14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft released Windows 10 build 10041 a few hours ago, but contrary to what Windows insiders expected, the new version of the operating system does not come with Spartan browser integrated.
The software giant promised one month ago that it would ship a testing version of Spartan in the next build in order to give insiders the chance to try out the browser that would soon replace Internet Explorer completely, thus giving Microsoft a fresh start in the browser industry.
However, build 10041 comes with the same old Internet Explorer version, so if you were looking for a new browser in this release, you're out of luck.
There's, however, a reason Spartan browser is not yet available.
Missed deadline
As Microsoft said several times, Windows 10 is work in progress and one of the reasons the company does not provide release dates for new features and new builds is that work on some projects could take longer than expected. This time, Redmond actually provided release info for Spartan browser, but the company failed to meet it, which is exactly what it tried to avoid in the first place.
Those who were hoping to try out Spartan can still more or less get a glimpse into the new browser because the Internet Explorer build that's part of version 10041 comes with the new engine, which is supposed to be faster and more stable than the old one.
Obviously, you still don't have the new interface and features that would make Spartan a better choice than Internet Explorer, but it's all just a matter of time until Microsoft completes development of the first preview version.
Spartan is now expected to arrive in the next build of Windows 10, so in the meantime, just stick to Internet Explorer for a little bit longer, as Microsoft will soon kill it completely.
Some versions of Windows 10 will ship with Spartan exclusively, while others, including the Enterprise SKUs, are expected to also come with Internet Explorer in order to tackle compatibility issues that might be experienced with internal apps.