Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

New Screenshots Detail Spartan Web Browser For Windows 10 Smartphones

Posted by timothy on from the evolution-continues dept.

MojoKid writes One of the most anticipated new features in Windows 10 is the Spartan web browser, which will replace the long-serving Internet Explorer. We've seen Spartan in action on the desktop/notebook front, but we're now getting a closer look at Spartan in action on the mobile side thanks to some newly leaked screenshots. Perhaps the biggest change with Spartan is the repositioning of the address bar from the bottom of the screen to the top (which is also in line with other mobile browsers like Safari and Chrome). The refresh button has also been moved from its right-hand position within the address bar to a new location to the left of the address bar. Reading Lists also make an appearance in this latest build of Spartan along with Microsoft's implementation of "Hubs" on Windows 10 for mobile devices.

62 comments

  1. Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Karmashock · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm just amused that they're calling their voice recognition system Cortana and they're apparently calling their browser the Spartan.

    These are both references to the game Halo. The AI assistant to the Master Chief was known as Cortana and the Master Chief was some kind of cyborg military super soldier that was referred to as a "spartian".

    I can't wait for them to name something "the flood" ... I have to keep my eyes open for any further references. The whole thing is pretty funny.

    --
    I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    1. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It is clear that Android is the Flood and Apple/iPhone the Collective.

    2. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      "I can't wait for them to name something truly useful as "FOSS" ... I have to keep my eyes open for any further references."

      "The whole thing is pretty funny."

      Oh.. yeah.. I'm laughing my head off. What a hoot, right? I just can't stop laughing! Hahaha! Man, what a company, am I right? Woo. I'm tired from so much laughter, wait, there it comes again, hahahah! Wee! I hope this ride never stops, silly Microsoft. Wahah there I go again!

    3. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's literally their only connection with the under-30 crowd. They're grasping at straws when it comes to how to get the next generation invested.

    4. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by GreatDrok · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah, that's not what "the Halo effect" means Microsoft.

      --
      "I have the attention span of a strobe lit goldfish, please get to the point quickly!"
    5. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "the flood" is what they call the money from all the halo dudebros who throw money at them.

    6. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Karmashock · · Score: 0

      The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger. With each passing moment you make yourself more my servant. :-P

      Try to be less of a ragetard.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    7. Re: Staying with the Halo theme eh? by stealth.c · · Score: 1

      Maybe the EULA will be called The Covenant.

    8. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by __rze__ · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Exactly. This Microsoft hate is getting old. Even the Windows Phone jokes are getting old.

      I for one, think that WP has improved a lot and WP8.1 is much easier to use than android and its ilk. I also have the Note4 flagship and it comes nowhere near the streamlined UI and efficient usage of WP. (Inb4 you need clean android, samsung UI is shit, etc) Even now, I'd rather use the $100 Lumia 535 than my Note4. It can do everything the flagship can do and does it so efficiently. And I don't have to fear dropping it or losing it.

      I am not one of those who are stroking the glass of a touchscreen all day long. I want to get the information I need as quickly as possible and go on with my life. WP does that, and I'm really excited what WP10 will bring. The right tool for the right job. Nothing more nothing less. Time is the only resource that is finite and can never be brought/bought back.

      Microsoft begins to understand what made Apple what it is now and it's taking the right path. Surface 3, Cortana (extremely good and efficient thingy, saves a lot of time beside being fun to use), HoloLens, Free OSupgrades, excellent mobile hardware, listening to customers, opening up for android/linux (that's a first!), etc Things are changing and I like where this is going.

      And privacy? Selling your data? You can forget that anyway. You have to go way out of your way to ensure even minimal privacy, which then again, you waste your _TIME_... which never returns.

      At some point, some depressed pilot crashes you into a mountain and you can kiss your ass goodbye. Then you can ask yourself, 'was it worth my time?'

    9. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      Don't be a killjoy. Halo was a pretty cool game especially for a console. I'm a PC guy so I've only played the Halo games that have made it to PC. But they're pretty fun.

      its just funny that MS is using all these references from halo to name their smartphone crap.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    10. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by losfromla · · Score: 1

      Do you guys get paid overtime to work on Saturday? I guess because two of you reinforce each other that means the zeitgeist in slashdot has shifted and it is now cool to like m$ and ragetard to hate on it? LOLZ, I don't think so.

      --
      Only I can judge you.
    11. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by losfromla · · Score: 1

      Yeah! Hilarious!

      --
      Only I can judge you.
    12. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How much did Google pay you to spout that crap?

    13. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by __rze__ · · Score: 2

      Do you guys get paid overtime to work on Saturday? I guess because two of you reinforce each other that means the zeitgeist in slashdot has shifted and it is now cool to like m$ and ragetard to hate on it? LOLZ, I don't think so.

      Haha, obviously you misunderstood the entire thing.

      TL;DR> Use the right tool for the job. Use what works for you best. Save time. Enjoy your life. It is OK if others think you are a hipster to like M$.

    14. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by losfromla · · Score: 1

      hahahaha, you got me! That's good, I feel so embarrassed now. j/k
      So, you're a fanboy and the right tool for the job for you will always be provided by microsoft, that's cool, just be upfront about it, ok?

      I don't think that anyone would think you are a hipster for liking M$. Is that what you meant to write or did you mistype?

      --
      Only I can judge you.
    15. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by __rze__ · · Score: 2

      hahahaha, you got me! That's good, I feel so embarrassed now. j/k So, you're a fanboy and the right tool for the job for you will always be provided by microsoft, that's cool, just be upfront about it, ok?

      I don't think that anyone would think you are a hipster for liking M$. Is that what you meant to write or did you mistype?

      Unsure why you are so aggressive.

      Actually, I use SL6 (due to EDA tool compatibility issues) daily at research work and linux mint on my home/entertainment machine. I also have a W8.1 Lenovo X201 with a linux mint VM for mobile ssh work and powerpoint presentations. And a Lumia 535 and Note4 for work / pleasure.

      Why am I a M$ fanboy?

    16. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by Karmashock · · Score: 0

      I don't use their phone but I don't have this insane fucked up cultist hatred of MS either.

      You've completely lost your tiny little mind.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    17. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by martin-boundary · · Score: 1

      At some point, some depressed pilot crashes you into a mountain and you can kiss your ass goodbye. Then you can ask yourself, 'was it worth my time?'

      You can say that about any other terrorist, too. Are they worth your time?

      Mu. Because, it's not about your choices to begin with.

    18. Re:Staying with the Halo theme eh? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I can't wait for them to name something "the flood"

      Expect that reference the first time either Spartan or Cortana crashes due to a memory overrun.

  2. More clickbait for shithardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    More clickbait for shithardware from mojoshit.

    I bet it still makes slashdot look like shit.

    1. Re:More clickbait for shithardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Then post better shit. See the light green "Submit" button at the top of the page? I wonder what would happen if you clicked it?

    2. Re:More clickbait for shithardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Let's think through what you just said.

      So he'll click the "Submit" button.

      He'll write a good summary about some relevant topic, providing links to interesting articles and all that.

      The submission will be ignored.

      Some shitty submission, like this one, or maybe one about some alleged sexist/racist/misogynist/homophobic/transphobic incident, or yet another one from Hugh Pickens or Bennett Haselton, will end up on the front page instead.

      Do you see what the problem is? I will explain it for you, since you probably don't.

      The problem is that it doesn't matter how many good submissions there are queued up. If only shitty ones end up on the front page, then somebody submitting tens or hundreds or thousands of excellent submissions won't have any impact. There will still be shitty stories on the front page.

      It's not a problem with the supply of submissions. There are an ample number of good stories to choose from.

      The problem is with the selection process and criteria. Submitting more stories won't improve this in any way.

    3. Re:More clickbait for shithardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Disagree. If it is a cool nerdy thing and the summary is well written, it will make the front page.

  3. Micro$oft Sux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    No one will use $partan and no one will use Winblow$ 10. Because we all know Micro$oft sux. And so, now that we've all agreed not to use, Micro$oft will obviously be going out of business now.

  4. Spartanssss .... what is your profession? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Tracking people's personal information and selling it ...... ?" .....

  5. Spartans by rossdee · · Score: 3, Funny

    So they expect to sell 300 of them then

    1. Re:Spartans by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 0

      Only to each small business. Larger firms might deploy in that size increment, though.

    2. Re:Spartans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All I can say to those screenshots is 'YUCK!' I really hate the design choices MS is making. I hate the new Office interface since 2010 and 2013. I have to run MS for work purposes. At home it's relegated to virtual machines and I can still use XP and Win7 if I want. Some days I feel like I'm the only one who hates the direction their going. Good luck with all the MS. I won't touch it until I'm forced to by circumstances...

    3. Re: Spartans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's almost as many as Kin!

  6. Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by ruir · · Score: -1, Troll

    And presto, all is forgotten and forgiven and suddenly your historically shitty product gains world dominance! Avada Kedavra to the other browsers!

    1. Re: Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here is an idea, how about yes, let forget about the past until give spartan a try for while before you rip it apart. The product hasn't gone gold yet and you are already complaining about it. Next you'll complain about Firefox being too bloated and yet it works just fine. The constant complaints about this or that browser has gotten old and no one cares any more. You are not even forced to use spartan, just install something else.

    2. Re:Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That might actually be the right thing to do. IE has improved tremendously but still unjustifiedly carries a garbage reputation. Renaming it to something else might excite people to take another look on it. Sure it would still be running Trident under the hood, but it's not your father's Trident anymore. Just like Firefox is not Netscape anymore and Chrome has come far from the original KHTML engine...

    3. Re: Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by paulatz · · Score: 0, Troll

      Here is an idea, how about yes, let forget about the past until give spartan a try for while before you rip it apart. The product hasn't gone gold yet and you are already complaining about it.

      Man, it's MSIE we're talking about, can't we complaint about MSIE anymore?

      The constant complaints about this or that browser has gotten old and no one cares any more. You are not even forced to use spartan, just install something else.

      Nobody is forced to install MSIE, oh wait!

      --
      this post contain no useful information, no need to mod it down
    4. Re:Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by paulatz · · Score: 0

      Spartan is definitely going to be the Intelligent Design of web Browsers.

      --
      this post contain no useful information, no need to mod it down
    5. Re: Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 2

      MSIE is still preinstalled. It's not considered their competitive browser by Microsoft. It's there more as a utility. Microsoft will 'compete' with third party browsers on a more level playing field with this new browser.

      In fact Microsoft has done nearly everything possible now to level the plaing field browser-wise. You have to hate Microsoft in a pathological way to not let up on some of the old bullshit hate-billyware thing. In continuing to sputter and fury the more infected and irrational cranks will identify themselves to us.

      The general fury will die down eventually until it's like it already is with BSOD references, which are only made now by angry trolls who haven't touched a Microsoft product in over a decade.

    6. Re: Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can't change default browser on WP, so yes you are forced to use it.

    7. Re: Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      MSIE is still preinstalled. It's not considered their competitive browser by Microsoft. It's there more as a utility. Microsoft will 'compete' with third party browsers on a more level playing field with this new browser.

      In fact Microsoft has done nearly everything possible now to level the plaing field browser-wise. You have to hate Microsoft in a pathological way to not let up on some of the old bullshit hate-billyware thing.

      Did you ever consider that perhaps some of that hatred was well earned? That perhas a person who takes issue with Microsoft is not necessarily a hate ridden person with a burnt husk of a soul living only to bash Microsoft?

      Sorry, had to reply in kind to get your attention.

      Microsoft has indeed put out a lot of shit over the years. And they managed to get away with it. They were kings Some folks darn near worshipped them.

      Now there are a lot of us who won't use a Microsoft product except when forced to.

      Get the connection? If all you do is shower a company with undying love, they know you'll eat whatever crap they put out. So you'll get crap.

      If you give them criticism, and it gets to the point that their product loses sales, then perhaps they'll respond in a positive way. This is some pretty basic stuff, working at improving a product based on customer criticism.

      You figure if Vista and W8 and 8.1 didn't gut the PC market that they would have produced W7, or be working on W10 so hard?

      In continuing to sputter and fury the more infected and irrational cranks will identify themselves to us.

      The general fury will die down eventually until it's like it already is with BSOD references, which are only made now by angry trolls who haven't touched a Microsoft product in over a decade.

      Speaking of anger issues, calm down, enjoy your phone, and realize that there are good reasons for some to dislike Windows products. Realize that a positive response to criticism can improve a product, and a negative response definitely won't. Windows haters are more responsible for making the products better than people who declare that anyone who doesn't like them are angry and stupid trolls..

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    8. Re: Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      To dislike Microsoft is fine. But, for an IT professional, to blindly ignore the largest software platform on the planet for over a decade because of hatred, is plain ignorance. Software has matured.

    9. Re: Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was always crap. They don't know how to make anything but crap, and they never did.

    10. Re: Because you call it Spartan instead of IE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As an IT professional, you can't ignore it. That's the problem. The day is going fine, then WHAM! some Windows problem crops up and takes the rest of the day to sort out. We tolerate Microsoft Software, we don't have to accept and love it.

  7. All right no reason to go pilot on this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you don't like it okay, but don't take it out on the rest of us.

  8. Breakthrough Innovation, I Tell You! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Perhaps the biggest change with Spartan is the repositioning of the address bar from the bottom of the screen to the top...."

    Gosh, I hope Microsoft filed for a patent on this "biggest change." Clearly, after Spartan, our lives will be vastly better in ways we couldn't have possibly imagined only minutes ago. Would you, my fellow readers, rank Spartan above the Apollo Moon landing or above the eradication of smallpox when considering humanity's best achievements?

  9. Why move the address-bar to the top? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It works perfectly fine at the bottom. Easy to reach and its not like you're missclicking it all the time.

    1. Re:Why move the address-bar to the top? by anss123 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that's a great feature. Stupid that they're changing that.

    2. Re:Why move the address-bar to the top? by __rze__ · · Score: 1

      It works perfectly fine at the bottom. Easy to reach and its not like you're missclicking it all the time.

      I totally agree with this. I found the bottom bar very efficient and easy to use. It doesn't interfere with the content either.

  10. Is ClearType used? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm guessing like every other 'modern' app ClearType will not be used and the text rendering will look awful. Tablet mode is still wagging the dog and Microsoft still just don't see it.

    1. Re:Is ClearType used? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean it will look awful instead of blurry for some reason? I've just never gotten ClearType, it's never looked "correct" to me.

  11. Repositioning address bar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The address bar at the bottom is the best part of ie - that's where your fingers are.

  12. is it really a change? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "repositioning of the address bar from the bottom of the screen to the top"
    and
    "The refresh button has also been moved from its right-hand position within the address bar to a new location to the left of the address bar."

    Sound to me like someone is just holding the phone upside down.

  13. So? by senatorpjt · · Score: 2

    It looks like a browser. Screenshots don't really tell you anything about a web browser's performance and compatibility, which is the most important thing. OTOH, there is an unbelievable amount of wasted screen space on those screenshots, Displaying the time horizontally and off center like that is both ugly and stupid.

    1. Re:So? by Walter+White · · Score: 1

      I didn't read the original article so I don't know if it was too long...

      When moving a few things around the screen is Big News(tm) we have sunk low indeed!

    2. Re: So? by tsqr · · Score: 1

      I'd say that when one of the most anticipated features of a new operating system is a web browser, there isn't much to look forward to.

    3. Re: So? by losfromla · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I was thinking that as well. What's the bfd about a web browser anyhow? Be compatible with standards, be fast, look somewhat like the other browsers, what's there really to talk about?

      --
      Only I can judge you.
  14. most anticipated by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, not of it doesn't support extensions like adblock, https everywhere, etc.

  15. Ad Blocking? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If it can block ads, I'll think about switching to Windows Phone.
    If it can block all of the other non-advertising bullshit that I see when I try to browse the web on my phone, I'll buy a Windows Phone tomorrow.

    Seriously.

    The mobile web is such an incredibly shitty experience. I used to be excited about carrying around a computer in my pocket, and I still am... if I can avoid using the web browser.

    No, I don't want to install your app. No, I do not want to share this story on face book, twitter, or my space. I haven't even fucking read it yet. GTFO.

    I especially don't want the top of my device's screen taken up by an element that won't disappear when I scroll down, just so I can be reminded what site I am on the entire time I read the article.

    I'm waiting for a mobile browser that makes the web experience on mobile more user-friendly.
    Right now the experience is crapped on by advertisers and webcrap developers that implement the latest design trend.
    Maybe Spartan can bring some sanity to the picture.

    I really like it when I load a site, start reading, and scroll down to continue reading, only to have the page shift around on me when the browser finally loads a video player or something at the top of the page. But my absolute favorite is when I get to a site that has dropdown menus that require a click to activate. Press, and a menu comes down, and the page refreshes (closing the dropdown menu) before I have time to read (let alone tap on) the items. Huh? Am I doing something wrong here?

    Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I miss the days when most websites looked like http://www.tldp.org
    I can navigate that just fine on my phone.

    Since it's unlikely that webcrap developers will all collectively pull their heads out of their asses, maybe the browser guys can help fix the problems.

    Come on, Microsoft. Here's your chance to earn my business and respect.

    1. Re:Ad Blocking? by losfromla · · Score: 1

      Prepare to be disappointed. Again.

      --
      Only I can judge you.
    2. Re:Ad Blocking? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Am I doing something wrong here? Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I miss the days when most websites looked like http://www.tldp.org
      I can navigate that just fine on my phone.

      Cat.. bag.. out!

      More seriously... I miss a time when turning javascript off* would not break simple-looking hyperlinks and submit buttons. I was surprised that Yahoo actually worked with noscript today. Cookies-strongly-recommended warnings have no business on login-less sites, yet appear quite often when you visit bit players with a protected browser. We all know it's all for the tracking, not to give anyone some welcome iGoogle-like or my.yahoo site customization experience. m.site.com redirects are also pain and I wish stock mobile browsers would let you spoof the UA more often. The optimized sites are worse at failing gracefully than the plain desktop versions. Go ahead, turn JS off and TRY to load Slashdot itself on your android phone...

      * getting rid of most of the problems you detected

    3. Re:Ad Blocking? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sigh. Edit buttons...
      s/visit bit players/visit BIG players/

  16. What about the Add-ins? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I picked up a $60 Windows 8.1 tablet from Microcenter at Xmas with very low expectations.
    The biggest of several positive surprises was just how good the UI is on the modern-interface version of IE.
    I'd happily have used IE in perpetuity, *but*, no add-ins and hence no add-blocker.
    I don't think the tablet has enough memory to handle a full "no adds" hosts file so I switched to Chrome.
    Chrome on Win8.1 in tablet mode is kludgy, the interface sucks, it can block shutdown, and it runs out of resources after suspension.
    Sadly, I'm sure MS management will find some way to nerf Spartan.

    1. Re:What about the Add-ins? by Blaskowicz · · Score: 1

      Just one modern web picture (downloaded full size and scaled down on the page) will take up more memory than a hosts file.

  17. Most anticipated by whom? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who "most anticipates" yet another browser? Who even cares? They're going to shuffle the UI around so you can't find anything. It'll have rendering bugs.

  18. Not with 1,000 condoms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (.)(.)