Here's how to enable the Spartan Edge rendering engine for IE11 in Windows 10

When it comes to web browsers, Windows 10 gets a little complicated. Internet Explorer 11 is the default browser for now, but later Spartan takes over as it has the new Edge rendering engine (but it can fall back to IE11 for legacy sites).

The Preview 9926 build has Internet Explorer 11 for the browser, however it does have some bits of the new Spartan one coming later this year. Specifically, you can enable the new rendering engine in 

IE11, the same one that is found in Spartan.

Enable Experimental Web Platform Features

1. Open IE11
2. Type about:flags in the address bar
3. Set 'Experimental Web Platform Features' to enabled
4. Restart browser

According to AnandTech, who outlined how to enable this feature, a small number of testers already have this enabled by default. For the rest of you, you can force it to work all the time. However, keep in mind this is literally why it says experimental. As such, you are getting the new rendering engine (that can be fast) but you may also experience some other performance issues.

If you want to live on the edge, try enabling this feature to see the performance difference. Worse comes to worse you can set it back to Automatic or even Disabled, in which case you just use the old IE11 rendering engine.

Additionally, you can also enable the 'Set Custom User-Agent String' function, which may also help circumvent old IE-only content.

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Spartan browser looks to crush old Internet Explorer 11 in benchmarks

Windows 10 is shaping up to be a big OS shift for many reasons, including the addition of a new web browser codenamed Spartan. Spartan is still very experimental and as such, it is not included in the current Preview for Windows 10. However, bits of the rendering engine can be engaged in the older Internet Explorer 11.

AnandTech forced the new Edge document mode in IE11 through a simple trick using about:flags. They then compared the new rendering engine to legacy IE11, Chrome 40, and Firefox 35. The results are very impressive so far, demonstrating that even in these early stages, what powers Spartan could be quite powerful.

AnandTech says the following about the changes so far:

"The performance increase of the new Javascript engine is massive, and brings Internet Explorer basically up to par with Google Chome for Javascript performance… IE was well optimized for Sunspider already, so there is not much of a change there. Google Octane 2.0 however has always been terrible in IE, and now it comes in roughly the same as Chrome, for a massive 81.8% increase over the old rendering engine. Kraken continues this with a 45% jump in performance. It is a big change, and a welcome one too."

There are still many months before we see Spartan under ideal conditions and a more finalized form, but so far, Microsoft appears to be nailing a lot of the performance issues. Even better, since Spartan is a Universal app, it gets updates through the Store instead of OS refreshes. This change means Microsoft can dynamically update and tweak the browser at a much faster clip than in the past.

Head to AnandTech to read the full write-up including more technical details about Spartan!

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Internet Explorer Edge? Possible names for Spartan browser reportedly being considered

The Spartan browser, or more accurately understood as 'Project Spartan' is a next-generation web browser for Windows 10. Its main features include being a Store app for dynamic updates, using the older IE11 rendering engine for legacy websites, Cortana integration, and the ability to annotate right on the web page for document sharing.

However, Spartan is not the final name, just the internal codename that Microsoft is currently using for the project. The question is, what will Microsoft call the browser upon its final release? A new report suggests a few names are being kicked around and we have the list.

The information comes from a person who participated in an online survey from a company acting on behalf of Microsoft. Although 'Spartan' was not named specifically, it was referred to in the description including "Writing on webpages", "A built-in digital assistant" and the fact that it is a browser from Microsoft launching later this year. No doubt that the survey is referring to Project Spartan.

Potential names for Spartan browser being surveyed

• Entourage
• Elixa
• Evo
• Evex
• Endeavor
• Edge

Some of the names surveyed all have a common feature as they begin with the letter 'e'.

Edge makes sense since it is the name of the new rendering engine found in Spartan. Even more interestingly, Microsoft is considering pairing each of the suggested names with:

• Microsoft
• IE
• Internet Explorer

This list would create possible combinations such as 'IE Evex' or 'Microsoft Elixa' or 'Internet Explorer Edge'. Those possible combinations are interesting because, if accurate, it demonstrates that Microsoft is considering dropping IE or Internet Explorer from the new name. That is something that has been brought up before due the heavy baggage associated with the browser.

Of course, we do not know if these are the only names that Microsoft is considering, but it is worth pondering.

From the above selection, does any combination jump out as a suitable name for Spartan?

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Microsoft included many user-requested changes and features in new Windows 10 preview

The new 9926 build of the Windows 10 Technical Preview includes many changes and additions that were requested by users of earlier builds. Those suggestions were collected and evaluated by Microsoft as part of its Windows Insider Program.

Microsoft's Windows team member Gabriel Aul posted a list of just some of those user-suggested changes that made it into the current build:

• You've asked us to support more languages so we're bringing you more languages: Japanese, Russian, German, French, French (Canada), Korean, Italian, Spanish, Spanish (Latin America), Traditional Chinese, Swedish, Finnish, Turkish, Arabic, Dutch, Czech, Polish, Thai, Vietnamese (Language Interface Pack), Catalan (Language Interface Pack), and Hindi (Language Interface Pack).
• The new Windows Update UX in the Settings app provides a progress bar for preview build downloads which was a top request for Insiders. When you navigate away after starting the download/install, it will know that the download and install is still in progress when you return (instead of looking like a blank slate. And progress is now determinate, instead of just a spinning circle.
• We received feedback that ALT+TAB was too jarring (everything on screen changed) and that some people found it confusingly similar to Task View. Some people wondered why Virtual Desktops were not accessible from ALT+TAB. So, we merged the previous ALT+TAB design with the Task View to produce an approach that retained the large thumbnails that people like, but with an overlay that is familiar. Now, it feels far less jarring and while it looks like it belongs to the family of Task View and Snap Assist, it retains its unique strength of being a great keyboard switcher. Finally, this change makes the work we've done with precision touchpads feel better too. Now when you quickly three finger swipe left/right, ALT+TAB feels lighter-weight.
• We also heard that folks wanted Persian calendars support and you'll find that in this build. The Persian calendar format will appear on your Lock screen, your taskbar clock, and on time stamps on files in File Explorer.
• Another top request from you was to have the option to pick the default folder when opening File Explorer, and the team responded and added this feature.
• We saw feedback from Insiders that it was hard to find how to make apps full-screen in the "hamburger-style" menu seen in previous builds so we've added a full-screen button in the title bar. We've also made the title bars for both desktop and modern apps title bars feel more harmonious.
• Finally, I know that a TON of Insiders were unhappy about the bug where keyboard lights weren't working when Caps lock/Num lock/Scroll lock is toggled. I'm super happy to report that we've fixed that issue in this build. Thank you for being patient with us on that one.

Of course, Microsoft is still taking feedback from Windows Insiders for the current build of Windows 10 and will continue to do so in the weeks and months before the OS is officially launched.

Source: Microsoft

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Cortana for Windows 10 only available in English (U.S)

If you're rushing over to download the latest Windows 10 Technical Preview, there's something you need to know first about Cortana. It isn't totally surprising, but it's important to note that she's only currently available in U.S. English.

The information is nestled in the system requirements page at the Windows Insider site, and while it's usually a good idea to read things like that before installing anything, in this case it's doubly worth it. There are some other bits and pieces in there that affects folks who use Windows Media Center for example, so before doing anything, go check them out.

• Windows 10 Technical Preview system requirements

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Remember to have Windows 10 Technical Preview updated before the next build hits

Microsoft's Windows Program Manager Gabriel Aul took to Twitter today, to not only reveal some numberson the Insider program, but also to remind those running the Windows 10 Tech Preview that they require a certain update before moving forward. Update KB3025380 (linked below) is strongly advised to be installed before Microsoft rolls out the next build of the preview.

According to the Microsoft website, KB3025380 addresses the following:

"This update includes improvements to Windows 10 Technical Preview Build 9879 that will let members of the Windows Insider Program continue to receive future released builds of Technical Preview."

Microsoft plans to roll out the next release of the preview sometime next week, so get this update installed and prepare yourself for more goodies to be fired to your PC.

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Office for Windows 10 free on phones and small tablets, Office 2016 on the way

Besides Windows 10 the platform, we're learning a lot more about the new apps that we're going to be getting with it, like touch-friendly Office. Today, Microsoft has elaborated a little more on the new version for Windows 10 and confirmed that it will be installed for free on all Windows 10 phones and "small tablets." This is particularly good news considering it's been the small tablets that have been getting free Office 365subscriptions, but have screens too small to really put the software to work.

In a post on the Office blog, Julia White, general manager for the Office Product Management team says:

"These new Office apps will be pre-installed for free on phones and small tablets running Windows 10, and available to download from the Windows Store for other devices. The Office universal apps will be available with the Windows 10 Technical Preview in the coming weeks and general availability is on track for later this year."

That's the other good news. We'll be able to play around with the new apps for the first time really soon. The site also shows off Excel and OneNote, which Microsoft did not during the event. Anyone who's ever looked at Office for iPad will see some familiarity, but since those apps are pretty fantastic, we're not complaining.

White also brings news of the next, full fat version of Microsoft Office. Launching later this year, Office 2016 will be detailed further in the future.

But the big deal for mobile users is free Office. No mention of an Office 365 subscription which is required on other mobile platforms to get the most out of the apps. Office, touch-friendly, and ready to rock with Windows 10.

Source: Office Blog

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