As the first commenter on a post by The Verge puts it, “This is probably the first time I’m excited for a Windows event.”
On Wednesday at noon, Microsoft will hold its Windows 10 media briefing (watch the lifestream here) and some notable announcements are expected—including the “new Internet Explorer” (not actually the name, probably). Here are the five new things we might learn about from Microsoft (MSFT).
New Browser
The browser, codenamed Spartan, could be a “super-speedy alternative” to the aging (and widely despised) Internet Explorer, according to Mirror. “Either that, or Microsoft is planning a complete do-over of Internet Explorer and Spartan is the reboot,” the report says.
The Verge reports that the new Microsoft browser could include “more modern features and abilities” and better browser extension support, “allowing Windows 10’s native browser to finally catch up with Firefox and Chrome.”
Whether or not Microsoft will reveal the name on Wednesday is unclear.
But whatever the name, most users of Windows 10 will probably opt for the new browser, giving Microsoft “a good opportunity to finally ditch the Internet Explorer name that’s surrounded in hostility and legacy,” according to the Verge.
Digital Assistant
It’s likely that Microsoft will talk about the addition of the Windows digital assistant Cortana—available so far for Windows Phone—to Windows 10. According to WinBeta, “Cortana can do pretty much everything the Windows Phone version can. This includes reminders, call people with skype, check my location/maps, play/pause music, launch apps, check the weather and more.”
User Interface
The UI for Windows 10 has not been revealed to the world yet, and could be on Wednesday. According to The Verge, the updated UI “will include refreshed icons throughout the desktop, optional dark and light themes, a tweaked taskbar that makes use of accent colors, and some improvements to the style of universal applications.”
Mobile
Windows 10 for mobile—codenamed simply Windows Mobile—will run on all new mobile devices, both smartphones and tablets. “Phone will be the most interesting part of Wednesday’s event. Microsoft is dropping the confusing desktop mode it kept with Windows RT and replacing it with a single touch interface that will run on tablets and phones powered by ARM-based processors,” The Verge reported.
Virtual Reality
Rumor has it that Microsoft has been working on a virtual-reality gaming headset, codenamed Project B. When Microsoft shares news on its Xbox hardware on Wednesday, “we might see some hints or an early look at the company's progress” with VR, according to The Verge.
Image of Windows 10 via Microsoft press kit.
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