Meet your new browser – Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge (codenamed Spartan) is a web browser under development by Microsoft. Officially unveiled on January 21, 2015, and first publicly released as a preview on March 30, 2015, it will replace the previous browser baked into windows as the default browser of Windows 10 computers, smartphones and tablets.

Microsoft Edge is designed to be a lightweight web browser  built around web standards that is “designed for interoperability with the modern web”. It removes support for legacy technologies such as ActiveX in favor of extensions and integration with other Microsoft services, such as the Cortana assistant and One Drive. In addition it now will have java and flash functionality baked into the browser no longer requiring the constant updating of these dated add-on’s to Internet Explorer. In addition it sounds as if Spartan will do auto update as chrome has always has done. Other rumors say that Spartan may have additional add-on’s such as its rival Chrome.

The big question will be is this just a re-branding for Microsoft 20 year old browser or have they completely revamped what is underneath the hood.

Don’t forget this will only be available for those who are running Windows 10 at this time of writing. Windows 10 maybe a free update for those of you who  have legitimate licensing from Microsoft. (See previous blog post). Windows 10 upgrade.