Microsoft is announcing significant changes on its browser software strategy, revealing that Project Spartan will use the new rendering engine exclusively on Windows 10 devices, while Internet Explorer will remain unchanged using the Trident rendering engine.
When the software maker set to introduce a new web browser, the plan was to make Project Spartan a brand new browser, featuring the latest web technologies and able to provide support for legacy websites.
This new strategy could help developers to create better code for a modern internet while offering a better experience for customers. Part of this plan was to include the new “Edge” and old Trident rendering engines into Project Spartan and Internet Explorer. This would help both web browsers to correctly render web pages regardless if the website is using the latest web standards or legacy technologies.
Microsoft’s Project Spartan opens up to third parties to improve the platform
After “strong feedback” from Windows Insiders and customers, Microsoft is making a major change to the previous strategy. In Windows 10, Project Spartan will “exclusively” use the new Edge rendering engine, and Trident will continue to ship “unchanged” with Internet Explorer, which Microsoft will eventually stop updating and will remove it from the operating system.
Furthermore, Microsoft is also saying that since IE will eventually die, Project Spartan will be set as the default web browser in all Windows 10 devices.
According to the software maker the move to the new direction is because Project Spartan was built to take advantage of the next generation of web technologies, and this is an opportunity that enables the company to offer a clean separation of legacy and will enable Microsoft to deliver on that promise.
In addition, the change will clearly signal that Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 10 is only to offer a “solution for legacy scenarios and enterprise customers” and nothing else.
Finally, the company explains that users were having a hard time differentiating what each browser has to offer. This was a confusing scenario that Microsoft will avoid by making Project Spartan a web browser focus on the future of the web and make Internet Explorer just a tool to render legacy web pages. “We feel this change simplifies the role of each browser.” — Microsoft says.
Besides, ensuring Internet Explorer a software unable to render future web technologies will help the company to quickly move users from the old to the new browser, which is basically what the company is hoping to accomplish.
Microsoft recently released a new preview build of Windows 10, but now a new build is likely to appear in April, at which point the company says will remove the new rendering engine from Internet Explorer 11.
Source Microsoft
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].