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More details have emerged surrounding the highly advanced web browser Microsoft is reportedly plotting for the new Windows 10 OS.
A reporter from The Verge website has apparently been briefed on the Internet Explorer-surplanting browser known internally as ‘Spartan’.
According to the article, one of the main features will be the ability for users to annotate webpages with a stylus pen. Users will then be able to share the annotated site with friends and colleagues, allowing multiple users go doodle on the same document.
One could imagine the OneNote-powered feature will come in handy when pointing out hard-to-find features on a page, or when collaborating on a new design for a web page.
Next up, as widely expected, is the inclusion of the Cortana personal assistant within the Spartan browser.
According to the report, users will be able to use Cortana to search for flights and bookings and shipment delivery information directly from the URL bar. For example, users will be able to search for an airline in the browser and all tracked flights will appear within the results.
Microsoft is also planning to introduce a new way to manage individual tabs, the sources claim. Instead of grouping everything together, Spartan will provide the opportunity to segregate personal and work tabs.
The report alleges Microsoft will make Spartan (or whatever it ends up being called) an app for the Windows Store, while the app will feature a very consistent design and UI across the company’s mobile and desktop platforms.
Read more: Windows 10 Features: What's new
It’s still not clear whether Microsoft plans to keep Internet Explorer around, as it transitions into the new era, but recent reports have suggested it will linger on for the sake of backwards compatibility.
It is likely Windows fans and interested parties will get their first look at Spartan when Microsoft updates everyone on its progress with the Windows 10 consumer experience later this month.
The firm is holding an event on its Redmond campus on January 21.