Rumors that Microsoft may finally be updating its decades-old Internet Explorer browser with an all-new platform were confirmed during the company’s Windows 10 launch event Wednesday in the form of Project Spartan.
The new browser includes several major upgrades including a new rendering engine and an inking support interface, which lets users write on and annotate web pages, and share those notes across multiple devices and with other users via the company’s OneDrive sync feature. (RELATED: Windows 10 Will Be A Free Upgrade For Windows 7 And 8 Users)
LIVE UPDATE: Put the web to work with the new browser designed to quickly get things done. #Windows10 pic.twitter.com/7EOVK5BJ6B
— Windows (@Windows) January 21, 2015
A new reading feature strips webpages of unnecessary content to make them more readable, and includes a reading list feature that can also be synced across all of a user’s devices.
The latest version of Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant unveiled earlier in the event will also integrate with Spartan and automate a number of helpful features, including providing additional information about search results from directions and reservations at restaurants to remembering flights you’ve booked. (RELATED: Watch Microsoft’s Biggest Windows Event In Years Live)
Additional features include a multi-tab display at the top of the browser that provides previews of the sites you have opened, a built-in PDF viewer and an overall simplified design.
Project Spartan won’t be included in the next Windows 10 preview build, and it’s unclear if it will replace Internet Explorer or when users at large will get their hands on it. (RELATED: Microsoft Brings Back The ‘Start’ Menu In Windows 10 Unveil)