Reply
#22
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
Prima.VeraWhere did you get that bellow 10% market share for IE11?? Why spreading lies? :) Common! :)
The article says W3Schools which is a web-development site. The only relatively safe assumption we can make is that 10% of web developers use IE.
FreedomEclipsethe way is see it is IE has a bad reputation, everybody hates it, barely anyone or at least anyone under 60 uses it and Its time for microsoft to purge it just like they purged games for windows live. except IE will be coming back as something else.
I've never stopped using IE and don't have any problems with it.
AsRockHow ever it should work like Seamonkey if it does crash the next restart of it will load all tabs unless you have it disabled of course.

And what you know you got all tabs back :).
IE11 does that but it asks if you want to restore your session--doesn't do it automatically.
Posted on Reply
#23
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
AsRockHow ever it should work like Seamonkey if it does crash the next restart of it will load all tabs unless you have it disabled of course.

And what you know you got all tabs back :).
All that does is automatically open the tabs and type the address in for you. Yeah, it is better than nothing, but it won't bring back the form you were filling out or the forum post you spent 10 minutes writing trying to help someone out...
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#24
remixedcat
newtekie1This news isn't really a surprise, but what is a surprise is so many people still use Firefox. That browser has been garbage for a while now, they've fallen way behind. I know I just love when one tab crashes and all the tabs crash...serious firefox get your shit together. Even IE has switched to running each tab in its own individual process so one tab doesn't bring down the whole browser...
Addons. The firefox addons are the best and it's the browser that puts you more in control.
Posted on Reply
#25
R-T-B
Also, correct me if I'm wrong but firefox has at least run plugins in their own process containers for several releases. Probably tabs aren't far behind.
Posted on Reply
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