14 DAY TRIAL // Today, Microsoft offered us the first glimpse into its new browser project for Windows 10, which will not only provide users with a new way to browse the web but will also put an end to the Internet Explorer era once and for all.
Project Spartan is “our new web browser experience for Windows 10,” Joe Belfiore said during the Windows 10 event, pointing out that it comes with a new engine built to be compatible with the web.
He didn't provide any specifics, so it's not yet clear whether Spartan is going to be offered alongside Internet Explorer at first or integrated as the default browser from the very beginning.
New look and feel
Belfiore also revealed that Spartan boasts a new look and feel that would be focused on the content on the page and “help people to be more productive” and allow them to “interact with the web and communicate with other people about the web.”
Spartan thus comes with a new note-taking mode that allows users to mark directly on the web using either a pen on a touch-capable device or a mouse and keyboard on a PC. All you need to do is click anywhere on a page and start typing to add a note, Belfiore showed.
Spartan allows users to save notes directly to OneNote and comes with a built-in system for sharing, featuring integrated support for common apps such as emails, Twitter, Facebook, and a few other services.
“Focused on the action of reading”
At the same time, the new browser makes reading easier and has a built-in reading mode that collects text and images from a page and displays everything in an easier-to-read UI. You can also add content to Reading List because this feature “is integrated into the core browsing experience,” as Belfiore explained.
Reading List is available across all Windows platforms, so you can save content in Spartan and read it on any other device.
The browser features built-in support for PDF files, so opening documents in the browser is now easier.
Last but not least, Cortana is also available in Spartan, so it can provide you with information as you type in the address bar. For instance, if you type “weather” in the address bar, Cortana automatically detects your location and displays the current forecast without even having to press enter.
Spartan won't be available in the next Windows 10 build, but Microsoft promised to offer it sometime in the next few months as part of the Windows Insider Program.
