Microsoft considered renaming Internet Explorer to escape its...

[A Guy]

Microsoft considered renaming Internet Explorer to escape its checkered past

Microsoft has had "passionate" discussions about renaming Internet Explorer to distance the browser from its tarnished image, according to answers from members of the developer team given in a reddit Ask Me Anything session today.

In spite of significant investment in the browser—with the result that Internet Explorer 11 is really quite good—many still regard the browser with contempt, soured on it by the lengthy period of neglect that came after the release of the once-dominant version 6. Microsoft has been working to court developers and get them to give the browser a second look, but the company still faces an uphill challenge.

Source

A Guy

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

You can put lipstick on a pig but it will still be a pig.

Actually, IE 11 is quite good but some websites still won't play well with it so I had to go back to IE 10.

 

[gigagiggles]

brendanlong had this to say in the comments section,

The problem is that Microsoft used that superiority as a weapon, by ignoring standards, pushing for things other browsers couldn't safely do (ActiveX), and generally ensuring that websites designed for IE wouldn't work correctly in other browsers.

IE was no longer just a tool to browse the web. Now, it is intricately part of the Windows OS that limits customization.

 

[King Arthur]

I would hate for IE to get renamed for the simple fact that MS simply has no tact or finesse when it comes to (re)naming their stuff nowadays. ModernUI/Metro? OneDrive? Live? RT? Surface? XboneXBox One? I mean come on.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Nothing wrong with it ("perhaps nothing wrong with it a Miracle couldn't cure !!" how some people see it) as far as I am concerned.

I don't visit "Dodgy websites" == the mainstream places I use all browsers are pretty much of a muchness - essentailly all the same.

On Linux I use KONQUEROR (KDE) and on Windows IE while on android I use CHROME. They all do "what it says on the tin".

The only problem I have are some TV services (BT Sport, SKY GO, NETFLIX) for example which use SILVERLIGHT are the ones where browsers are likely to give aggro. - There ought to be a better method of acessing online subscription services than having to use a Microsoft proprietary product.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Arelem]

You can put lipstick on a pig but it will still be a pig.

Actually, IE 11 is quite good but some websites still won't play well with it so I had to go back to IE 10.

So you are assuming its the fault of the browser, and not bad website programming?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

You can put lipstick on a pig but it will still be a pig.

Actually, IE 11 is quite good but some websites still won't play well with it so I had to go back to IE 10.

So you are assuming its the fault of the browser, and not bad website programming?

No, I clearly said that it was the websites.

 

[ThrashZone]

So can we expect Microsoft to rename it's self after win-8

 

[Jonguy30]

I would hate for IE to get renamed for the simple fact that MS simply has no tact or finesse when it comes to (re)naming their stuff nowadays. ModernUI/Metro? OneDrive? Live? RT? Surface? XboneXBox One? I mean come on.

I tend to agree. The current Microsoft naming "scheme" is not very good. And what would you rename IE to? I can't come up with any good name (IE sounds good enough), and whatever MS comes up with I expect it to be something.. not very good.

 

[Indianatone]

How about Internet Slaughterer? Or they could just call it Windows Browser. Of course they will come up with something weird like Andrews (Sisters) since they called the search engine Bing (Crosby). Or even Hope after Bob. Or Swing since they both liked Golf and played in films when that music was popular. I am showing my age...where is my medication.

 

[Indianatone]

I read about the website issue is the site thinks the browser is IE1 as it does not see 2 numbers. Lady F there is a compatibility mode to make websites work correctly. You can find it under Tools/Compatibility View.....

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I read about the website issue is the site thinks the browser is IE1 as it does not see 2 numbers. Lady F there is a compatibility mode to make websites work correctly. You can find it under Tools/Compatibility View.....

Not all incompatible websites would be affected by a bug that causes the site to see only one digit in the IE number; otherwise, they wouldn't recognize IE 10.

I have compatibility mode enabled. Some webpage designers are too incompetent to program for the latest IE, just can't be bothered to do so, or are too elitist to "deign" to programming for it. Those are the ones, when you complain, will ask if you tried another browser.

 

[Arelem]

You can put lipstick on a pig but it will still be a pig.

Actually, IE 11 is quite good but some websites still won't play well with it so I had to go back to IE 10.

So you are assuming its the fault of the browser, and not bad website programming?

No, I clearly said that it was the websites.

Sorry, misread your post. Still suffering after effects of cataract surgery. I apologize.

 

[ThrashZone]

I read about the website issue is the site thinks the browser is IE1 as it does not see 2 numbers. Lady F there is a compatibility mode to make websites work correctly. You can find it under Tools/Compatibility View.....

Not all incompatible websites would be affected by a bug that causes the site to see only one digit in the IE number; otherwise, they wouldn't recognize IE 10.

I have compatibility mode enabled. Some webpage designers are too incompetent to program for the latest IE, just can't be bothered to do so, or are too elitist to "deign" to programming for it. Those are the ones, when you complain, will ask if you tried another browser.

It's the designers that ignore 3w.org are the a-holes,
Usually if you validate the html through 3w.org the reasons are obvious
So many errors it chokes a horse,
Seems anyone can design a half assed website now days and not many really maintain them over time and keep up with constant security changes or advertisement they host,
Yahoo.com is a prime example

 

[carwiz]

Nothing from Yay-hoo (Texas slang for a bungling idiot) gets to my PC. After I picked up a virus from one of their advertisers about 4-5 years ago on XP, I blocked everything relating to it.

New name? Perhaps MetroBrowser or BrowserOne. I happen to like IE11 and will use IE no matter what they call it. Couldn't be any worse than Firefux or Chrum.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Nothing from Yay-hoo (Texas slang for a bungling idiot) gets to my PC. After I picked up a virus from one of their advertisers about 4-5 years ago on XP, I blocked everything relating to it.

New name? Perhaps MetroBrowser or BrowserOne. I happen to like IE11 and will use IE no matter what they call it. Couldn't be any worse than Firefux or Chrum.

Yay-hoo is actually the original (and correct) pronunciation of the word.

 

[Computer0304]

Sigh, another thing I have to try to guess what the name will be? I already have to think of names for new subway stations in my area since they are letting residents vote on a name. Well, I guess the only thing I can think of now is Only Browser because I think soon Microsoft might force people to be only able to use IE.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...Well, I guess the only thing I can think of now is Only Browser because I think soon Microsoft might force people to be only able to use IE.

The EU has already ensured that won't happen over there so it's not likely to happen here.

 

[Computer0304]

Well, then I guess only in America?

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Well, then I guess only in America?

Again, unlikely.