New Windows 10 Will Not Include Internet Explorer, according to the latest Windows Insider Preview. The recent Windows 10 build is the first one ever release without the Internet Explorer web browser includes in the code.
Both Brandon LeBlanc and Amanda Langowski of Microsoft confirmed that fact and noted the official passing of Internet Explorer 11. Now the only browser that includes the OS is the new Chromium-base Edge browser.
This is all part of the slow-moving chess game that Microsoft is playing with its browser, and their roadmap to formally retire IE 11. The next significant date is August 17th, 2021, which is the date that Microsoft 365 and other apps will officially end support for Internet Explorer 11. Then finally, on June 15th, 2022, the desktop application itself will retire
There’s a Silver Lining
If there’s a silver lining, it lies in the fact that Microsoft took pains to build backward compatibility into their new browser. According to Sean Lyndersay, the Microsoft Edge Partner Group Program Manage, “Microsoft Edge has Internet Explorer mode (‘IE mode’) built in, so you can access those legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications straight from Microsoft Edge.”
Were you dreading the thought of having to retire one or more old legacy applications and rebuild them around today’s more modern browsers?
Well, take heart in the fact that you won’t have to do that, though expect a few wrinkles to crop up along the way.
Another change you might note with the most recent Windows Insider Build (21387) is that the company is doing away with “Eco Mode.” That was a feature they experimented allowing users to throttle resource-intensive processes and release memory and CPU cycles, freeing them up for other tasks.
Finally, the latest build comes with a raft of tweaks designed to improve overall stability and performance. If you’re a member of the Windows Insiders group, be sure to check out the latest from the company.
