End of Internet Explorer? Microsoft’s Windows 10 set to come with new ‘Spartan’ web browser

Microsoft is secretly developing a new web browser to replace Internet Explorer, it has been claimed.

Experts say the new browser, codenamed Spartan, will be unveiled on January 21st when Microsoft shows off Windows 10 for the first time.

It is believed the new browser will look more like Google’s Chrome browser, and be faster than IE.

‘Microsoft is building a new browser, codenamed Spartan, which is not IE 12 — at least according to a couple of sources of mine,’ said Mary Jo Foley of ZDNET.

Thomas Nigro, a Microsoft Student Partner lead and developer of the modern version of VLC a media playing app, claimed on Twitter earlier this month that he heard Microsoft was building a brand-new browser.

‘However, if my sources are right, Spartan is not IE 12.

‘Instead, Spartan is a new, light-weight browser Microsoft is building.’

It is believed Windows 10 will ship with both Spartan and IE 11 to ensure compatibility with all web sites.

 Microsoft is set to show off the next major version of its Windows software at a January event at its Redmond HQ, where Trident could be revealed.

Microsoft has not publicly set a firm timetable for the release of Windows 10, but only last week suggested the possibility of an earlier release.

The firm admitted the software was ‘at a threshold’ after the poorly received Windows 8.

Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s Windows chief said: ‘There’s about one and a half billion people using Windows today.

‘Devices outnumber people.

‘Windows is at a threshold and now it’s time for a new Windows.

‘Our new Windows must be built from the ground up for a mobile first, cloud first world.

‘It wouldn’t be right to call it Windows 9.’

Microsoft says the new operating system will run on the ‘broadest types of devices ever’ and sees the companies various app stores merged into one platform, called the One Store.

WHAT’S NEW IN WINDOWS 10

New operating system will run on the ‘broadest types of devices ever’.

Various app stores merged into one platform, called the One Store.

Return of the Start Menu, which had been removed from Windows 8.

Users can create multiple desktops to keep things organised.

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