Say 'Goodbye Internet Explorer' and 'Hello Microsoft Edge'

After twenty years Microsoft is finally retiring Internet Explorer.  It will still live on in the enterprise versions of Windows 10 mainly for compatibility reasons but for the rest of us we will be introduced to Microsoft Edge, codenamed Project Spartan.

Microsoft Edge, courtesy Microsoft

Microsoft Edge will bring many innovative features to the end users experience.  Some features include:

• Annotating web pages and syncing of the notes created to users OneDrive accounts,
• Reading List, brings features similar to Pocket and Instapaper to all your devices. Something that Apple's Safari browser already does.  Allowing you to save articles you want to read later.
• If you like to browse your favorite web sites with less clutter on the screen Microsoft Edge introduces a 'reading mode'.  Again another feature already seen in Apple Safari.
• The Hub is 'the place' where everything you do is stored together.  With the Hub you can view your bookmarks, access your Reading List, see your browsing history and even what files you have downloaded.
• And of course Microsoft brings Cortana to your browsing.  Looking for a place to have dinner?  Locate your restaurant and Cortana can do your reservations and provide you with directions to your diner. She can even help you learn something new if you don't know what it is just by highlighting it, right clicking and 'Ask Cortana'.

These are just some of the main features coming to Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge.  There is likely to be hiccups and incompaibilities with plug-ins, add-ons, etc. but what web browser doesn't have issues with version 1 basically, right?

If you would like to learn more about Microsoft Edge, check out the Project Spartan website!  If you still haven't reserved your copy of Windows 10, see my previous blog entry and then visit Microsoft Windows 10 Upgrade for Free site!