There’s a simple rule when it comes to choosing your default web browser: The only thing that Internet Explorer is good for, is downloading Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Right now, Internet Explorer still feels like a desperate date, begging users to stay and use the browser should they accidentally open it. But with a new Windows operating system on the way comes word that a new browser will also be bundled inside of it. A browser that could appeal to Halo fans.
Apparently codenamed Spartan according to Business Insider and The Verge, the new browser will kill Internet Explorer off with a system that features the Halo companion Cortana as a search function. In other words, Microsoft just found their Siri for operating systems on PC. If the reports line up, then Cortana could also completely replace Bing on Windows Phone, instead of being a voice-only search feature.
What this means, is that Cortana will then be able to search directly from your tab interface, as well as accurately access and track information such as flight status, hotel booking, parcel tracking and the like. The Spartan OS will be available on PC, tablets and phones via the Windows Store app. And yes, having a Halo browser could actually win me over. Well played Microsoft.
With a conference expected to address Microsoft’s plans for their gaming and PC ecosystems on January 21, expect to hear a lot more Cortana in the future.
Last Updated: January 9, 2015
Pieter Kruger
January 9, 2015 at 15:36
There’s been talks about this for a long time now, very nice! “Cortana, finish the search”!
Ghost In The Rift
January 9, 2015 at 15:36
At the end of the day,my PC is still not going to have Cortana’s body..:-(
Hammersteyn
January 9, 2015 at 15:40
How To Download Firefox On a New Computer Without Using Internet Explorer XD
http://www.howtogeek.com/125447/stupid-geek-tricks-how-to-download-firefox-on-a-new-computer-without-using-internet-explorer/
Mark Treloar
January 9, 2015 at 15:46
And yet i’d still trust IE over Firefox
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/178587-firefox-is-still-the-least-secure-web-browser-falls-to-four-zero-day-exploits-at-pwn2own
Hammersteyn
January 9, 2015 at 15:49
Article is 10 months old give or take, you sure they haven’t plugged the holes yet?
Mark Treloar
January 9, 2015 at 16:01
we will see again in March.
Hammersteyn
January 9, 2015 at 16:08
lol
ToshZA
January 9, 2015 at 17:28
I use Chrome personally. It’s much better in my experience than Firefox. Sadly, due to my occasional web development I have to have most browsers installed. :/
ToshZA
January 9, 2015 at 15:47
USB backup with install files for browser of choice – done.
Hammersteyn
January 9, 2015 at 15:49
Who makes backups?
ToshZA
January 9, 2015 at 15:51
You’re on a PC now. Buy a 4gb, make your own. Like a basic “starter pack” USB. That keeps it safe in case of HDD failure or stolen pc. If it’s just an OS upgrade or format / reinstall or something, then just keeping the files on the HD or your 2nd HD are fine. But the USB is a great fail safe tool to have – all basic drivers and stuff. Your essentials should something happen.
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 9, 2015 at 17:12
It’s a great time saver, plus you get to watch your porn on other PCs very easily. I mean, install your favourite apps. Yes.
Quo Vadis?
January 9, 2015 at 16:06
you don’t?
Hammersteyn
January 9, 2015 at 16:08
😛
Aries
January 9, 2015 at 16:49
It scary how creative we get to avoid using Internet Explorer, if i click on it by mistake, and i cant close it before it opens, I tend to pull the power
Hammersteyn
January 12, 2015 at 07:42
lol
Sageville
January 9, 2015 at 15:49
My Malware List
1.) Internet Explorer
2.) Bing
3.) Spartan Halo Browser
Quo Vadis?
January 9, 2015 at 16:19
In determining who is the hottest blue girl between the girl in the article and that one from that other movie on a different planet (for the life of me I cant remember that stupid movies name), the former wins by a country mile!
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 9, 2015 at 17:11
…he said completely forgetting about Mystique.
ToshZA
January 9, 2015 at 17:43
Jennifer Lawrence’s one though – the older one didn’t tickle my errr, bone, in the right way.
Quo Vadis?
January 12, 2015 at 09:34
Who the hell is Mystique? :/
Kerrits
January 9, 2015 at 16:20
Is it slow day LG today? First Gavin tells us about this “new” app/plugin called pushbullet, and now you tell us about this “new” thing called Cortana that “could” replace Bing on windows phone. In countries where it (she?) is released, it already replaced Bing search when you press the search button. Cortana in fact uses Bing to search, the same way Google Now uses the Google search engine to search, so it will never really completely replace Bing.
Frogs die in water in frogger
January 10, 2015 at 00:26
Sounds like Microsoft is going the Bonzi Buddy approach without the problems.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bbHW4futRt8/hqdefault.jpg
I liked the concept, how it helped search, communicated with you & made browsing & long days of typing in word docs fun.
To bad it was discontinued cause the Developer flooded the program with everybit of crap under the sun. Would of been a good program.
Seems like Microsoft have learnt from the mistakes of the Bonzi developers & kept the concept if what I’m thinking they have in mind with Cortana.
Here’s to hopin.
Mr XBob
January 14, 2015 at 00:28
Cortana already replaced Bing on Windows Phones, and is far more than a “voice-only search feature”…
Loveunderlaw
October 11, 2016 at 03:29
CORTANA IS A SPYING PROGRAM, BEST NOT TO USE IT!