Internet Explorer to be discontinued in 2021

[Kyng]

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style...76176.html

Microsoft has finally killed Internet Explorer

The browser will be finished on 17 August, 2021, the company said.

In a blog post, Microsoft explained that the Microsoft Teams web app will no longer support Internet Explorer 11 – the most recent and final iteration of the browser - from November 30, 2020.

The remaining Microsoft 365 apps and services will end support for the browser next year.

Replacing the browser is Microsoft Edge, the computer giant’s new browser which relies on Chromium open-source software, developed by Google for Google Chrome. That gives Edge more features than Internet Explorer.

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Well, this is hardly surprising... if anything, the only surprise is that this browser (or rather, download-a-better-browser tool) didn't go the way of the dodo several years earlier. However, now that Microsoft have rolled out their new Chromium-based Edge, it seems like a natural time to finally put this old dinosaur to rest.

Can't say I'll miss it, to be honest.

[Megan]

I'm actually surprised they didn't kill it after Microsoft Edge came out. Doesn't phase me I just use Edge myself on my PC.

[BayRunner]

I have not used Internet Explorer in years.  I have Edge but that is not my primary.

[Nilla]

About time. Chrome is superior anyway.

[Lass of the long-white-cloud]

*Uses IE*

Well...Great, just great...

[Kyng]

*Uses IE*

Well...Great, just great...

Well, I'm sure it won't be the end of the world. There are plenty of other browsers out there to choose from (I personally use Chrome) - but, whatever you choose, I expect you won't want to go back to IE .

[Megan]

*Uses IE*

Well...Great, just great...

Could always switch to Edge.

[Lurkerish Allsorts]

Consumer side this isn't a big deal for 99% of people,

Business wise, this is not good, especially if MS removes it in a future update (Since they like screwing people and businesses over so much).

Most businesses have software and hardware that only works in IE, this is not the fault of the business but that of the vendors. Hell I worked in medical IT for a bit and even some insurances websites for the provider portals only worked in IE. Vendors are a bunch of uhh... nothing I can say here. They either won't update their software/firmware or to do so its going to cost a business a ton of money that most SMBs don't have. HIPAA wise this means that in about a year IE will not be able to be used as its won't be getting regular (security) updates, but again due to vendors lazyness (vendors often use IE security flaws to do stuff the vendor wants, and the business needs), and their greed as often the vendor is the only company providing a said product, it is not going to be pretty.

[Oscar]

Honestly I am glad it is coming to an end. Despite the issues with businesses its about time they are forced to upgrade or leave their customers information vulnerable. Enough with the use of old software that is so outdated it goes back to Windows XP.

[Kyng]

Well, I can certainly see how this is going to be a pain for a lot of small businesses: I'm quite familiar with the issue of in-house software running on legacy systems (having used several such pieces of software during my career as a developer ). Re-writing this software for a more modern system is going to be difficult and time-consuming at best, and impossible at worst.

With that said, this certainly isn't the biggest surprise ever. Internet Explorer has been on the way out since at least 2015 (when the first version of Edge was released) - and, we can't really expect Microsoft to support it forever. Indeed, I suspect that the 'in-house software' issue might be one reason why Internet Explorer wasn't canned five years ago. I expect that would have caused an outcry from all these companies running their legacy systems, who would have demanded to be given time to upgrade (although, I appreciate that, for many small businesses, it isn't a question of time, but resources )