On June 15, IE browser will be officially "retired", and some versions of the company's windows software will no longer support the current version of IE 11 desktop applications. "The Internet Explorer browser is slow, no longer suitable for or compatible with many modern network tasks, and far less secure than modern browsers." Microsoft said in the "death statement" of Internet Explorer.
This digital product will be replaced by the edge browser, which Microsoft has high hopes for. “Windows 10 the future of Internet Explorer lies in Microsoft's edge. It has a faster, safer and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer. " Microsoft recommends that users who still use IE change their browsers.
How did Internet Explorer, once a market monopoly, come to an end?
Slow speed, slow response and single function
In fact, Internet Explorer has long been abandoned by the vast majority of users, and many people can't remember when they last used Internet Explorer. And Microsoft has been unable to return to the sky.
As of April this year, Internet Explorer accounted for less than 2% of the global desktop browser market, according to StatCounter, a network analysis company. Chrome, which accounts for more than 65% of the market, has firmly dominated, Apple Its Safari browser also has a market share of about 10%, while Microsoft's edge browser has a market share of 8%.
For free tool products, users often make choices according to the use experience. Whether on the Internet or in real life, the relevant comments around IE browser generally don't look so positive.
In the process of using IE browser, it is often roast for its slow speed, slow response, single function, poor compatibility and so on. And so far, ie still doesn't support extensions, can't be used on non windows devices, and can't sync with other devices by default - these are the functions of chrome and Firefox.
In 2006, IE 6 was rated as "the eighth worst technology product in history". In 2011, IE 6 also ranked 11th in the list of "50 worst technology products in the history of science and technology". In addition, it also has many hidden dangers in terms of security.
The bad experience not only makes many people reluctant to open and run this product again. Even it once became a source of inspiration for netizens to create jokes and expression packs. Many people said that "using IE browser is to download other browsers".
Nowadays, on some occasions, many people still encounter the regulations that they must and can only use IE browser, such as when registering for some exams. Because of this, when I heard that IE browser was about to exit, there was also a voice saying, what should I do in the future?
In fact, Microsoft also leaves space and time for users and related enterprises to transition. Microsoft edge has built-in Internet Explorer mode (ie mode), and users can directly access those traditional IE based websites and applications from Microsoft edge. Microsoft promises to support this ie model at least by 2029. In addition, for enterprise needs, LTSC long-term service version win10 will continue to retain IE browser.
Once occupied 95% market share
Internet Explorer, which once occupied the leading position in the browser market, has actually enjoyed unlimited scenery.
In 1995, IE browser was born. This is a web browser originally brought with Windows system. Relying on the advantages of the system, Microsoft quickly promoted this product in the market and defeated Netscape navigation browser, which was once the leader in this market.
2002 and 2003 were the peak of IE browser, and its market share even reached 95%. Many of the first online memories of the post-80s and post-90s are related to this product. Even developers needed to "write the code of the whole website around what Microsoft IE browser can and can't do".
However, since then, Microsoft, which is in the dominant position in the market, began to neglect the optimization and upgrading of this star product, constantly ignoring network standards and constantly missing updates, resulting in the above-mentioned problems affecting the user experience.
Later, Microsoft, gradually aware of the seriousness of the problem and the crisis, also tried to eliminate or reduce the negative impression of IE in the eyes of users through a series of advertising and marketing activities, but the result was not ideal. At the same time, the strength of other participants in the track is accumulating secretly. The challengers of IE browser include Firefox, Google Chrome and apple safari.
These latecomers tend to act more quickly. Take Google Chrome browser as an example. In the ten years since Google launched this product, the search giant has updated it 70 times. At the same time, Microsoft's IE browser has only been updated four times between IE 8 and IE 11. Coupled with faster, stable and secure performance, Chrome browser continues to erode the market share of IE browser.
In 2015, Microsoft finally confirmed to give up the IE brand and gradually began to focus on supporting the new browser Microsoft edge. It is reported that this product has the same basic technology as Google's Chrome browser. Since then, Microsoft has advertised Internet Explorer as a "compatible solution" rather than a browser, and encouraged enterprises to stop using aging browsers and use edge and its ie mode instead.
The battlefield is changing
As the market situation becomes more and more severe, the supporting action of transformation continues. On January 12, 2016, Microsoft announced to stop the technical support for Internet Explorer 8 / 9 / 10, and users will no longer receive any official ie security updates from Microsoft; As an alternative, Microsoft recommends that users upgrade to IE 11 or switch to Microsoft edge browser. Last year, Microsoft also announced that the Microsoft 365 application suite will no longer support Internet Explorer 11, including [office] from August 17 this year( https://microsoft.pvxt.net/P0JMe ) 365, onedrive, outlook, etc.
But opponents have accumulated more and more advantages. In April 2016, the market share of Google Chrome browser reached 41.66%, surpassing 41.35% of IE, and began to become the "overlord" of the browser industry. And in the days since then continue to capture more market share, until today, it has an absolute advantage in the whole browser market.
The new pattern has been set, but Microsoft still puts its feelings into new chips. "We don't know how to thank everyone who has supported Internet Explorer for many years. Many people and organizations around the world rely on IE to learn, grow and manage their business online. Microsoft's edge Internet Explorer model inherits this important responsibility, and we look forward to supporting your network through Microsoft edge." Microsoft wrote on its official blog.
However, in the face of powerful Google browser and other powerful competitors, Microsoft's edge browser is destined to be full of difficulties and challenges if it wants to rise again.
In addition, in the era of mobile Internet, the browser itself is no longer the mainstream entrance of the Internet. Some foreign media analysts said that there is no doubt that for most people, Google Chrome is winning the browser war. "But the battle is not over, the battlefield is changing. The use of the Internet has shifted from desktop computers to mobile devices, and Google and apple dominate. The failure of Windows Phone means that Microsoft's way into this market is full of challenges, so even if edge continues to grow, it may struggle in the market."