Feedback submitted by users call for Microsoft to change the default browser in the desktop operating system

Oct 21, 2014 13:15 GMT  ·  By

Back on September 30, when Microsoft officially announced the new Windows 10 Technical Preview, the company asked users to submit feedback and opinions on the new operating system in order to significantly improve the final product before it hits the market.

And judging by the amount of feedback that’s currently available through the dedicated Windows 10 TP app, there’s no doubt that users submitted requests for the most awkward features that could ever be implemented in Microsoft’s operating system. Including a change that would make Google Chrome the default Windows browser and thus give up on Internet Explorer.

While this is pretty much impossible, it’s also a sign that Windows 10 Technical Preview testers aren’t really impressed with Internet Explorer and want a superior experience not necessarily through an update for Microsoft’s in-house browser, but rather with the help of a completely new application.

Google Chrome currently number 1 browser

According to figures provided by market researcher StatCounter, Google Chrome is currently the world’s number one browser and is installed on nearly 50 percent of the computers with a mouse and keyboard.

In September 2014, Google Chrome achieved a market share of 49.18 percent, the aforementioned research firm said, while Internet Explorer was only the second browser out there with a share of 22.62 percent.

There’s no doubt that being a default browser in Windows pays off for Internet Explorer, but Microsoft still needs to dramatically improve the application in order step away from the negative perception that continues to affect adoption on Windows systems.

Internet Explorer 12 on its way

Microsoft is already readying a new version of Internet Explorer that could be implemented in the final build of Windows 10.

Only little is known at this point about Internet Explorer 12, but people close to the development process have previously revealed that the browser is internally codenamed “Spartan” and could come with a revamped look and new features, such as extension support and a revised tab bar.

Microsoft’s main purpose with Internet Explorer 12 is to push the browser closer to rivals, such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, so all these improvements are specifically implemented to bring the app in line with competition.

A preview version of Internet Explorer might be released to users in just a few months as part of another testing build of Windows 10, but the stable package won’t be ready before spring 2015, when the new operating system is scheduled to see daylight.