Details of a new Microsoft web browser - codenamed Spartan - that could potentially replace Internet Explorer on mobile devices have emerged for the first time. BGR has obtained a leaked screenshot and details of Spartan, a new lightweight browser that has been designed from the ground up within Microsoft.
As the name suggests, the Spartan browser removes almost all of the regular browser clutter, with little more than an address bar and buttons for favourites, settings and home - which isn't that different to the more streamlined design of recent versions of Internet Explorer.
However, browser tabs are seemingly reduced to nothing more than the site's favicon (the little icon that currently appears alongside site name in Internet Explorer tabs), and there are some intriguing new features being integrated beneath the surface of the browser.
BGR claims that Spartan will accept voice commands, allowing users to add a site to their bookmarks, set a new homepage or even speak the name of a website they wish to visit (ie. "go to Facebook.com"). It's already been revealed that Microsoft is building its Cortana voice assistant into Windows 10, and the voice features of Spartan may be an extension of that work.
The site also reports that users will be able to run other browsers from within a Spartan window. This could potentially make it easier for web developers to see how their sites/app operate within different browsers.
It's not clear whether Spartan will be an outright replacement for Internet Explorer or will run alongside it. Microsoft delivered two versions of Internet Explorer for Windows 8 - a touchscreen browser and the regular desktop version - which caused some confusion among users. It seems most likely that Spartan will be installed as the default on mobile and tablet devices, whilst Internet Explorer will be retained for desktop users.
Internet Explorer is something of a tarnished brand for Microsoft. Most counts - including those of StatCounter, W3Counter and Wikimedia - place Internet Explorer a distant second in worldwide market share, despite the browser once commanding a desktop market share in excess of 90%. NetAnalytics is one of the few that still give Microsoft the lead, with the latest figures claiming it's used for almost 60% of desktop browsing sessions, compared to Google Chrome's 20%.