14 DAY TRIAL // Internet Explorer 12 is not available for Windows 10 users, at least not for the moment, but the default browser integrated in Microsoft's new OS version sure comes with some improvements that make your online experience faster and a bit more secure.
The company details the improvements it made to Internet Explorer in Windows 10 in a new blog post published today, explaining that most of these changes are under the hood and do not bring any visual modifications to the app's interface.
Since Windows 10 Preview is aimed at experienced users and IT admins participating in the Windows Insider Program, so is Internet Explorer, so all these updates are aimed at those with solid computer knowledge who could give them a try and send back feedback to help Microsoft refine the browser before it hits the market as part of the final Windows 10 version.
HTTP/2 and Chakra JavaScript engine improvements
Even though it's the same version number as on Windows 8.1, Internet Explorer brings on Windows 10 changes that concern the Chakra JavaScript engine, which according to Microsoft include "streamlining of Chakra’s execution pipeline to deliver faster startup, optimizations in Chakra’s Just-in-Time compiler to increase script execution throughput, and enhancements to Chakra’s Garbage Collection subsystem to deliver better UI responsiveness for apps and sites."
At the same time, the browser also comes with support for HTTP/2, which Microsoft says it's essential for the future of Internet Explorer, as more companies across the world have embraced this networking protocol and many will do the same in the coming months.
"Internet Explorer on the Windows 10 Technical Preview includes support for new the HTTP/2 networking protocol which is a standardized effort with broad industry support," it said.
New feature to handle user feedback
Microsoft also announced that together with Windows 10, it also debuted what it calls IE PLatform Suggestion Box, a UserVoice platform-based feedback service that's supposed to help the company to quickly find out which are the most requested features by users running its browser.
This way, the software giant says, it can improve Internet Explorer with the features that users actually need, tweaking the browser in order to better address feedback.
"By using the UserVoice voting system, we’ll be able to see exactly which feature suggestions are the most requested by the web developer community which will help us prioritize our work. We also linked the vote counts directly into status.modern.ie to make it even easier to get us your feedback on new standards and features," Microsoft said.
In the meantime, people still expect Internet Explorer 12, a new version of the browser which could arrive in the final build of Windows 10 and could bring lots of new features, including a completely revamped UI and extension support.