Spartan internet browser debuts in latest build of Windows 10

Spartan, the new web browser being designed for Windows 10, has made an appearance finally in build 10009 of the Windows 10 Technical Preview.

Microsoft's Project Spartan is a completely overhauled web browsing experience which does away with the code bloat left over in Internet Explorer and moves to a new browsing experience using the EdgeHTML engine which renders pages considerably faster than the most modern version of Internet Explorer currently can do.

Spartan Replacing Internet Explorer in Windows 10

Spartan will be replacing Internet Explorer as the default web browser in Windows 10 when it is released. There host of new features included with Spartan includes a reading list, annotation capabilities right on a web page, full extension support and Cortana virtual assistant integration so users will be able to talk directly to their web browser to give it navigational instructions.

Bing is the default search engine

Bing is also added as the default search engine which combined with Cortana should allow natural language searches as well.

Flat Design

As the screen shots indicate, the design is so flat that there are almost no window border separators at all. Clean lines, clear space and simplicity are the orders of the day here.

The menus originally inside Internet Explorer are noticeably absent here with a new look for your Favorites, a new Reading List functionality to provide a less cluttered way to read content online (quite similar to the Pocket service).

The Settings menu uses a consistent user interface to what is found elsewhere in Windows 10 Technical Preview editions.

The Reading Mode is an improved way to consume written content online inside Project Spartan without needing to experience a cluttered visual experience. Modern UI was also present in Internet Explorer 11 with Windows 8.1 and it reappears here with Spartan too.

Screenshots via win10.ithome.com.