Microsoft ditches plug-ins for Internet Explorer 10 in Metro

SOFTWARE REDEVELOPER Microsoft has revealed that its Internet Explorer 10 will not use plug-ins when running in the Metro user interface.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer 10 will be released along with the firm's upcoming Windows 8 operating system that features the Metro user interface. The interface, which looks much like the one on the firm's Windows Phone operating system, aims to simplify Windows usage. As part of that, Internet Explorer 10 will be free of plug-ins when run in the Metro interface.

According to Microsoft, Metro style Internet Explorer 10 disposes with plug-ins in a bid to improve battery life, security, reliability and user privacy. The announcement will give further credibility to Apple's long-held strategy of using a clean-cut web browser with IOS.

John Hrvatin, Microsoft programme manager lead on Internet Explorer said, "The desktop browsing experience and most plug-ins were not designed for smaller screens, battery constraints, and no mouse. Providing an easy way to the Windows desktop is the last resort when no comparable plug-in free fallback content exists."

To Microsoft's credit it has finally come around to supporting open standards such as HTML5 and CSS3, while ditching its own ill-received Silverlight. And should Internet Explorer force users away from proprietary plug-ins, it could be the final nail in the coffin for Adobe's Flash. µ