TECH NEWS – Microsoft has officially retired Internet Explorer, bringing an end to the iconic web browser nearly 27 years after IE first debuted.

Internet Explorer became synonymous with the early days of the web. Although other browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and even Microsoft’s own Edge have overtaken IE over the last decade, many users have fond (or not so fond…) memories of Internet Explorer. So many were saddened when Microsoft announced the imminent closure of IE.

Internet Explorer was one of the earliest widely used web browsers on the Internet, with the first version released nearly 27 years ago, in August 1995.

Despite its iconic status in its early days, however, the number of browser users has declined significantly since its heyday, with Microsoft itself replacing IE with Edge as the official default browser. With Internet Explorer’s time in the spotlight coming to an end, Microsoft announced early last year that it would “retire” the browser in 2022. Now that the 15 June deadline set by Microsoft has arrived, Internet Explorer is officially retired.

With the demise of IE, the iconic browser will be removed from Windows computers worldwide, with many former users paying homage to the platform. While many have criticized the browser’s many problems and outdated technology, other users have lamented the closure of an iconic piece of Internet history. Microsoft has previously confirmed that the 15 June deadline applies specifically to Internet Explorer apps on Windows 10 devices.

Microsoft has not officially announced the discontinuation of Internet Explorer on Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Now, the tech giant intends to shift the focus of its web browser entirely to Microsoft Edge. Valve’s Steam Deck recently introduced Xbox Cloud Gaming and Game Pass support through Microsoft Edge. Xbox home consoles also support the Microsoft-promoted browser: the Xbox Series X and S consoles include an updated version of Microsoft Edge with mouse and keyboard support. Edge has been the default browser on Xbox consoles since the platform launched on Xbox One in 2015.

While the retirement of IE may be nostalgic and thought-provoking for veteran users, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the younger generation of internet users. After all, the golden age of the platform is long gone, with Google Chrome taking over the online space’s dominance in recent years. Given that even Microsoft’s Edge has fallen behind Google’s massive platform, Internet Explorer has long since fallen by the wayside for many users. The closure of Microsoft’s IE after nearly 27 years is undoubtedly symbolic of the end of an era for the technology giant.

Source: The Washington Post