14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is developing a new browser for Windows 10 that will be at first offered alongside Internet Explorer, and as we approach the January 21 event, when the company is expected to spill the beans on this project, more screenshots reach the web to provide us with an early glimpse of what the new app might look like.
Three screenshots (whose legitimacy we can't confirm right now and some people might tend to be believe they're fake, given the time shown in system tray) coming from China reveal not only the tab bar of the new browser but the entire interface, confirming reports that Microsoft is indeed planning to keep the application very lightweight and offer a minimal UI that would make everything very clean.
One of the screenshots also reveals a dark theme that could be implemented in Windows 10 based on user feedback and which would also include a redesigned taskbar which again adopts a minimalist design with very simple icons.
Few features and simple UI
The screenshot that shows the full interface of the app also includes a shortcut for OneNote, which pretty much confirms reports that users will be able to create annotations and share them with friends using the share options integrated directly into Windows.
A small share button is also available and this is very likely to trigger the share charm, as the Charms bar itself will no longer be available in Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft will integrate all charms in Metro apps for easier access, while also keeping the desktop cleaner.
Spartan only comes with simple buttons for back, forward, and reload page, and the overall squarish and flat look is the foundation of the application, which perfectly makes sense, given the fact that Microsoft itself introduced the flat look with Windows 8 in October 2012.
Spartan is not expected to arrive in Windows Technical Preview anytime soon, but Microsoft should at least disclose more details about this new browser at the January 21 event it is holding in Redmond to discuss the consumer experience in Windows 10.
In the meantime, more unconfirmed Spartan browser features are available through the usual unofficial channels, but take them with a pinch of salt until Microsoft publicly talks about this project.
