Microsoft Windows 10 Will Likely Debut Alongside New Chrome-Like Browser Dubbed ‘Spartan’ In Addition To Internet Explorer 11—Reports

Alongside the long-awaited Microsoft Windows 10 OS, two new web browsers will also be launched. And this includes "Internet Explorer 11" (IE 11) for backward compatibility and a brand new browser called "Spartan."

If the reports are true, the browser codenamed Spartan will be lightweight and will have similar qualities of browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. In addition, this browser will also support extensions, according to GSM Arena.

Even though Spartan is going to be a new browser, it will reportedly utilise the same Microsoft Chakra JavaScript engine and Trident rendering engine, but not the Microsoft WebKit. According to the site Neowin, "Microsoft has made a rather large decision regarding Trident, the engine that powers the browser, and no, it's not adopting Webkit. The team behind the engine has forked Trident into two components that will result in a new .DLL when the browser ships." The site further added that, "Because of the fork, the modern component of the IE12 should be lightweight compared to what we have now in IE11, at least, that's the hope because all of the legacy base has been removed."

According to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, the upcoming Spartan is not IE 12. Instead, it is a brand new browser. Furthermore, Spartan will reportedly be available as a desktop compatible version of Windows 10, in addition to the mobile-based version targeting smartphones, phablets and tablets.

Readers should note that, Spartan is just a code name for the upcoming browser. The commercial name of the browser has not been revealed by Microsoft. Notably, this browser is expected to be unveiled in Microsoft's event scheduled for Jan. 21, 2015. This is the same event where Microsoft Windows 10 OS will be launched.

On the other hand, there are doubts that Spartan may not be ready to be part of the January Technical Preview build of Windows for desktops and for the mobile preview build, expected to be rolled out sometime in early 2015. Meanwhile, Microsoft has been porting its core Windows apps and services to Apple's iOS and Google's Android in the recent past. Therefore, there is a good chance that the case would be the same with Spartan at some point in the near future, opines the same site.

Nonetheless, Microsoft has not confirmed any of the above information thus far. With Spartan about to take the driver's seat, is it the end of Internet Explorer? What do you think of a new browser from Microsoft that looks like Chrome? Feel free to leave a comment.

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