Mediaboss Marketing

Microsoft hasn't quite made it official, but a Microsoft executive recently came the closest yet to confirming that Project Spartanthe primary browser in Windows 10will not be named Internet Explorer.

During Microsofts Convergence conference in Atlanta on Monday, Microsofts marketing chief Chris Capossela pretty much admitted that the name Internet Explorer was on its way out, as first reported by The Verge.

Were now researching what the new brand, or the new name, for our browser should be in Windows 10, Capossela said."Well continue to have Internet Explorer, but well also have a new browser called Project Spartan, which is codenamed Project Spartan. We have to name the thing."

Alongside Project Spartan, Microsoft will also release Internet Explorer 11 as a legacy option primarily for enterprises with applications and internal sites designed for Microsofts longtime browser.

Why this matters: Internet Explorer is still the most popular browser on Windows, but it is far from the most capable. Browsers like Chrome and Firefox feature far more consumer-friendly features and a broad catalog of extensions and add-ons that IE has never been able to match. Googles Chrome is also morphing from just a browser to a complete desktop-like working environment with the web at its center. To keep the built-in Windows browser relevant, a fresh start is sorely needed. Dumping the Internet Explorer brand as part of the reboot would go a long way to reinforcing the new browsers departure from IE.

Project Spartan has yet to roll out to Windows 10 users, but rumors and leaks about it have been popping up in recent weeks. The new browser will come packed with Cortana, Microsofts personal digital assistant that is also built into the Windows desktop.

Based on a leak earlier in March, Spartan will have a streamlined interface that is very basic and almost Chrome-like. The Spartan browser also comes with a brand new rendering engine called Edge. The new browser engine promises to be much speedier than Trident, which powers IE. Edge is already built into the Windows 10 preview and can be enabled for Internet Explorer 11.

We should get our first look at Project Spartan later in March after the browser is added to an upcoming preview build of Windows 10. In the meantime, check out the 10 must-try new features already active in Windows 10.

ian@ianpaul.net, PCWorld

Ian is an independent writer based in Tel Aviv, Israel. His current focus is on all things tech including mobile devices, desktop and laptop computers, software, social networks, Web apps, tech-related legislation and corporate tech news. More by Ian Paul

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Windows 10's speedy new Project Spartan browser will ditch Internet Explorer name